189 Visa - Qualifications Problems - Advice Please?

[Te33aH]

Hello,

 

I would welcome any help from you all in relation to my issue, as described below...

 

I am currently applying for a 189 PR visa and it has got to the case officer stage for review. The points system currently see's me at the 60 point mark as I have used my career as an ICT Business/Systems Analyst to get to where we are (successful classification from the ACS (Computer Society), whilst also using a UK NVQ Level 3 qualification to gain the qualification 10 points....(NVQ Level 3 Use and Support of IT and Business Admin).

 

My issue however, is that the Case Officer has now come back stating that he cannot award 10 points for the NVQ 3 qualification and has suggested I undergo a new step from the ACS to confirm my qualifications.

 

Now, having since emailed the ACS, they have come back with the following:

 

In regards to the following – ‘This is a new step that they include in current skills assessments. They did not do this in a skills assessment that is as old as yours.

This is correct for applicants who applied through the general skill assessment application type and their qualification was the basis of their assessment.

Your application was lodged through Recognition of Prior Learning and a was based on your RPL submission and work experience.

 

 

My ACS classification is still valid, and expires later this year and it sounds like it was a 'Prior Learning' assessment that didn't have any reliance on ICT Qualifcations.

According to the Immigration webpage (here: http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/occupations/i/ict-business-analyst.htm) - it says:

 

"Note: If your qualifications are not in a relevant field to your nominated occupation and you want to claim points, the assessing authority will be unable to provide advice to the department. In these circumstances, the department will make a determination of how many points will be awarded to your qualifications".

 

(if you are still with me by this point) - Do you think it valid of me to return to the Case Officer and state that the Qualifications element is not recognisable by the ACS and then firm up my qualifications with the Case Officer in order to gain the required 10 points?

 

There is a lot of conflicting advice online about what NVQ Level 3 is comparable to in Oz. Although we used this page to help us (http://www.australia-migration.com/page/Offshore_qualifications_vs_Aus_standards/353).

 

Any help or advice (or anyone in a similar position) to help me from going crazy would be most appreciated.

 

Thanks all.

:arghh:

[Rupert]

This sounds too complex for a free forum to assist. You maybe need some professional help.

[Hot Welder]

Hello,

 

I would welcome any help from you all in relation to my issue, as described below...

 

I am currently applying for a 189 PR visa and it has got to the case officer stage for review. The points system currently see's me at the 60 point mark as I have used my career as an ICT Business/Systems Analyst to get to where we are (successful classification from the ACS (Computer Society), whilst also using a UK NVQ Level 3 qualification to gain the qualification 10 points....(NVQ Level 3 Use and Support of IT and Business Admin).

 

My issue however, is that the Case Officer has now come back stating that he cannot award 10 points for the NVQ 3 qualification and has suggested I undergo a new step from the ACS to confirm my qualifications.

 

Now, having since emailed the ACS, they have come back with the following:

 

In regards to the following – ‘This is a new step that they include in current skills assessments. They did not do this in a skills assessment that is as old as yours.

This is correct for applicants who applied through the general skill assessment application type and their qualification was the basis of their assessment.

Your application was lodged through Recognition of Prior Learning and a was based on your RPL submission and work experience.

 

 

My ACS classification is still valid, and expires later this year and it sounds like it was a 'Prior Learning' assessment that didn't have any reliance on ICT Qualifcations.

According to the Immigration webpage (here: http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/occupations/i/ict-business-analyst.htm) - it says:

 

"Note: If your qualifications are not in a relevant field to your nominated occupation and you want to claim points, the assessing authority will be unable to provide advice to the department. In these circumstances, the department will make a determination of how many points will be awarded to your qualifications".

 

(if you are still with me by this point) - Do you think it valid of me to return to the Case Officer and state that the Qualifications element is not recognisable by the ACS and then firm up my qualifications with the Case Officer in order to gain the required 10 points?

 

There is a lot of conflicting advice online about what NVQ Level 3 is comparable to in Oz. Although we used this page to help us (http://www.australia-migration.com/page/Offshore_qualifications_vs_Aus_standards/353).

 

Any help or advice (or anyone in a similar position) to help me from going crazy would be most appreciated.

 

Thanks all.

:arghh:

 

When you entered your NVQ qualification details, which option did you select for the 10 points? Was it qualification recognised by the assessing authority?

[Te33aH]

When you entered your NVQ qualification details, which option did you select for the 10 points? Was it qualification recognised by the assessing authority?

.

Hello - thanks for the replies so far...as for the above (it feels a long time ago now..but) I think we went for ' Diploma completed in Australia, trade qualification completed in Australia, or qualification or award of recognised standard'

- - - where the words "qualification or award of recognised standard" was aimed at being the NVQ (UK based). It had appeared that it did equal a diploma at the time (although conflicting information makes this unclear). Have we misinterpreted this badly?

 

In essense, I am now unsure as to whether the qualifications can be run past the Case Officer to argue their value or whether it's game over (please say no!)...

 

Any advice or anyone who has been in a similar position would be appreciated?

 

Thanks again....

[Hot Welder]

.

Hello - thanks for the replies so far...as for the above (it feels a long time ago now..but) I think we went for ' Diploma completed in Australia, trade qualification completed in Australia, or qualification or award of recognised standard'

- - - where the words "qualification or award of recognised standard" was aimed at being the NVQ (UK based). It had appeared that it did equal a diploma at the time (although conflicting information makes this unclear). Have we misinterpreted this badly?

 

In essense, I am now unsure as to whether the qualifications can be run past the Case Officer to argue their value or whether it's game over (please say no!)...

 

Any advice or anyone who has been in a similar position would be appreciated?

 

Thanks again....

 

The wording is ambiguous, I had a little trouble interpreting it correctly. I also came across that page you have linked to re Aus/UK comparable qualifications. It would appear the information on it is incorrect/outdated, as it states For trades and similar occupations, you need a qualification at the standard of (minimum) a Aus advanced diploma (NVQ 4 level) PLUS an apprenticeship. I am a tradie, and I don't have a qualification equivalent to an Aus advanced diploma. (I have NVQ Level 2)

 

It sounds as if you have perhaps been unlucky in the timing of when you had your skills assessment done, if they did not accept qualifications then, but are doing so now. For the current guidelines, I think that 'recognition' is meant as through the skills assessment bodies, and that is the only way you would be able to claim 10 points for this qualification.

 

That is my understanding based on my experience. The reply you posted from ACS explains how the system has changed, have they answered the question of if they could assess your qualification post skills assessment?

[Alan Collett]

This sounds too complex for a free forum to assist. You maybe need some professional help.

 

 

+1

 

Best regards.

[Yosunata]

Hi,

 

I think Vetassess can give you a qualification points advice letter even if it is not your assessment authority.

From their website:

 

Applicants who have received a Skills Assessment from another Assessing Authority

If you have been referred to VETASSESS by another assessing authority for an assessment of your unrelated or higher qualifications you can apply using our online application formor by completing and submitting the SRG34 Application for VETASSESS Advisory Letter on Qualification(s) for Points Test Purposes (non-VETASSESS occupations)

VETASSESS will assess the highest qualification held (regardless of the area of study), up to postgraduate doctoral degree level unless the applicant requests another qualification to be assessed for Points Test purposes. In some cases VETASSESS will need to consider two or more qualifications to determine whether together they are comparable to the educational level of a qualification on the Australian Qualifications Framework.