From 1 July 2012, the new Regional Skilled Migration Scheme (RSMS) will require trades people applying from outside Australia to submit a pre-visa application skills assessment.
Previously the FAS qualification was sufficient for RSMS, and the changes will result in more stringent testing of skills before permitting entry for trade’s people.
The RSMS remains a fast avenue to securing PR which avoids the need to have an Australian business sponsoring the applicant.
The applications can be lodged as decision ready thus jumping the processing queue, and reducing he waiting period to a few months.