Breaking News – Clarification on Policy regarding Professional year Points for GSM applications
Breaking News- Clarification on Policy regarding Professional year Points for GSM applications
There has been some confusion since October 2022 regarding the Department of Home Affairs’ interpretation of the 48 month requirement for Professional year points. This relates to Schedule 6D61 which lists points for completing a Professional Year for general skilled migration.
Item: 6D61
At the time of invitation to apply for the visa, the applicant had completed:
A professional year in Australia in:
(a) the applicant’s nominated skilled occupation; or
(b) a closely related skilled occupation;
for a period totalling at least 12 months in the 48 months immediately before that time.
Number of points: 5
There were concerns that the Department required the Professional year to have commenced within the 48 months immediately before the time of invitation to apply. This would have affected all those who started their Professional year before 48 months.
However, this has now been clarified by the Department that the Professional Year requirement relates only to the date on which the professional year ended. This means that the Professional Year is therefore not required to be commenced within the 48 months immediately before the time of invitation to apply for the visa- it needs to have been completed within the 48 months immediately before the time of invitation to apply for the visa.
Contact Sellanes Clark Immigration Law Specialists if you require any Immigration Assistance.
