From the 1st of January, 2015 VETASSESS is introducing a revised migration skills assessment process for general professional occupations.
A list of general professional occupations assessed by VETASSESS is here.
The skills assessment is to include an assessment of the highest qualification level and the “date deemed skilled” based on qualifications and employment evidence provided with the application.
VETASSESS claims that this ” … will offer a streamlined application process with one application form, a simpler fee structure and a reduced turn-around time.”
The skills assessment criteria and the occupational groups detailed on the VETASSESS website will remain the same. Applicants will be required to hold a qualification which is assessed as comparable to the required educational level for their nominated occupation in a highly relevant field with one year of employment that is highly relevant and at the required skill level.
Additionally, based on the applicant’s qualification and employment evidence provided within the last 10 years, VETASSESS will determine the date at which the applicant is deemed to be skilled based on closely related employment.
We anticipate that this “deeming date” will be used by the Department of Immigration in its assessment of skilled employment for the purpose of the skilled visa points test – which means that documentation supporting the application to VETASSESS will be of more critical importance in optimising the number of points claimed for the purpose of a general skilled visa application under subclass 189, 190, or 489.
Indeed, the VETASSESS website confirms that the introduction of the deeming date: ” … refers to the date that an applicant is considered skilled in their nominated occupation and therefore eligible for claiming employment points from that date and not earlier.”
An example is provided by VETASSESS:
An applicant nominating the occupation of Chemist (ANZSCO Code: 234211) completes a relevant Bachelor degree in 2007 and has four years of relevant work experience from January 2010 to December 2013.
One year of work experience post the relevant qualification meets the skills assessment criteria and the date the applicant is deemed skilled will be January 2011. Therefore, all relevant/closely related employment from January 2011 will be considered skilled employment and eligible for points test purposes.
If you would like to move to live in Australia and have a general skilled occupation requiring assessment by VETASSESS please contact us for a free initial discussion about your situation and your visa strategy. Complete the enquiry form on this webpage and we’ll be in contact with you.
