New Points Test for General Skilled Migration (GSM) Announced

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, the Honourable Chris Bowen MP, has announced the new Points Test for General Skilled Migration (GSM) on 11 Nov 2010. Designed to complement the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) that came into effect on 1 July, the Points Test is "proposed to take effect from 1 July 2011, subject to passage of supporting legislation through the Parliament. It will apply to anyone lodging an application from 1 July 2011." The new points test will not apply to unfinalised applications lodged prior to 1 July 2011. The new points test will not change the generous transitional arrangement in place until 31 Dec 2012 for former international students. Amongst its features: Distinction between 40/50/60 point occupations abolished, those points removed from test Age points adjusted to reflect productive working years rather than youth Additional 10 point differential introduced for “Superior English” language ability (IELTS 8) Additional points for extended periods of employment in Australia Additional points for longer periods of professional experience generally Considerable additional points for university graduates, particularly for applicants with PhDs Relative advantages of trade and degree qualified occupations have been reversed Regional nomination and family sponsorship points reduced No indication of difference between independent and sponsored pass marks at this stage Pass mark of 65