Recent changes to New South Wales (NSW) state legislation has provided opportunities to earn five additional points towards your visa applications in the points-based skilled migration programs.
The changes come after recent government announcements changed the points threshold from 60 to 65.
One way of boosting points is through applying for a General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa under an occupation on the new skill list recently released by the NSW government. The state body will nominate appropriate applicants with professions on the list, awarding them five additional points towards their visas.
Occupations on the list include bakers, child-care centre managers, early childhood and secondary school teachers, and social workers.
However, other states have different requirements to gain the five additional points, says immigration agent Alberto Fascetti.
"In New South Wales, for example, your profession must be on the Skilled Nominated visa list" he explained to SBS Italian, "In Tasmania, on the other hand, you must have family living in the state, an offer of employment from a local employer, or you must be studying in Tasmania."
Mr Fascetti also described other requirements necessary to maintain a state nomination after it is initially received.
"For example, it may be necessary that you have to be a resident in the state for which you were nominated for at least two years."
Five points can also be gained through doing the Credentialed Community Language (CCL) exam. This determines an applicant's English proficiency through interpreting a conversation between two individuals speaking different languages.
There has been a recent spike in demand for the test, as not only does it provide the five extra points, but it is significantly easier compared to the other English proficiency test, the IELTS.
