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Posted by on in General

Email from Migration Alliance to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection:

Dear Jacqui
Could you urgently please get back to me about this because quite a few of my members have come to me with this problem.  I can let everyone know the answer via a news blast.
Thank you kindly.

Best regards,
Liana J Allan
Treasurer
Registered Migration Agent 0104178
http://migrationalliance.com.au/

___________________________________________________________________________________
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Date: Mon, Nov 25, 2013 at 4:20 PM
Subject: Help - Incorrect EOI Points
To: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dear Liana,
I am hoping you might be able to assist me with a query that the DIBP itself have not been able to (no surprises!).
I refer to the MIA Notice below dated 17 September 2013 and one of my clients has been affected by an incorrect score under the Subclass 189 visa. The difference between the MIA notice is that I had not “inadvertently” claimed more points for my client, but rather, the system had awarded the points.
The SkillSelect system gave my Client 15 points for education, when he should have received 10 points for education (based on an overseas Bachelor and Australian Masters). My client then received an invitation on 18 November 2013 with an indicative score of 65 points, when his score should only be 60. I am therefore unsure whether I should lodge his application, as the officers I spoke to at the GSM centre weren’t even aware of this issue and had the gall to accusing me of tampering with the points! I even lodged a second EOI for my client just to double check and the system awarded the same number of incorrect points.
The only way to get the correct score is to not declare my client’s Master’s qualification, which would then be seen as a failure to provide true and accurate information!
Based on the latest reports for the Round 4 November 2013 Results, the report indicates that my client’s nominated occupation of Systems Engineer (261313), which falls under the category of “2613 Software and Applications Programmers” require a score of 60 points, which is my client’s correct score:
http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/index/reports/report-2013-11-4/
My client has instructed me to lodge the application as soon as possible, but I would rather err on the side of caution.
Thank you for you kind attention in this matter and I would be so grateful if you could let me know your thoughts!

Kind Regards,

XXXXXXXXXXXXX - Registered Migration Agent
MARN XXXXXX
 
________________________________________________________________________________
MIA Notice: Important clarification of SkillSelect invitation point scores;

Author: Migration Institute of Australia

17 September 2013 —

Important clarification of SkillSelect invitation point scores

The MIA has raised Members’ concerns about points discrepancies between the SkillSelect invitation score and the point test assessed score upon application by a client. Following the MIA’s representations, the Department, after extensive consultation with its policy area, has issued its official position:

A criterion for the grant of a Subclass 189 visa, a Subclass 190 visa and the First Provisional Visa stream for a Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) (Class SP) visa (“a SkillSelect visa”) is that the applicant’s score, when assessed in relation to the visa under Subdivision B of Division 3 of Part 2 of the Act [the points test assessed score], is not less than the score stated in the invitation to apply for the visa [the invitation score].

The criterion acts as a disincentive to deliberate inflation of claims in the expression of interest (EOI) in order to obtain a higher ranking position in SkillSelect and ultimately an invitation to apply for a Skillselect visa.

However, the Department has become aware of cases where clients have made inadvertent errors when entering data in SkillSelect resulting in them being given a higher invitation score than they should otherwise have.

To reduce the likelihood of such errors occurring, the Department has significantly improved the information in SkillSelect. Nevertheless, some applicants may still make inadvertent errors in their EOIs.

To address this issue, consideration will be given to correcting an applicant’s invitation score where the Department identifies that an applicant has made an inadvertent error in their EOI and their corrected invitation score would have been high enough such that it would have resulted in an invitation being made in the original or subsequent SkillSelect invitation rounds.

For example, if an affected applicant’s invitation score was 75, and the lowest invitation scores for the relevant period were 75, 70 and 65 respectively, the applicant’s corrected invitation score must be no less than 65 before the Department would seek to correct the invitation score.

Departmental officers will first seek the permission of the affected applicant before correcting their invitation score.

PLEASE NOTE:

IT applicants will continue to be affected (or all of the 16 near capacity occupation) as the invite pass mark is so much higher due to the rationing.

Subclass 190 or 489 invitations under SMPs would be straightforward approvals as there is no advantage gained as the base line of 60 pt generates the invite as soon as the state approval is finalised within SkillsSelect.

Any Members with complex matters (ie Subclass 189 visas ) who would like some advice on their particular cases before they approach a case officer should email the MIA with the subject heading “GMS Points Test”.
___________________________________________________________________________________

Response from DIBP to Migration Alliance 2:19pm on 16/12/2013:

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A member of Migration Alliance has received an email from Angela Chan, President of the MIA.  A copy of that email is below.

Message to Members

Dear XXXXX (name removed for privacy reasons),

Recently there has been a great deal of public commentary by some registered migration agents through media statements and blogs which seem designed solely to denigrate, vilify and intimidate other registered migration agents and people associated with the profession. It is becoming widely accepted that the commentary is for the most part defamatory. This behaviour, masquerading as some crusade for truth, does nothing to advance the reputation of registered migration agents and is not a pathway towards greater community recognition and acceptance of registered migration agents as respected professionals.

The MIA and its Board does not support or condone conduct which may bring the migration profession into disrepute.

I am gratified to have received a great deal of support from our membership around the country who agree that the conduct of those people fuelling negative comments does not reflect how our members want their profession to be represented.

I can assure members that the MIA will not engage in a public slanging match. Instead, the MIA will continue to be vigorous in its pursuit of professional conduct and will not resile from taking appropriate action to defend and protect our reputation and integrity. 

The Code of Conduct for registered migration agents at clause 4.5 gives clear direction, "A registered migration agent must act with fairness, honesty and courtesy when dealing with other registered migration agents."  I invite you all to faithfully honour this obligation and encourage other registered migration agents to do the same.

Finally, as we mourn the death of the late, great Nelson Mandela, we should all remember his words:  "A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination."


Angela Chan FMIA
MIA National President
 

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Migration Alliance attended the NSW Client Reference Group (CRG) meeting this morning at the DIBP, Level 5, Tower C, 300 Elizabeth Street, Sydney.  Kay Ransome, the principal member of the MRT-RRT presented on 'Tribubals Online - Stage 1 e-Services'.  The notes from the presentation are as follows:

The MRT-RRT is going online.

Phase one will be launching at the end of January 2014.  Applications will be able to be lodged online and paymement made by credit card.  Direct debit might be able to occur later.  Applications will still be able to be lodged offline.

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Migration Alliance was represented by Michael Jeremy, Maryanne Young and me at the NSW Client Reference Group meeting this morning.  This was held at DIBP, Level 5, Tower C, 300 Elizabeth Street, Sydney.

This presentation was called 'Online Account' and CR10 Update and it was provided by Adrian Motherway and Mark McGuire.  Adrian is the Global Manager for e-business and Mark is the Director of e-business support.  Adrian has just taken a new role in the private sector and is soon to be leaving the DIBP.  An announcement will be made shortly regarding Adrian's replacement.  The presentation was made by video-conference from Canberra.

Adrian Motherway - presentation

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Rocio Trapag-Saul provided the client service update this morning at DIBP's Client Reference Group meeting which was held at Level 5, Tower C, 300 Elizabeth Street, Sydney in the DIBP's Conference Room.

Rocio is the Global Manager, Client Services and her role includes counters, telephones and T.I.S but her role is not responsible for offshore and there is no central position looking after offshore at the moment.

There are a few big things on the development agenda:

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