Skills Select & ECA’s PY FAQs

SkillSelect and Planning your Education Pathway

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is implementing a number of changes to the Skilled Migration system from July 1st 2012. The new system is called SkillSelect.

This FAQ is designed to help students work out their best education pathways with skilled migration in mind.

Naturally, each person’s situation is different, and students are encouraged to seek independent advice from a migration agent or lawyer.

1.  What is SkillSelect?

DIAC describes the new system as follows:

SkillSelect is an online system that enables skilled workers interested in migrating to Australia to record their details to be considered for a skilled visa through an Expression of Interest (EOI).

2. Where can I get more detailed information on SkillSelect?

The DIAC website has a lot of valuable information.  It can be found at www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect

3. Who will be affected by the new system?

All people seeking permanent residence (PR) after July 1st 2012, unless they held or applied for their visa before February 8th 2010 and are eligible for transitional arrangements.

From 1 July 2012 people wishing to migrate as a skilled migrant to Australia will need to complete an Expression of Interest (EOI).

4. What will I need to be able to submit an Expression of Interest?

To submit an EOI for a points base immigration, people will need to have a minimum of 65 migration points, based on a new points system. They will also have to have completed an English language test (10 points for IELTS 7) and have their professional skills assessment before they submit their EOI.

5. How will SkillSelect work?

Under SkillSelect any person interested in skilled migration to Australia will have to:

• Earn a minimum of 65 migration points and meet all other requirements such as completing an English language test, having a skills assessment and having an occupation on SOL).
• Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in applying for a permanent residence visa.
• No Bridging Visa is offered, and you remain on your current visa. If your current visa expires before you are invited to submit an application for Permanent Residence, you will have to return to your home country while you wait.
• Your EOI will go into a pool with all other applicants, and at regular intervals, DIAC will invite people from the pool to apply for Permanent Residence. Those with the highest aggregate points in occupations most in demand will be invited first.
• Those invited to apply will have 2 months to submit a valid application, at which time a bridging visa will be issued.
• An EOI will be valid for 2 years. Therefore you could be invited to apply for a Permanent Residence Visa at any time up to 2 years after you submit your EOI.
• At any time you will be able to submit a new EOI or update your EOI and add to the point score by way of new skills, work experience or attributes

6. How can ECA’s PY Advantage Plus help me achieve maximum points for my Expression of Interest?

ECA’s Professional Year will give you 5 migration points if you graduate.

ECA’s Professional Year Advantage Plus free IELTS support, professional skills training and professional job search support will help you maximize your migration points (10 for IELTS 7 and 5 for one year’s professional employment in Australia).

7. Can I use the current system for applying for PR before July 1 2012?

Yes, the current Points Model will operate from July 1st 2011 to 30 June 2012, and you can apply for PR if you meet the current points system requirements before then.

This means you can apply for PR and receive a bridging visa whilst waiting for your application to be processed, but only if you apply before June 30th 2012.