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Skills database can speed visa

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THE Australian Government's Skill Matching database is designed to help regional employers find skilled people who have already lodged a migration application. However, it is not a job search facility.
The database is designed to link skilled migration applicants with either:
* employers in certain areas of Australia who are seeking to fill a specific skilled vacancy (through the Regional Skilled Migration Scheme - RSMS);
* employers wishing to nominate applicants under a Labour Agreement; or
* State and Territory governments which have an interest in nominating skilled migrants under the State/Territory Nominated Independent (STNI) or Skill Matching Visa categories).
If you are on the skill matching database there are a number of distinct advantages:
* applications for all State specific and regional migration initiatives, including the RSMS, STNI and skill matching visa categories, receive priority processing;
* where the nomination is made by a State or Territory government, the migrant is selected on the basis that the specific skills and experience they possess are in demand in that State or Territory. As a result, their employment prospects once they arrive in Australia are good; and
* where an employer sponsors a person from the Skill Matching Database under the RSMS or Labour Agreement categories, that person is 'deemed' to have an RSMS or Labour Agreement application. This means the person does not need to lodge another application, thus streamlining processing.
An additional use for the skill matching database is that State and Territory governments can identify those applicants who have successfully met the requirements for an Independent category visa and expressed an interest in skill matching. These applicants will have a visa to travel to Australia but might still be undecided as to where to settle. State and Territory governments can contact these migrants directly to encourage them to settle in their area.
There are four major Migrant Categories in the Database
While the on-line version of the database holds only job skill information, the full database contains other information on migration applications:
* Skilled-Independent migration applicants who have had their applications assessed and have met the pass mark for the points test are categorised as A-coded in the full database. This means they have satisfied the initial requirements for their Independent category visa. These applicants are listed on the database:
* as a means to market themselves to prospective employers; and
* if they are undecided on where to settle in Australia, State and Territory governments may contact the applicant and encourage them to settle in their region.
These applicants remain on the Skill Matching Database until they arrive in Australia.
* Skilled-Independent migration applicants who have met the pool mark for the points test are categorised as B-coded in the database. This means that they are eligible to be sponsored under RSMS or STNI. B-coded applicants remain on the database for two years from the date of assessment.
If, within that time, they are not nominated by an employer or the pass mark does not drop to a level that would enable the applicant to pass the points test, they are removed from the database and their application for their visa is rejected.
* Skilled-Independent migration applicants who have lodged their applications but have not yet had them assessed against the points test are categorised as D-coded in the database. D-coded applicants have had their qualifications assessed and remain on the database for four years, or until they arrive in Australia.
* Skill Matching visa applicants. These applicants are listed on the database as C-coded. This means they are eligible to be sponsored under RSMS, Labour Agreements or by a State or Territory Government. These applicants remain on the Skill Matching Database for two years.

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