Schedule 6D61 required that the applicant be awarded 5 points at the time of invitation to apply for the visa if the applicant had completed a professional year in Australia in the applicants nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation for a total of at least 12 months within the 48 months before applying for the visa.
The MIA has been receiving many questions from members about whether the period of 12 months they were MIA had to be within the 48 months prior to being invited.
In order to be awarded 5 points for completing a professional year, you must have started and completed the course within 48 months of being invited.
The Department sees “completed” as more than just the end of a program and as referring to all parts or elements of the course. Therefore, 12 months must have elapsed before an invitation is sent.
The Department has advised that they will update their Procedural Instructions soon.
Australia Migration Services has been helping migrants file their citizenship paperwork for over a decade. If you need help with your own migration needs, please contact one of our consultants.
