[Tentun]

Hi Everyone

My friends who are thinking of coming to NZ too asked me this questions and I was stumped so thought I'd look to you wise people for some help as have found no joy on NZIS website.

I know that if you want to submit an EOI and you have work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage you have to have the qualifications to back it up ie. can't claim the bonus points for your work experience without having a recognised qual in that area too.

BUT . . what about the other way round.

What if you have a qualification in an area of absolute skills shortage but since qualifying you've never worked in that area. I think her case is different to someone who is newly qualified, because she is not newly qualified, she did the course 10 years ago but just decided it wasn't for her so changed careers and hasn't worked in the area since.

Can anyone offer some advice.

[Cookevilleins]

If the qualification matches the criteria stated in the LTSSL (last column), then you can claim the bonus points for that qualification (regardless of work experience or when the qual was earned). Keep in mind that under the current rules, this requires that you have a NZQA full evaluation performed for that qualification.

As an aside to your question, I have noticed that many recent pool selections have included EOI's which included bonus points for qualifications on the LTSSL. For example the 4-Jul-2007 selection included "All EOIs claiming 10 points for a qualification in an area of absolute skill shortage and with a points total between 105 and 135 points". So now might be a good time to submit an EOI with this type of bonus points!

edit: Meant to post the link to the history of selection points:

http://formshelp.immigration.govt.nz/SkilledMigrant/ExpressionOfInterest/HistoryOfSelectionPoints.htm