DIAC Revamps English Proficiency Exams

With all the changes being done in the Australian immigration procedures lately, a lot of people are getting worried that their chances of getting a visa is becoming slimmer and slimmer. And it seems that there will be tons more for them to worry about, as the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) recently said that there are still a lot of changes lined up for the visa programs.

One of the biggest of these changes so far was the move by the DIAC to put more emphasis on English language proficiency as a requirement for the issuance of a visa. It should be noted that this is not really that new, as English proficiency has long been a key requirement in getting a visa. However, in previous years, along with a more relaxed immigration policy, English proficiency was counted only up to basic communications skills.

With the new thrust of the government to get more highly skilled professionals into the country to meet worker demand, the department determined that there is also a need to revamp the English language assessment scheme to suit this purpose. The DIAC noted that, due to the above mentioned earlier set up, many of those who have been granted working visa have English communication skills that are below the requirements for the job that they have gotten into. This, according to immigration officials, greatly hampers their ability to perform the tasks that are related to their work.

In order to remedy this one, the department has sought to put more emphasis on better English language skills for those getting a visa. To do this, immigration officials have decided to allocate more points to English proficiency in the Skills assessment being given to visa applicants.

The DIAC have also gone further with this one by revamping the exams that are to be used for determining English proficiency. This was done to ensure that those applicants who have greater command of the language would be the ones to get through. Emphasis was also given on the proper use of professional English in work related areas.

In order to better implement these new measures, the immigration department is now also thinking of changing to current tests. As of current, the exams are provided under the IELTS system. Immigration Minister Chris Evans sad that his department is now seriously considering shifting to TOEFL to meet their needs.

However, visa applicants need not to worry about these new moves. According to immigration officials, visa applicants who don't pass the test are still welcomed to get English courses in the country to better their chances the next time they apply.

Vocational Students Find It Harder To Get Into Australia

For those studying in Australia, migration is often the next thing that comes into their minds. And this one is not surprising, what with all the opportunities that await them in the country. Thus, a lot of people would want to be given the chance to enroll in the schools here.

However, many of those aspiring students might soon find that chance as being harder and harder to get. As it is, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) have begun to institute changes in the student migration program. And according to department officials, there are still a lot more changes that are planned for the program.

One of the biggest that the DIAC made has been the exclusion of more than a hundred vocational level courses, such as hairdressing and cooking, from the student migration program. This is in accordance with the release of the new Skilled Occupation List for the general skilled migration program last July 1, which had also removed these positions.

It should be noted that, under the old system, these vocational courses have allowed foreign students to easily gain permanent residency status after the completion of their studies. However, immigration official noted that this soon became a common backdoor used by a lot of foreign students to live in the country despite lacking proper work qualifications.

And with the former Rudd government's thrust of getting more highly skilled professionals into the country, the DIAC took attention of the matter and instituted the changes that are currently in the student immigration program. Along with the above mentioned removal of low level positions, the department also drafted higher requirements for student migration applicants, including greater English proficiency. The latter was done to ensure that all incoming workers will have sufficient communication skills for the workplace.

However, while these have been removed from the skilled migration list, department officials said that vocational students wishing to move into the country may still be able to do so. This is provided that there is a demand for their work and that they will be able to find a company that will sponsor their immigration. They have also added that those permanent residency application lodged up until April last year will be exempted and will be processed according to the old regulations.

On the other hand, DIAC officials also clarified the misconception that these changes cover all foreign vocational students. They explained that the rules apply only to students seeking permanent residency after graduation. Foreigners who are on the country only for study purposes are likewise exempted from these changes.