Changes in skilled migration policy not targeted at India: Aus

New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) After effecting changes in its
skilled migration policy, the Australian government has said
that the measure is not targeted at Indian students but was
necessitated in view of the evolving needs of its labour
market and that there is no plan for capping students' visas.
The Australian High Commission here said no students are
going to be sent home in July.
"On the contrary all will be allowed to complete their
courses after which they can apply for an additional 18 months
stay during which they can work and seek employer sponsorship
to remain in Australia," it said in a press statement.
The Australian government effected the new skilled
migration policy from Thursday, reducing the skilled
occupation list (SOL) from 450 to 150.
There were reports that Indian students, who are pursuing
low-end courses like hair-dressing and cookery, would be
affected as they cannot get permanent residency there.
The High Commission said there is no plan for "visa
capping" on student visas and that the changes will apply to
all applications from all countries.
"They are not targeted at India, nor are they triggered
by the problems of the last year over attacks on Indian
students. The changes are not retrospective," the statement
said. Australia is open to skilled migration that meets its
labour market needs, it said.
The Australian government had announced changes to its
skilled migration programme February eight. The changes
reflected the evolving needs of the Australian labour market.
These specific labour market needs are determined by an
independent statutory authority -- Skills Australia, the
statement added.
The skilled migration visa is completely separate to
the student visa. No student, whether from India or elsewhere,
currently studying in Australia is going to be asked to cease
their course because of changes to the skilled migration
programme, it said.
Transition arrangements have been provided to
international students when the changes were announced to
ensure that they have every opportunity to fulfil their
objectives.
"If their objective is to complete their studies, they
will be free to do so. If their objective is to shift to
another course of study, they will be free to do so subject to
meeting the entry requirements. If their objective is to stay
in Australia to work after the completion of their studies,
they can apply for a Temporary Skilled Graduate visa under the
old arrangements, which will give them 18 months with full
work rights," it said.
These transition arrangements apply until the end of
2012 and extend to all people who held student visas at the
date of the announcement of the policy.
Those who are able to demonstrate that they can meet
Australia's skills needs as articulated in the requirements
for a permanent skilled visa will still have the opportunity
to achieve permanent residence, it added. PTI