Australian occupational list (ANZSCO) updated

On 23 November 2021, the Australian Bureau of Statistics published changes to the Australian Occupational List (ANZSCO). As a result, a number of jobs and job categories have been changed or removed.

What is New

The new edition of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), or the occupational list, is limited to a number of targeted updates of occupations. This relates mainly to the following sectors:

  • Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing;
  • Cybersecurity;
  • Naval ship building;
  • And emerging occupations identified by the National Skill Commission.

The above areas are based on priority sectors for the Australian labour market. They have been chosen primarily to test a new approach to updating the occupations list (ANZSCO). This update is therefore a first step towards a larger programme of updating the occupational list. It is expected that other sectors will be addressed as a priority in future updates.

This update relates only to the Australian labour market. Changes in the labour market in New Zealand have therefore not been taken into account.

Various types of changes

Various types of changes are implemented, and combinations of these are also possible. Below you find an overview:

Alternative title(s) revised
Alternative Title(s) revised refers to the situation where new Alternative titles are added, or existing ones are deleted. An example is the addition (deletion) of “Urban Forester” as an Alternative Title for 362212 – Arborist.

Lead statement revised
Lead Statement revised refers to the situation where the lead statement of an occupation is modified. An example is the addition of “for forestry conservation and production purposes” to the lead statement of 721112 – Logging Plant Operator to provide additional precision regarding this occupation.

Tasks revised
Tasks revised refers to the situation where the task list (at the Unit group level) has been amended. An example of this is the addition of “installing, testing and commissioning solar photo voltaic (PV) power generation systems” in the task list for Unit group 3111, Electricians.

Moved to another Unit Group, code retired
Moved to another Unit Group; code retired refers to the situation where the occupation’s Unit Group has changed. An example is the reclassification of 361211 – Shearers from ANZSCO Version 1.3 Unit Group 3611 to 2021 Australian Update Unit Group 3633.

Moved from old Unit Group, code created
Moved from another Unit Group; code created refers to the same situation as point 5 above, and appears next to the new occupation code. For the example of Shearers, it will appear next to the new code 363311.

Category addedd
Category added refers to a newly created occupation code in the 2021 Australian Update. These codes are not present in previous versions of ANZSCO.

Category deleted and code retired
Category deleted and code retired Refers to occupations that are no longer included in the classification. In many cases this is due to the creation of two or more new occupations from an existing occupation. In this instance, the original occupation is deleted and the code retired.

NEC occupation list revised
NEC occupation list revised refers to the situation where the set of occupations contained with a nec occupation are revised. An example is the removal of “Aerospace Draftsperson” from 312999 – Building and Engineering Technicians nec.

Category title revised
Category Title revised refers to the situation where the occupation’s title has been modified to clarify its definition. An example is the change for 311111 – Quarantine Officer to Biosecurity Officer.

Specialisation(s)
Specialisation(s) revised refers to the situation where new Specialisations have been included or deleted. Examples are the addition of “Solar Installer” and the removal of Heavy Coil Winder as specialisations from 341111 – Electrician (General).

For a complete overview of all changes, click on the button below.

Occupations not yet available for skilled migration

The previous ANZSCO catalogue is still current. This means that the Department of Home Affairs has not yet accepted any of these changes for Skilled Migration purposes. But since the update was broadly requested by professional bodies, industries and other parties, a new occupation list for migration purposes and the Legislative Instruments may come up.

Source:
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/classifications/anzsco-australian-and-new-zealand-standard-classification-occupations/2021

Canada faces huge backlog of immigration applications

The backlog at the Canadian Immigration Service is enormous. Currently, the counter stands at nearly 1.8 million immigration applications waiting to be processed. The backlog has increased by nearly 350,000 applications since July alone.

Dramatic figures

CIC News has received data from the ICCRC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) showing how many applications are in the pile for each visa category. These figures are applicable as of October 27 and rounded up:

Applications for permanent residency
(economic visas, family visas, refugee and humanitarian visa applications)
548.000
Temporary visa applications
(student visas, work visas, temporary resident visas and tourist visa extensions)
776.000
Applications for Canadian citizenship
(as of 26 October)
468.000
Total number of visas in backlog 1.792.000

The cause of this backlog

An ICCRC spokesperson explained that the ongoing international travel restrictions and border closures are causes for these shocking figures. But also the limited operational capacity and the difficulties for clients to obtain documentation from abroad due to COVID-19 have caused problems in the processing of applications. This has allegedly hampered the ICCRC’s ability to complete applications, causing delays that are said to be beyond ICCRC’s control.

The ICCRC has also published data on the number of applications processed during the pandemic. The figures are from January to September 2021.

2021 2020
Applications for permanent residency 337.000 214.000
Temporary visa applications   1.500.000 1.700.000
Applications for Canadian citizenship 134.000 80.000

Source:
https://www.cicnews.com/2021/11/canada-has-a-backlog-of-nearly-1-8-million-immigration-applications-1119651.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-20211119#gs.hgqeel

ICCRC becomes ‘the College’

For many years we assist individuals and business relations with visa applications for Canada and Australia. In order to assist applicants to Canada, visa consultants are required to be registered. The ICCRC (Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council) was the party responsible for granting and regulating these registrations. Effective 23 November 2021, a change has been made. The ICCRC has now become the CICC: College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. Abbreviated to ‘the College’.

What will change?

In addition to the name change, a new logo is used. Otherwise, the register has remained the same. The same applies to the membership numbers. Our visa consultants can therefore still be found under the numbers below.

Christiane Kühn
#532359

Gwenda van Veldhuizen-Helmig
#R420775

Re-opening of Australian borders delayed by at least two weeks

With the good news about the further easing of travel restrictions still fresh in our minds, a disappointing announcement has now followed. The Australian government has announced that it will pause the easing of restrictions from 1 December to 15 December.

Concerns about the Omicron variant of COVID-19

The reason for the pause of the easing of border restrictions is the concerns about the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The advice comes from the Chief Medical Officer of Australia, Professor Paul Kelly. Based on this advice, the necessary and temporary decision has been taken to postpone the next step towards the safe reopening of Australia. This applies to all previously announced visa holders, as well as travellers from Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Pausing the relaxation will allow Australia to gather the necessary information to better understand the new Omicron variant. This includes the efficacy of vaccines and the range of illnesses, but also the degree of transmission and associated symptoms.

What next?

The Prime Minister has called a meeting with Cabinet tomorrow, 30 November, to discuss the Omicron variant and how Australia should respond. He indicated that with a 92.3% vaccination rate – one of the highest rates in the world – Australia is in a strong position to deal with the virus and its challenges. The Prime Minister has therefore indicated that they will continue to take evidence-based measures under the guidance of medical experts. This, he said, will lead to them being able to open Australia safely and keep it open while learning to live with the virus.

Important measures to prevent the spread

No flights are currently scheduled from the eight African countries where the Omicron variant has been detected and has spread. These African countries include South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi and Mozambique.

Last Saturday, the Australian Government announced the following measures. These remain in force until 15 December:

  • With immediate effect, anyone who is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or their immediate family including parents, and has been in one of the eight African countries in the past 14 days will not be able to enter Australia;
  • Australian citizens, permanent residents and close family members returning to Australia from these countries must undergo supervised quarantine. This is for 14 days, subject to jurisdictional arrangements;
  • Anyone who has already arrived in Australia and has been in one of the eight countries in the last 14 days must immediately isolate themselves and be tested. They must also follow the quarantine regulations of the jurisdiction. The quarantine is for 14 days from the time of departure from Southern Africa.
  • These restrictions also apply to people, for example, international students and skilled migrants arriving from a safe travel zone (New Zealand and Singapore), who have been in one of the eight countries within the last 14 days.

Source:
https://www.pm.gov.au/media/pause-further-easing-border-restrictions

Australia further opens its doors: More international travellers are welcome again

After the border closure became effective in March 2020, only Australian citizens and permanent residents were welcome. For everyone else, a travel exemption was made compulsory and these were granted sparingly. Only candidates who had urgent reasons for travelling to Australia were granted a travel exemption. After almost two years with closed borders, Australia’s migration figures have fallen sharply. As a result, many sectors are reporting labour shortages that are putting projects, including major public infrastructure works, at risk.

Eligible visa holders welcome again from 1 December

After a long wait, travel restrictions will be eased further on 1 December. From that moment, visa holders within 28 visa categories will be welcome to travel to Australia again. They will no longer be required to apply for a travel exemption previous to travelling. However, you must meet the following requirements:

  • You must be fully vaccinated with a vaccine that has been approved by TGA (Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration);
  • You have a visa in one of the eligible visa categories;
  • You can show proof of your vaccination status;
  • You can demonstrate a negative PCR test, taken within three days prior to departure.

Everyone travelling to Australia must comply with the quarantine requirements of the State or Territory of arrival. But also of the states and territories to which you wish to travel. The states of New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory already admit vaccinated travellers without the quarantine requirement. The rest of the states and territories have not yet achieved the target vaccination rates and still maintain the mandatory quarantine rule for all incoming travellers. In the coming month, more and more states will drop the quarantine requirement for vaccinated travellers.

From 1 December, fully vaccinated citizens of Japan and the Republic of Korea will be able to travel to participating states and territories from their home countries quarantine free. It is no longer necessary for them to have a Travel Exemption in advance. They must, of course, have a valid Australian visa. They must also be able to present proof of vaccination. In addition, they have to prove a negative PCR test, taken within three days prior to departure.

Eligible visa categories

  • Subclass 200 – Refugee visa
  • Subclass 201 – In-country Special Humanitarian visa
  • Subclass 202 – Global Special Humanitarian visa
  • Subclass 203 – Emergency Rescue visa
  • Subclass 204 – Woman at Risk visa
  • Subclass 300 – Prospective Marriage visa
  • Subclass 400 – Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa
  • Subclass 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (other streams, including Australian Agriculture Visa stream)
  • Subclass 407 – Training visa
  • Subclass 408 – Temporary Activity visa
  • Subclass 417 – Working Holiday visa
  • Subclass 449 – Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visa
  • Subclass 457 – Temporary Work (Skilled) visa
  • Subclass 461 – New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa
  • Subclass 462 – Work and Holiday visa
  • Subclass 476 – Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa
  • Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa
  • Subclass 485 – Temporary Graduate visa
  • Subclass 489 – Skilled – Regional (Provisional) visa
  • Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
  • Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa
  • Subclass 500 – Student visa
  • Subclass 580 – Student Guardian visa (closed to new applicants)
  • Subclass 590 – Student Guardian visa
  • Subclass 785 – Temporary Protection visa
  • Subclass 790 – Safe Haven Enterprise visa
  • Subclass 870 – Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa
  • Subclass 988 – Maritime Crew visa

Would you like to find out more? Feel free to contact us.

Source:
https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/vaccinated-travellers
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-22/migration-boost-visa-international-student-places/100638704
https://www.pm.gov.au/media/further-steps-reopen-australia-and-secure-our-economic-recovery