Farrukh Zeeshan

Yes, you cannot claim points for employment prior to this date, if you are short of points, and working in the same company, better wait till July to claim 5 points for 1 year work experience in Australia in your nominated occupation.

The Federal Government today announced a targeted increase to the 2012–13 migration program, providing additional places to help fill skills shortages in parts of the Australian economy. Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Bowen MP said the planned migration program in the 2012–13 Budget would provide support to the growth regions and sectors of Australia's economy struggling to meet acute skills shortages. 'The measured increase of 5000 places—from 185 000 to 190 000—comes in the context of significant skills gaps in both the short and medium term in certain sectors of our patchwork economy,' Mr Bowen said. The 2012–13 migration program includes a skill stream of 129 250 places, 60 185 family places and a special eligibility stream of 565 places. Mr Bowen said regional visas would also continue to be given high processing priority to recognise the needs of regional employers and encourage regional migration. Up to 16 000 places have been reserved for the regional sponsored migration scheme (skilled) to ensure those areas have the support they need to fill skills gaps, grow local economies and strengthen communities.

If you share the courses you studied during both of your degrees, and main responsibilities of your current job (as job title does not necessarily mean the same with different employers and different industries), then it will be easier for members to share their opinions.