Australia demands strong skills for Visa, General Skilled Migration Test revised

Australia, having a major labor market decided to revise its rules for providing Visa for migrants. The Australian government has decided to reform the ‘General Skilled Migration’ Points Test. As per Chris Bowen, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship of Australia, the decision is a part of Australia’s new migration programs for improving productivity. Only migrants with strong skills can clear the test.

Earlier, the Migration Test in Australia was based on vocational skills. Now the Visa applicants should concentrate on improving their English proficiency and communication skills along with their higher education qualifications. The Australian Government will identify all qualifications from abroad but will give priority to the additional qualifications acquired from Australia.

The new decisions might be a threat for low skilled Visa applicants from India. The Australian Government will only provide Visa to the brightest applicants for long term occupations. The revised Migration Points Test will be in effect from 1st July 2011. The new test will favor candidates between the age group of 25 and 32.

The change in Visa rules will also affect the low skilled Indian students who have already migrated to Australia. It is believed that the new Visa criterion has a reduced probability of affecting short term occupations like cooking and hair dressing.