Changes in skilled migration

Surani Punchihewa

Registered Migration Consultant

We have received the most dramatic change of all times in the Australian migration program.

The change of points test was announced a fortnight ago and this is still very new yet hard to absorb as it is not the most fantastic news for Sri Lankans.

The State Government will be given unprecedented powers in choosing their potential migrants

Changes to the point test was proposed amongst other changes on February 8, 2010, where we heard there will be no more points for occupations in demand, new skills occupation list, giving autonomy to State and Territory governments over an independent migration scheme.

Why points test change

We should be thankful in a sense that this change did not happen overnight, leaving thousands of applicants in state of panic.

As mentioned this was a proposed change and the Australian Government has analyzed its economic needs while looking at the long-term prospects for incoming migrants.

The proposed change and points allocations are very similar to the system in Canada. The new points system will be officially executed in July 2011.

The biggest change I see is; there are no more points allocated for occupations. In the current system, in both lists of occupations schedule 3 and schedule 4, points such as 60, 50, 40 are given to occupations believed to be according to current demand in Australia. Under the proposed system, we see emphasis is put on the qualification.

From July 1 next year, it is very unlikely one would qualify without a formal, accredited and a recognized qualification.

This will be a disadvantage for professions such as IT, where under the current system, applicants with long years of work experience will qualify without formal qualification.

Analyzing the future

At a glance, it could be yet another panic stricken situation.

Applicants will find it difficult to score the required 65 points, which is the new pass-mark.

Majority of professionals will come to a standstill at 60 points and to obtain the 5 points required for a permanent visa will depend upon if the applicant has long years of work experience, or has a qualified spouse, can score points for Superior English, or is willing to do a translator's exam and so forth. State Government will be given unprecedented powers in choosing their potential migrants.

One significant, yet a considerable disadvantage for Sri Lankan applicants, is the points given for their English language ability. Under the current system, you are generously awarded 15 points if you have six points each in the IELTS test, although the new system awards nothing for fulfilling the same, and yet having six in each is mandatory to qualify for a GSM visa.

Applicants who have proficient English (seven in each band in the IELTS) and Superior English (eight in each band in the IELTS) will have consecutive 10 and 20 points.

In my long years of experience in the industry, I have seen a very minority of applicants having superior English.

Good news

Unlike some other changes, we see little advantage for applicants from the subcontinent. However, the increase of age upto 50 years is welcome although we cannot see an abundance in this category.

There is a long due change, to which we all must give credit to is the change to points for work experience.

Now it is more the merrier, giving an advantage for applicants with more work experience over others.

Expert opinion

This change will have a considerable reduction of people qualifying for migration to Australia from non-English speaking countries.

Applicants will have to put extra effort into obtaining higher marks for IELTS if they are to qualify for an independent visa.

It will be rather easier to qualify for a state nominated visa and temporary state sponsored visas will be common. It will not be welcoming news to applicants who have blood relatives to sponsor them as they will no longer qualify for PR visa.

These proposed changes will make a large number of applicants ineligible who have commenced their process taking into account the current law.

Therefore, it is utmost important that people who have entered into the process, completing their lodgement of visas prior to July 2011.

It has become evident that Australia is determined to look for the highly skilled with educated and well experienced professionals.

It is yet to be known if the proposed points test will assist addressing the skills shortage in realistic terms.

It will be an interesting year ahead for professionals in the migration industry as well as applicants.

The Australian Migration Centre held a seminar to educate the public about the changes and its impact to potential applicants.