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Thursday, July 21, 2011

New Points system in place


Australia has implemented major changes to its General Skilled Migration program on 1 July 2011. The pass mark for various visa subclasses is now 65 points. The age limit has also been raised from 45 years of age to 50.

Nominated occupations no longer earn points, but applicants are still required to nominate an occupation. Points are scored for experience in an occupation. Experience within Australia and overseas in a nominated occupation can be combined to earn points of up to 20 points.

There are now tougher English language requirements; All applicants must be at English language level "Competent" to be eligible to apply under the General Skilled Migration programme.

You can gain 5 additional points if you have a spouse who can satisfy the basic requirements under the General Skilled Migration programme; Points can be earned for language skills in a number of community languages such as Punjabi, Hindi, German, French, and many others, and for a qualification at an Australian institution.


Australia has implemented major changes to its General Skilled Migration program on 1 July 2011. The pass mark for various visa subclasses is now 65 points. The age limit has also been raised from 45 years of age to 50.

Nominated occupations no longer earn points, but applicants are still required to nominate an occupation. Points are scored for experience in an occupation. Experience within Australia and overseas in a nominated occupation can be combined to earn points of up to 20 points.

There are now tougher English language requirements; All applicants must be at English language level "Competent" to be eligible to apply under the General Skilled Migration programme.

You can gain 5 additional points if you have a spouse who can satisfy the basic requirements under the General Skilled Migration programme; Points can be earned for language skills in a number of community languages such as Punjabi, Hindi, German, French, and many others, and for a qualification at an Australian institution.

Overview of changes to the points test

Below is a summary of the changes to the points test

Age ranges

Eligibility for points is determined by the applicant's age on the day of making their application. If an applicant is aged between 45 and 49 years of age, they will be able to apply for a visa, but no points will be awarded for age:

Points
Age
25
18-24
30
25-32
25
33-39
15
40-44
0
45-49



Better English Language Results

For all skilled migration points tested visas, the threshold English language requirement will be competent English, which is a minimum score of 6 in each of the four components of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test or other language test specified by the Minister. While no points will be awarded for competent English, applicants who have obtained this score are able to apply for a visa as long as they meet the other threshold visa requirements.

Applicants who hold a valid passport and are citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America or the Republic of Ireland are deemed to meet competent English language requirement.


Points
Description of English language ability
20
Superior English (a score of at least 8 in each of the four components of
the IELTS test, or equivalent standard in a specified test)
10
Proficient English (a score of at least 7 in each of the four components of
the IELTS test, or equivalent standard in a specified test)

 

Skilled Employment
Points will be awarded for employment in a skilled occupation, either in Australia or overseas. 

To claim points for skilled employment, the experience must be in an applicant's nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation. Where applicable, applicants can claim points for both

Australian skilled employment and overseas skilled employment under the points test. 
Points
Length of employment
5
One year
10
Three years
15
Five years
20
Eight years

Applicants will be awarded points based on demonstration of a verifiable skilled employment history 
undertaken in the last 10 years as follows: 

Australian skilled employment in their nominated occupation or a closely related occupation.  

Points
Length of employment
5
Three years
10
Five years
15
Eight years

For the complete update on the latest changes please see the PDF document listed below


Sources: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/whats-new.htm

9 comments:

kaustubh kulkarni said...

hi junaid..thanks for your previous help..i had written to you before coming to australia..i now have started with my course at swinburne melbourne in network systems masters..junaid the problem is although i have completed my bsc in comp sci the masters i am pursuing is in networking and it does not seem to have a profession on the current sol..could you please guide me as to which profession i am related to on the current sol? the profession mentioned in the acs sol list dont have most of my subjects..please guide me buddy...i dont want a sponsorship so what are my options?
should i transfer my masters to a different subject area like information systems ?

http://www.acs.org.au/public/ska/docs/ACSSkillsAssessmentOccupationCodes_2011V4_tasksGSM_RGJuly2011.pdf


http://www.swinburne.edu.au/ict/courses/postgrad/master-network-systems.html

kaustubh k

Junaid Noor said...

@ kaustubh

I have had a look at your course and also the new SOL which you posted from the ACS website.

There are two professions on the ACS website

1. Network analyst
2. Network administrator

You should contact ACS and ask

"After completing course X from university Y, would I be able to gain a positive skills assessment for Profession Z?"

And see what their answer is.

The best answer can come from ACS.

Also, if you visit the following URL

http://www.acs.org.au/index.cfm?action=load&temID=accCourses&id=110640

You can see that the course you have enrolled in is listed as an accredited course by ACS. Make sure you are at the same campus as the one mentioned by ACS.

So I am pretty sure that you can get a positive skills assessment from ACS after your finish your degree. But it will be worthwhile to confirm from ACS as well.

Kind Regards

Junaid

Junaid Noor said...

PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NO LONGER A REGISTERED MIGRATION AGENT AND BY COMMUNICATING WITH YOU, I AM NOT GIVING YOU ANY PAID OR UNPAID ADVICE. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DECISIONS YOU MAKE BASED ON MY RESPONSES. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE OR ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE OUTCOME OF ANY APPLICATIONS YOU LODGE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION, AUSTRALIA. PLEASE CONSULT A REGISTERED MIGRATION AGENT FOR ADVICE ON AUSTRALIAN MIGRATION.

Anonymous said...

i did b.com and working as internal auditor from last 10 years. For aus immigration, graduation equivalent to austrilian bachelor degree is required. My b.com is from pakistan and it is of 14 years of education. do u think i will get positive assessment as internal auditor from vetassess.My ielts score is 7 in each module.khurram shahzad

Junaid Noor said...

@Khurram

Whether you will get a positive skills assessment from VETASSES is something only VETASSES can answer.

Go through their website and see what their requirements are.

Or better send them an email and explain your situation.

Kind Regards

Junaid

Anonymous said...

thnx for reply. I actually want to ask that whether a 14 yrs bachlor degree can be treated as equivalnt to austrailian bachlor degree for immigration purpose??
khurram

Junaid Noor said...

thnx for reply. I actually want to ask that whether a 14 yrs bachlor degree can be treated as equivalnt to austrailian bachlor degree for immigration purpose??
khurram


What do you mean by a 14 yrs bachelors degree?

Do you mean a 2 yrs bachelor degree?

If you mean 2 yrs then that depends upon whether your assessing body accepts that degree or not.

The immigration department wants a positive skills assessment and 1 yr work experience.

Kind Regards

Junaid


PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NO LONGER A REGISTERED MIGRATION AGENT AND BY COMMUNICATING WITH YOU, I AM NOT GIVING YOU ANY PAID OR UNPAID ADVICE. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DECISIONS YOU MAKE BASED ON MY RESPONSES. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE OR ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE OUTCOME OF ANY APPLICATIONS YOU LODGE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION, AUSTRALIA. PLEASE CONSULT A REGISTERED MIGRATION AGENT FOR ADVICE ON AUSTRALIAN MIGRATION.

Anonymous said...

it means some assessing bodies are accepting 2yrs bachelor degrees. would u plz guide me that vetassess accept 2yrs b.com for internal auditor. i have 10 yrs experience as internal auditor also. what would u say.
khurram

Junaid Noor said...

@Khurram

You can check that from VETASSES website to see if they will accept your degree or not.

Since you have ten yrs work experience, I think there is quite a good chance for your degree to be accepted.

But contact VETASSES to confirm.

Kind Regards

Junaid