How New Point System Changes will make Australia Immigration Easy?

The Australian government has recently announced an important revision in the points system for General Skilled Migration visas. These changes will come into effect from November 16, 2019 and are relevant to existing Skilled Independent – 189, State Nominated Subclass – 190 and Subclass 489. Moreover, these changes will also be applicable for the new Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa Subclass 491, which will also become valid from November 16, 2019.

Points are awarded to applicants under the General Skilled Migration Program for key eligibility factors, which are linked with an applicant’s ability to contribute to the economy of Australia.

With the introduction of these changes, the Australian immigration authority is aiming to ease out the congestion in different Australian cities and make more new immigrants work and live in the regional areas of Australia. These changes also indicate that Australia is giving more preference to those applicants who have a skilled partner who is proficient in English or to those individual applicants who are single.

Below are the major changes were done to the Points Test System:

Applicants will get total 10 points for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) qualifications. Currently, only 5 points are awarded under these criteria.

Applicants who have a skilled spouse or de facto partner will get a total of 10 points. However, the spouse must age below 45 years and must be proficient in the English language. They must undergo an authorized skills assessment and their occupation has to be listed on the skilled occupation list Australia. Currently, only 5 points are awarded under these criteria.

Applicants who are single or have a spouse or de facto partner with an Australian Permanent residency or citizenship will get 10 points. This is a new criterion that has been added.

Another addition of 5 points is made for those applicants who have a spouse or de facto partner with competency in the English language.

Applicants who have a nomination by a Territory or State government, or sponsored by an eligible relative or family member living in Australia will get 15 points. These points are awarded under Subclass 489 visa or the newly announced Subclass 491 visa. Currently, only 10 points are awarded under these criteria.

The amendments to the current point system are followed by the Productivity Commission's recommendation. In their 2016 report, the Commission had recommended amending the points system so that the secondary applicant with required skills and employment-related characteristics can significantly contribute to the point score of a primary applicant.

When all the points are equal except partner qualifications, the invitations will be ranked in the below-stated order:

1. Applicants without any de facto partner or spouse
2. Applicants with a de facto partner or spouse who have competency in the English language, but doesn't possess the required skills to obtain Skilled partner status
3. Applicants with a de facto partner or spouse who is ineligible for either Skilled partner or competent English points.

However, it is not yet confirmed how these points will be calculated. Once this new points system comes into effect, there will be more information issued regarding the introduced changes and how it will impact all the Australian skilled migrants

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