2013年7月1日457类签证变化总结
撰写：曹俊 澳洲注册移民代理 MARN：0961126
如果您有任何关于457类签证的问题，可以与我们联系：
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
1.原因：
移民局原文：
“Changes to the Subclass 457 program
The purpose of the Temporary Work (Skilled) (subclass 457) visa program is to allow employers to fill short to medium term skill shortages by recruiting qualified workers from outside of Australia when they cannot find the same skilled workers locally.
Mid-way through 2012, the department identified that the subclass 457 program was growing at a record rate and that a significant component of this growth has been in industries and geographical regions that do not appear to be experiencing skills shortages. While most employers are using the subclass 457 appropriately, there is a concern that certain employers in some industries are sourcing their skilled labour needs outside of Australia without first checking the availability of labour locally. While not unlawful, these actions are not in line with the principles of the subclass 457 program.
A number of improvements to the subclass 457 program were introduced on 1 July 2013. These improvements help to ensure that the intent of the subclass 457 program respected by users of the program.
The reforms to the subclass 457 visa program improve the integrity of the program without adversely impacting on businesses who are using the program to fill genuine skill shortages.”
原文概括：
457类签证的初衷是供澳洲雇主通过此类签证可以合法雇佣海外技术员工，以解决短期内无法在当地聘请同等技术工人的问题。而移民局在2012年发现很多地方的雇主滥用了此类签证，特别是有些地区并不存在技术短缺的问题，却通过457类程序大量的聘用了海外员工。所以2013年7月1日，移民局推出了一系列措施，希望此类签证可以被合理使用。
2.措施：
- 对于澳洲当地人的持续培训的要求（Ongoing requirement to train Australian citizens and permanent resident workers）
- 证明真实需要提名的技术职位（Demonstrating a genuine skill need）
- 注明雇主打算提名多少员工（Indicating how many workers an employer will sponsor）
- 被归类为“generalist”的职位必须进行职业评估（Skills assessments for generalist occupations）
- 使用市场工资标准扩展至边远地区（Market salary rate assessment expanded to regional locality）
- 将豁免评估的市场工资标准提高至澳币25万/年（Market salary rate assessment exemption lifted to $250 000）
- 雇主与员工必须保持直接的雇主-员工关系（Employment must consist of a direct ‘employee-employer' relationship）
- 明确规定雇主必须承担某些费用并不可以转嫁给员工（Sponsors are obligated to pay certain costs）
- 如果员工的第一个457申请由于高工资而豁免了英语要求，如果递交新的申请时，如果工资降低，则必须满足英语要求（English language requirement must be met when new nomination is lodged）
- 去除了以职业为标准的英语豁免机制（Occupation based exemptions to the English language requirement are removed）
- 统一英语要求，与雇主担保类看齐（Definition of English language now aligned with the Employer Nomination Scheme）
- 如果担保公司为新成立公司，457签证时间只能最多为1年（Restricted terms of sponsorship for start-up businesses）
- 所有的申请必须通过电子递交，所有的申请在澳洲境内处理（Mandatory electronic lodgement）
- 457签证持有者必须在入境3个月内开始工作（Requiring visa holders to begin work within 90 days of arriving in Australia）
- 如在职工作必须登记注册，则必须在28天内进行（Requiring mandatory registration, licensing or membership）
- 转换新雇主的时间延长至90天（Extend the period in which a visa holder can seek new sponsored employment）
- 将雇主担保义务加入移民法规中（Enshrining the kinds of sponsorship obligations which must be prescribed in the Migration Regulations）
- 强化移民局与雇主间的强制框架（Enhancing the enforcement framework to include enforceable undertakings between the Minister and a sponsor and former approved sponsor）
- 公平工作检查员将加入检查行动（Fair Work Inspectors as Inspectors under the Migration Act and exercise of powers for Migration Act purposes）
3.总结：
很显然，移民局在各方面加强了措施，以控制、限制雇主‘滥用’457类签证。有些措施进一步强化了此类签证的操作性，以便移民局管理监督457类签证。而有少数的一些措施，则是在澳洲工会强大的压力下而出台的，其对于澳洲雇工市场以及确实需要海外技术员工的公司所带来的负面影响是显而易见的。很多的商会以及企业已经开始与移民局沟通，457类签证前景如何，我们继续拭目以待。
