Guidelines for RCB advice
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) (Subclass 494) Visa helps businesses in regional areas find skilled overseas workers when they can’t fill a role with Australian citizens or permanent residents living in or wishing to move to the area.
If you’re an employer based in a regional or low population growth area and can’t find a suitable local candidate, you may be able to sponsor a skilled worker from overseas for an SESR visa under the Employer Sponsored stream.
As part of the process, you’ll need to get advice from a Regional Certifying Body (RCB) that covers your area. This advice supports your nomination and verifies details on behalf of both the nominating position and nominee. The RCB advice must be submitted before the Department of Home Affairs can approve the nomination, but it can be provided either before or after you lodge the application.Â
RCBs must provide their assessment advice to Home Affairs within 28 days of receipt of the request and RCB advice is valid for 3 months from the date of issue.
RDAIS serves as the RCB for the Illawarra Shoalhaven and JBT regions. Our role is to provide advice to Home Affairs on SESR applications, using local area knowledge.
Applying for RCB Advice
Ensure you have read and understand all the relevant information on the Department of Home Affairs website, including Nominating a position. You can refer to the documents supplied in the Resources section below.
Complete and upload required supporting documentation to the online submission form.Â
RDAIS will review the submission and issue an invoice for the non-refundable assessment fee.Â
Email any questions to migration@rdais.com.au
Document List
- Form 1404
- Form 956
- Draft or submitted copy of DoHA nomination
- Details of the nominating business and position:
- Business registration (ABN or ACN)
- Organisation chart
- Employment contract
- Position description
- Resume
- A statement and evidence to explain the method used to determine the salary in the employment contract (refer to annual market salary rate)
Processing Fee
A non-refundable fee is charged for processing applications for RCB advice. The processing fee is an administration charge only and does not guarantee the approval of an application.Â
The processing fee of $770 (including GST) will be invoiced by RDAIS upon receiving a completed online submission form.
Processing Time
Once your completed online submission form, documents, and payment have been received, the RCB will assess the application within 28 days of payment receipt date.
Only the authorised contact person or the nominating business can get in touch about the status of an application, and all enquiries need to be made by email to migration@rdais.com.au.
The RCB advice outcome will be sent to the employer or authorised representative via email and will include the completed Form 1404. A copy will also be sent directly to the Department of Home Affairs.
It’s the employer’s responsibility to lodge the nomination with the Department through the eLodgement system, and to make sure the RCB advice is included in that application.
More information
RCBs work independently of the Department of Home Affairs. That means the Department doesn’t have any control over how RCBs manage their internal processes or documentation.
There is no Commonwealth Contract between individual RCBs and the Department that would:
- Enliven a responsibility on the part of the RCB to hand over documents, or;
- Enliven the Department’s responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI).
Under legislation specified in Migration Regulation 2.72C(18), RCBs are required to give advice to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs when it comes to employer nominations. This advice is provided using Form 1404 and may include additional pages if extra detail is needed.
Please note: RDAIS, acting as the RCB, won’t release any extra information about how assessments are made, including background documents, research, records, or methods used in forming their advice. This part of the process is confidential and cannot be shared.
Designated Regional Areas
Ensure the nominating business and/or workplace of the nominee is located in the Illawarra, the Shoalhaven or Jervis Bay Territory.
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