editorial
Changes to the passmark for General Skilled MigrationBy: Navneet Anand |
On 1 April 2004, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs Amanda Vanstone, announced changes to the pass mark for the General Skilled Migration (GSM) Program. She says "To increase the skills of migrants coming to Australia the passmark for the general skilled independent visa categories for permanent residence will be raised from 115 to 120. Rising demand for migration to Australia allows us to attract migrants with higher levels of skill. To protect international students currently completing their studies in Australia the new passmark will not apply to those who apply before April 2005."
These changes apply to the following independent visa subclasses and New Pass Mark for these subclasses is 120: Skilled Independent (subclass 136), Skilled Independent Overseas Student (subclass 880). These changes will make an impact to all international students who entered Australia recently. Earlier the One year Full time study requirement changed to TWO years full time study in Australia and then this increase of 5 points.
The Core Criteria for eligible people who want to come to Australia as skilled migrants need to:
- be under 45 years of age when they apply,
- have at least vocational English,
- nominate an occupation on the Skilled Occupations List (a skilled occupation), and
- be found suitable for that occupation by the relevant Australian assessing authority
- have recent work experience in a skilled occupation, or
- have recently completed an Australian qualification.
Applicants with Australian qualifications have a greater chance of employment in Australia. Points may be awarded for only one of the following Australian qualifications completed whilst present in Australia and where all the instruction was in English: 15 points If you have completed an Australian doctorate at an Australian educational institution after a period of at least 2 years full time (2 academic years) while in Australia. 10 Points If you have completed an Australian Masters or Honours degree (at least upper second class level) at an Australian educational institution while in Australia, and prior to completing the Masters or Honours degree, you were awarded an Australian bachelor degree as a result of at least 1 year full time study while in Australia. The total period of full time study in Australia was at least 2 years (2 academic years)
5 Points If you have completed full time study in Australia for a total of at least 2 academic years towards the award of a degree, diploma or trade qualification. Applicants who can claim points for Australian qualifications may also be eligible to claim additional 5 points for having lived and studied for at least 2 years in regional Australia or low population growth metropolitan areas.
5 Points for spouse skills may be awarded if your spouse if they are also able to satisfy the basic requirements of age, English language ability, qualifications, nominated occupation and recent work experience and has obtained a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated occupation.
5 Bonus points may be awarded for one only of the following: Capital investment in Australia (a minimum of A$100,000); or Australian work experience (an applicant must have legally worked in Australia in any occupation on the Skilled Occupations List for at least 6 months in the 4 years before lodging an application); or Fluency in one of Australia's community languages (other than English)
15 Points for relationship may be awarded if an applicant or their spouse has a relative who is an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen, and who is willing to sponsor them. The applicant or their spouse must be related to the sponsor as either a non-dependent child, a parent, a brother or sister, or a niece or nephew.