Accredited Sponsorship
Accredited Sponsorship is designed to ensure that the lower risk sponsors have access to priority allocation and streamlined processing for their overseas workers through the TSS 482 visa.
“certain nomination provisions are able to be satisfied on the basis of a certification on the nomination form, in conjunction with additional documentation and information collected “upfront” as part of the sponsorship application/accreditation approval process.
STREAMLINED & PRIORITY PROCESSING
Sponsors who qualify for accredited status will receive priority processing of all TSS nomination and visa applications, with most applications processed in less than five days.
Streamlined processing arrangements are in place for certain low-risk nominations lodged by accredited sponsors. Nominations can be satisfied on the basis of a certification on the nomination form, in conjunction with additional documentation and information collected “upfront” as part of the sponsorship accreditation approval process.
STREAMLINED REQUIREMENTS
The occupation is ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2;
AND
The nominee’s annual earnings are equal to or greater than:
- $180,001; OR
- $90,000 and the occupation is not one of the occupations on the right:
BENEFITS:
- Reduced documents
- May receive auto approval of nomination
- Accountant (General) (ANZSCO 221111)
- Café or Restaurant Manager (ANZSCO 141111)
- Chef (ANZSCO 351311)
- CEO or Managing Director (ANZSCO 111111)
- Conference and Event Organiser (ANZSCO 149311)
- Corporate General Manager (ANZSCO 111211)
- Corporate Services Manager (ANZSCO 132111)
- Customer Service Manager (ANZSCO 149212)
- Facilities Manager (ANZSCO 149913)
- Management Accountant (ANZSCO 221112)
- Management Consultant (ANZSCO 224711)
- Marketing Specialist (ANZSCO 225113)
- Sales and Marketing Manager (ANZSCO 131112)
- Recruitment Consultant (ANZSCO 223112)
- Supply and Distribution Manager (ANZSCO 133611)
- Taxation Accountant (ANZSCO 221113)
- Transport Company Manager (ANZSCO 149413)
The benefits of accreditation are:
-
- Sponsorship is valid for six years
- Priority allocation and processing of all TSS applications
- Additional streamlined processing of certain low-risk nominations
- Concessions for nomination documentation
- Concessions for advertising relating to labour market testing
- Concessions for character requirements
New accreditation categories
- Category 1: Commonwealth, State & Territory government agencies
- Category 2: Australian Trusted Traders (details here)
- Category 3: Low volume usage and high percentage of Australian workers (at least 85%)
- Category 4: High volume usage and medium percentage of Australian workers (at least 75%)
TSS Visa Processing times (non-accredited)
| Stream | 75 per cent of applications processed | 90 per cent of applications processed |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term stream | 49 days | 77 days |
| Medium-term stream | 38 days | 64 days |
| Labour Agreement stream | 22 days | 56 days |
| Sponsorship | 38 days | 64 days |
| Nomination | 35 days | 39 days |
ACCREDITATION CATEGORIES 1 & 2
| Category | Required Characteristics |
| Category 1
Commonwealth, state and territory government agencies |
Have Australian workers comprising at least 75% of their workforce in Australia |
| Category 2
Australian Trusted Traders (available to businesses in the international supply chain industry) |
•Australian workers comprising at least 75% of workforce
•engage all employees under a written contract of employment in accordance with National Employment Standards (NES) •Enterprise Agreement or internal salary table reflecting current market salary rates |
ACCREDITATION CATEGORY 3
| Category | Required Characteristics |
| Category 3
Low volume usage and high percentage of Australian workers (at least 85%) |
•are not a sole trader or a partnership
•have an annual turnover of at least AUD4M for the last two years •have been a standard business sponsor for at least one year •have nominations approved for at least one primary TSS or subclass 457 visa holder in the last two years •have a nomination non-approval rate of less than 3% for the last two years •have no adverse monitoring outcomes •have all employees paid in accordance with an Enterprise Agreement or an internal salary table that reflects the current market salary rates •engage all employees under a written contract that meets NES |
ACCREDITATION CATEGORY 4
| Category | Required Characteristics |
| Category 4
High volume usage and medium percentage of Australian workers (at least 75%) |
•are not a sole trader or a partnership
•have an annual turnover of at least AUD4M for the last two years •have been a standard business sponsor for at least two years •have nominations approved for at least 10 primary TSS or subclass 457 visa holder in the last two years •have a nomination non-approval rate of less than 3% for the last two years •have no adverse monitoring outcomes •have all employees paid in accordance with an Enterprise Agreement or an internal salary table that reflects the current market salary rates •engage all employees under a written contract that meets NES |
CATEGORIES 3 & 4 – DIFFERENCES
| Requirement | Category 3 | Category 4 |
| Australian workforce | 85% | 75% |
| Standard business sponsor | 1 year | 2 years |
| Nominations approved for at least | 1 nomination | 10 nominations |
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION
New discretion for the Department to consider accreditation for sponsors that are:
- Large partnerships in industries where this is a common business structure
- ‘Start-up’ businesses where special circumstances apply
Undergoing a corporate re-structure which would impact on their eligibility
CHARACTER REFERENCES
Applicants who are sponsored by an accredited sponsor, are not required to obtain police certificates from countries other than Australia provided they attach a written reference from their accredited sponsor confirming that they are of good character and have not been convicted of any criminal offences.
Sponsors should take into consideration:
- Previous character checks conducted for the employee
- Internal policies and procedures
- Employment and immigration risks, if the employee is found to fail the character test
RISKS & REVOCATION
Accreditation status can be revoked if:
- The sponsor fails to maintain the accreditation characteristics.
- The sponsor provides a reference that an employee is of good character, and they are subsequently found to be fail the character test.
Revocation results in the cessation of streamlined and priority processing, however approval as a standard business sponsor will remain in place.
IMPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS
- Robust internal control mechanisms (compliance). Consider for example:
- Staff changes – exit/entry checklists
- Staff training and awareness
- Compliance obligations (*critical)
- Internal policies/procedures regarding character references
- Advance planning to avoid character references
- Inclusion of staff outside of HR/Mobility (eg Talent Management) in visa processes.
- Onus is on sponsors to ensure genuineness of occupation, AMSR and detailed compliant records are kept.
CURRENT CLIMATE
- Accreditation is the future of the TSS program, ensuring that sponsors receive priority processing and concessions for various requirements.
- There will be a heavy focus on compliance, including compliance with the accreditation characteristics.
How long does it take to become an Accredited 482 Sponsor
- accreditation applications have a 1 to 2 months processing time
VISAENVOY SERVICES
- VisaEnvoy can assist with:
- Accreditation sponsorship applications
- Compliance audits
- Education and guidance
- Ad hoc support
