The new SOL and CSOL Lists released
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The new Consolidated 457 and ENS will be a benefit to employers |
DIAC has released the new SOL for the GSM visas along with the new Consolidated Skilled Occupation List (CSOL) for the 457 and ENS programs.
The SOL for the GSM program is the one we discussed in our Volume 217 which you can read by clicking here .
The new list is too long to reproduce so you can read as a PDF by clicking on the link below; Good News The good news is that the consolidated 457 and ENS list is a bonus for businesses who wish to sponsor under the ENS program. The list is now much larger than the old ENS SOL. In the past by having two different lists for the 457 and ENS visas, many occupations on the 457 list were not on the smaller ENS list and thus the pathway for many 457 holders to PR was very limited. For example, Restaurant Manager is now on the new CSOL so businesses are now in a position to sponsor this occupation for permanent residence where as before this occupation was a dead end for the possibility of obtaining PR. There will be many happy 457 visa holders today who now may have the opportunity of being sponsored for the ENS program whereas before they could not. Bad News Well not actually directly related to the new CSOL but remember to be able to be sponsored for the ENS program you must now have either three years of work experience or been on a 457 business visa in your nominated occupation (or closely related) for at least two years. This will mean most former international students who complete their courses in Australia will need to find a sponsor for the 457 visa for two years before applying for the ENS program. Of course if they are lucky enough to have three years experience back home before coming to Australia then the ENS is still a direct possibility. In our experience however, most students who study in Australia do not have 3 years of significant work experience back home. | 
