Skills Assessments and AFP Clearances is required for Onshore General Skilled Migration

For those student who prepare to lodge visa application between 3 March 2005 and 30 June 2005, they may encount the problem that they can’t provide assessment result to DIMIA as their final academic results only will be available until the first or second week of March 2005. Consequently, some students may not be able to arrange a skills assessment before their Student visa expires. The fact they are unable to obtain a skills assessment will also mean that they are unable to satisfy a schedule 1 criterion to make a valid application for either a subclass 497 visa or an onshore GSM visa, which one, or both, of the following is required to make a valid application: 

l Skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for the applicant’s nominated occupation, 

l Australian Federal Police (AFP) clearance. 

The following strategy has been introduced to assist those genuine applicants who are affected by this situation. If all other requirements are met to make a valid application, with the exception of Skills assessment result and AFP clearance, the application will be valid provided the applicant attaches: 

l evidence that they have applied for a skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority, and/or 

l evidence that they have applied for an AFP clearance*.  

(* This is an extension of the existing processing arrangements.) 

Satisfactory evidence may include, but is not limited to: 

l a letter from either the relevant assessing authority or AFP (or both) confirming that an assessment has been sought, 

l evidence of payment (eg bank draft/money order) by the applicant to the authority for the assessment. 

To ensure prompt processing of their applications, applicants will need to forward their skills assessment and/or AFP clearance as soon as these are available. When forwarding documents applicants should quote their full name, date of birth, client ID and file reference number. These details will be available in the applicant’s acknowledgement letter from DIMIA.