Sub-class 189 Skilled-independent visa-What to do if you are 5 points short of the 60 point pass mark?

I often receive enquiries from people wanting to migrate to Australia on the sub-class 189 Skilled-Independent visa. They are fortunate enough to have an occupation on the Skilled occupations list (SOL):- http://www.immi.gov.au/Work/Pages/skilled-occupations-lists/sol.aspx and are likely to receive a positive skills assessment from the relevant skills assessing body for their skilled occupation. However they fall short of the General Points Test pass mark of 60 points (usually because of age). A way of obtaining a further 5 points under the General Points test is for the visa applicant to obtain accreditation from NAATI as a paraprofessional interpreter in a community language. More information on how to obtain this accreditation can be found here:- http://www.naati.com.au/PDF/Booklets/CCLP_brochure.pdf and here:- http://www.naati.com.au/PDF/Booklets/Accreditation_by_Testing_booklet.pdf The testing for paraprofessional level accreditation as an Interpreter can only be undertaken in Australia and New Zealand. An alternative to the sub-class 189 visa is the subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa. The occupations that are eligible for this visa are greater. They are listed on the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL) here:- http://www.immi.gov.au/Work/Pages/skilled-occupations-lists/csol.aspx This visa requires nomination by a State government. More information on this visa can be found here:- http://www.australianvisas.com.au/Visa_Categories/Skilled_Nominated/Subclass_190_Skilled_Nominated_Visa.html There is an extra 5 points allocated under the General Points test for State Nomination where an applicant has applied for a sub-class 190 Skilled Nominated visa. An Applicant for the sub-class 190 visa might also look at obtaining accreditation as a paraprofessional interpreter from NAATI as a way to obtain a further 5 points under the General Points Test. DIBP have been inviting visa applicants applying for the sub-class 189 Skilled-Independent visa and scoring 65 points under the General Points test to apply for the visa. DIBP have also been inviting some applicants who score 60 Points under the General Points Test to apply(although there may be a period of waiting to be invited if you only score 60 points). Information on invitations made by DIBP can be found here:- http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/ The graph on the web-page below shows invitations to lodge visa applications by point score in the February 24 2014 round of invitations. The graph provides some insight into which scores under the General Points Test within Expressions of Interest submitted are likely to be invited by DIBP to lodge visa applications. http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/index/reports/report-24022014/ Should you require any further information on the sub-class 189 Skilled Independent visa or the sub-class 190 Skilled Nominated visa please contact me. Yours faithfully Andrew Hackworthy B.Comm/Llb MMIA Solicitor/MARN9790738 7/133 Macpherson Street Bronte NSW 2024 Australia Tel: 02 9389 2290 Mobile: 0410 776 670 Email: hackworthy@optusnet.com.au