Changes to 457 immigration program see ‘nomination ceiling’ removed

The ceiling on nominations for 457 visas has now been abolished since 14 February 2014, which should make life a whole lot easier for employers looking to nominate and sponsor overseas workers.

When the 457 immigration program underwent a major restructure in July 2013, a cap was placed on the number of positions an employer could sponsor overseas workers to fill.  Meaning if a business had reached its quota of nominations, but still had positions in need of skilled workers, there was very little they could do in the situation.

With the removal of the ‘nomination ceiling’, sponsorships will now only end at the expiry date of the approval.  This means greater flexibility for businesses faced with an unexpected need for more Subclass 456 visas that may have arisen after the date of application.

Any applications for Standard Business Sponsorships processed after February 14 will be subject to the new rules.  All applications submitted before that date, however, will be subject to the ceiling on nominations.

The difference is that once your quota of nominees is nearly reached, employers can now apply for a sponsorship variation through the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, which should see the ceiling removed.

When submitting a Standard Business Sponsorship application, employers must still note how many overseas workers they intend to nominate – however, this is no longer a limit.

To find out more information on the 457 Immigration Program, please click here