Does your experience, qualifications and skills qualify for you to migrate and settle permanently in Australia? The General Skilled Migration (GSM) Program may be right for you as it assesses individuals who are not sponsored by an employer, family member or nominated by a state/territory government. Through this program, those who demonstrate the eligible criteria can apply for and receive an Australian Skilled Migration Visa which will provide them the opportunity to live and work in Australia.
Why is GSM a Point-Based System?
The Global Skilled Migrant (GSM) program evaluates candidates for a visa based on criteria such as education, work experience and language ability. Points are awarded and reviewed by state governments to find out if the applicant is suitable for the position that the visa provides access to. The more points one has in their GSM score, the more likely they are to receive an invitation to apply for a visa through this system.
Minimum score required to obtain a visa under the GSM program
If you wish to obtain an Australian visa through the Skilled Migration Program (GSM), you must score at least 65 points on your application.
How are points granted in the GSM system?
The point-based system assigns points to each applicant based on their qualifications and skills, such as age, language proficiency, employment experience, language skills and spouse/partner skills and qualifications. Candidates can earn a maximum number of points based on how well they meet these criteria.
How do I get more points under the GSM program?
Want to increase your chances in the GSM program and get closer to that visa? Boosting your points can help. Your age, language proficiency, qualifications and work experience all count under the program, but there are other ways you can score more GSM points and give yourself an edge over others vying for the same visa. Here’s how you can do it.
Appearance in the Accredited language test
Do you want to get an edge in the visa invitation process? Take the Credentialed Community Language Test, or CCL, offered by The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). It is a test that allocates 5 additional points if you pass it. This test evaluates how well you comprehend English and your preferred language other than English (LOTE)by interpreting two recorded dialogues based on a conversation between English and LOTE. You will be expected to demonstrate good comprehension within 5 seconds of each unit being completed. If you succeed in passing this test, the five points will give you that extra boost to secure your visa invitation.
Regional Study
A Regional Study based in a Designated Regional Area in Australia can put you five points ahead of the competition when it comes to immigration. Eligibility requires a single eligible qualification that requires at least two years of academic study or a combination of qualifications that add up to two academic years of study leading to an eligible qualification. To meet the criteria, applicants need to have completed their studies and lived in a DRA for at least 16 calendar months.
Partner Skills
For those applying for the Australia Skilled Migration Visa with a partner or spouse, there may be an opportunity to receive additional points. This is due to the fact that up to five extra points may be awarded if the migrating partner meets certain criteria like age, educational and language qualifications. A maximum of 10 points can also be attained if you are single or your partner has Australian citizenship or permanent residency status. As such, it is important to bear in mind these partner skills when considering how best to secure a successful visa application.
