[NandA]

Hi all,

Our first post although I have been lurking for a little while :D

We had submitted our EOI for the Skilled migrant category last month and were overjoyed to have it selected with 140 points. Then we received a letter and email stating that my qualification for skills shortage and future growth areas, being an HND rather than degree was not enough and therefore my 10 years in IT didn't count either. This has now dropped us down to 100 points and back into the pool :(
This goes against what I read on all of the forms and I even just ran through the the quick points calculator again and get 130 points. so I'm a little perplexed - does anyone have any advice on what to do next? We have friends who have just emigrated so they are going to start sending my CV around - hopefully a job offer will come up. :uhoh

Thanks Neil & Ali

[Smiler]

Hi Neil and Ali

I can't help you with your qualification query, but I'm sure someone will be along soon that can. :o Can you query your points calculation with them?

I just wanted to say welcome to the forum. :clap

Don't be a lurker :D and fingers crossed for a job offer for you. What part of IT are you in and where in NZ are you heading?

[NandA]

Hi Smiler and thanks for the welcome.

I'm classed as a technical architect, but in my current role I am all that and more as I have been with the company since it started. I can pretty much turn my hand to anything apart from developing.

To be perfectly honest we're not yet 100% on a location as yet, but it would obviously need to be somewhere with the necessary job market.

[southparkers]

Hi NandA,
Dont get too despondant, the same thing happen to us, we thought OH was in absolute skill shortage but wasnt,now hes in the immediate skill shortage so i guess thats why we were selected in june with 115 points, I thought a HND was similar to a degree on points,Im sure someone on here will be able to tell you, they know everything about anything,
Good luck,and i,m sure you,ll be fine.

[NandA]

Thanks for your reply SouthParkers, I've been away for a few weeks desperately trying to find a way around this. I have given my CV to friends in NZ and have been looking into upgrading my HND to a degree (but that would take 2 years part time study). I just don't want this to be a waste of time, money and effort aimply because they have quote "changed the rules" whilst we were doing our EOI

[NandA]

OK I'm confused now. We were told by email that we were going back into the pool as we had had our points deducted. But the website still shows us selected :confused:

[jaycee]

Hi N&A, I'm trying to figure out how/why they took 40 points off you. I think it's true that you wouldn't be able to claim the 10 bonus points for a qualification in a Skill Shortage Area, as the SSL has the acceptable qualifications on it, and for IT it is a degree. I can also see that wouldn't get 15 points for work experience in a Skill Shortage Area either, because of not being "suitably qualified" (I am in the same boat on that one!). But I would have thought that you would get 30 for your ten years' experience, provided it was relevant to your HND.

This isn't from personal experience, btw, just too much reading of the NZIS website! But as Smiler said, it may be worth querying, because if you had 115 points rather than 100, you might still have a chance of being selected, it seems people with that many points have managed it. Good luck, anyway.

[diforsyth]

I have an HND in Computer Studies (Scottish) and 15 years experiece in IT. I had to send my certificates through to NZVQ(?) to be assessed and was given the points, at least I assume I did because I've got PR now. I used Protea Pacific for the process and they dealt with all these types of issues that cropped up so I don't know if that makes a difference or whether skills etc are continually changing. :confused:

[willsken]

If your qualification isn't enough to get you the bonus points for the qualification in the skills shortage area itself then I'm afraid you are unable to claim the bonus points for the work experience either.

This exact thing has just happened to a friend of mine and they have also been put back into the pool. They are now having to redo their qualification however, then their work experience won't count as it was gained before their qualification was awarded. :mad:

This only affects the bonus points. So while you can still be awarded the 50 (?) points for the qualification itself you lose all the bonus points.

Sorry if this is not clear.... I know what I am trying to say but it's hard to write down. :roll

[Angie and Mick]

Hi
Same thing happened to me, I have a Diploma in Social work and as such does not count in the absolute skills shortage, then lost 10 points. I need to have a degree in Social Work. :(

We got put back into the pool the other week, took several days before it changed back to submitted. If you find you can get points in the future you will then be able to edit your EOI.

We are now at 110 points however looking at the selections recently not sure if we will be selected.

Good luck with yours.

[Angie and Mick]

Just adding to my above post after reading replies again. Not sure on some of the points. I only lost 10 points for for not getting the bonus points for qualification in an area of absolute skill shortage- Social Worker. However I got 50 for recognised qualification and 30 points for work experience.

They do make it confusing, the other day I got a email saying something about changes made as of 24 July to work experience and skill shortage, I though hey may get the points back, however on contact NZIs this related to some countries which in the past work experience was not recognised in absolute skills shortage area. Disappointment again, especially after listening to a lot of music, press 1, or 2 etc. :(

[Avalon]

I'm classed as a technical architect, but in my current role I am all that and more as I have been with the company since it started. I can pretty much turn my hand to anything apart from developing.
.

Hello therer, and welcome to the forum - ive only just spotted this thread.

I was wondering - could you just explain what you mean by technical architect? Sorry if that sounds like a daft question - but you never do know these days what job titles might mean.

Theres a chance someone could offer you a bit more help - at least thats the hope.

Stick with it - and definately try and talk to nzis as to whether you are selected or not. They can be a bunch of numpties sometimes - but you should get a starigt answer eventually.

[willsken]

Just adding to my above post after reading replies again. Not sure on some of the points. I only lost 10 points for for not getting the bonus points for qualification in an area of absolute skill shortage- Social Worker. However I got 50 for recognised qualification and 30 points for work experience.

They do make it confusing, the other day I got a email saying something about changes made as of 24 July to work experience and skill shortage, I though hey may get the points back, however on contact NZIs this related to some countries which in the past work experience was not recognised in absolute skills shortage area. Disappointment again, especially after listening to a lot of music, press 1, or 2 etc. :(

The way it was explained to me is that if you don't get the bonus points for the qualification then you don't get the bonus points for work experience. So, yes, you do keep the 50 for the qualification and the 30 for the work experience. BUT the way they are pulling from the pool at the moment if you can't claim any BONUS points then you won't get pulled. :mad:

This is why my friend has decided to sit a recognised skills shortage qualification. So then they will get the bonus points for it.

[Angie and Mick]

HI
How long will it take for them to do the qualification to get the bonus points, and what qualification are they going to do.

[Helen & John]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

We had a very similar problem, my husbands qualifications were rejected and therefore we lost his work experience points as well. I phoned NZQA and the NZI here in New Zealand and found that if your qualifications dont match exact to what they require then they dont count at all and therefore neither does your work experience. We emailed lots of companies in New Zealand a letter and OH CV and had quite good response. We got a job offer after a telephone interview and changed our EOI to job offer to gain more points and we were selected again and got our PR that way. We have been in NZ for 6 months now in Palmerston North and we love it.

Although my OH is not in IT I know the points system is the same. Dont give up, keep trying and beleiving and you will get here in the end. We spent endless nights on the phone and internet, just email off your cv, apply for jobs and keep going. The other thing was, I contacted the officer who rejected our EOI after we lost the qualifications and asked if we got the job offer would be ok, and he said yes, gave us some time to sort it out, and we werent actually put back into the pool, our EOI was just put on hold for 3 weeks. Ring up and speak to them or email them ask questions and you may find them helpful.

Sorry I have rambled on, and probably no help at all, but know what you are going through, just dont give up!

Helen and John,

[StevenC]

That's all very concerning.

I am hoping to claim points for the past 8 years I have worked in the legal profession specialising in corporate and commercial work. I was also hoping to claim 50 points for my HND in Applied Biology which NZQA have preliminarily assessed as being worth that.

As you can see, two years clunking test tubes when I was 18/19 doesn't have anything to do with drafting share purchase agreements :confused:

I fear I may be in for some bad news........

:uhoh

[jaycee]

Steven, I think many of the issues being raised here apply to the bonus points for work experience in a Skill Shortage Area. To claim those, you have to have a qualification that fits the person specification for that Skill Shortage, and most if not all specify a qualification in the same field. However as i understand it, claiming points for skilled work experience isn't necessarily subject to that - the NZIS Operations Manual says:

"Work experience is recognised and qualifies for points if it meets the requirements set out at (a) and (b) below:
a. A visa or immigration officer must be satisfied that work experience is:
i relevant to the principal applicant’s* current skilled employment in New Zealand or offer of skilled employment in New Zealand (see SM7); or
ii relevant to the principal applicant’s* recognised qualification (see SM14), or
iii skilled, because it required, or enabled the principal applicant* to gain, considerable specialist, technical or management expertise."

I think yours would fit (iii)?

Btw you can download the manual from the NZIS website - it's wordy, but not too bad if you open it in a PDF viewer that has a search facility! In the end I think it's clearer than trawling through the site.

[Bergita]

I just want to make sure I'm understanding this right.... if you have no qualifications in your area of work experience, then even if your work experience is in an area of skilled shortage, it doesn't count? We would still qualify on points with a job offer, but just barely.... :uhoh

[Chiba]

Ooh! Ooh! That's what happened to us too. We applied with 140 points, they selected us, but then returned us to the pool because they think that my degree (Computer Aided Engineering) didn't fit the category for my job of 10+ years (Software Engineer). We appealed, and after 4 months or so got ITA'd out of the blue, but now have 115 points. I figure what the hell, we're picked anyway. If we get WTR instead of straight PR, then it's not going to make any difference as I need a job anyway! My advice, FWIW - don't give up! Keep at them.

OK, so I'm still kind of wondering if the 140->115 points reduction is going to affect anything. Any ideas anyone?

[wilson182]

I just want to make sure I'm understanding this right.... if you have no qualifications in your area of work experience, then even if your work experience is in an area of skilled shortage, it doesn't count? We would still qualify on points with a job offer, but just barely.... :uhoh

Your job offer must match your work experience OR your qualifications. If you have a job offer relevant to your work experience and your work experience is in the area of skilled shortage you can claim bonus points.

[Bergita]

Oh, ok. That's good news. Thanks a lot.

[NandA]

Well I had a bit of a break again whilst we were assessing our options and have in the meantime been posting my CV everywhere I can.

I have just been reading through all of the replies and would like to thank you all for your words of encouragment and explanations :nice1

Avalon - A Technical Architect is a bit of a buzzword term but it basically means I research, plan and implement systems into an organization in an effort to provide a better service. However, I see it as more of a systems planner/administrator role :D

We have also been saving like mad to take a trip out next year sometime and hopefully line up some interviews or at least spread my CV around "locally"

I am wondering if maybe an agency would give us better or more options.

Thanks again

Neil.

[JJG]

We didn't think we would get PR as we were not sure of how many points we would receive. We went over last summer and I lined up a couple of interviews, one of which was with an accredited employer. I got the job and will be going over on a WTR which only takes 2 weeks to process after you have all your documents together.
So good luck and get your CV out there and you never know.

[happymartins]

We're in a similar situation. I'm half expecting my EOI to be deselected as the qualification I have may not be adequate. I'm due to finish my degree quite soon with the Open University which should put the matter straight but it depends when the NZIS gets around to looking at my EOI. If they reject me before my degree is awarded (Dec at the earliest) I reckon we'll be back in the pool.

Another iron I have in the fire is with my old college. I flunked out in the final year of an Engineering Honours degree but I'm in negotiation with them to award me a degree without honours which should satisy NZIS if necessary.

The qualification I used on my EOI I got assessed by the NZQA as a level 5 qualification which I thought gave me enough points.

Regardless of any of this we are planning to head out to NZ on a visitors visa and whilst there I may see if I can persuade someone to offer me a job which would render most of the above irrelevant. If we have to come back after six months we could continue to pursue PR from the UK.

[Ana&Steve]

We also had an EOI "deselected" but couldn't go back in the pool because they took too many points away. I don't know if it's the same in the UK, but in the States you have to have a job or job offer in NZ in order to qualify for bonus points. I noticed now it's clairified on the EOI submission, but we didn't catch it first time 'round. :o We are going for the visa/job offer thing next!
Ana

[Angie and Mick]

Hi
Not sure if this will help any one but since July 2006 you can gain bonus points if you work experience is in a comparable market.

This was in the immigration site.

quote:

Recognised work experience

For your work experience to be recognised, it must be relevant to your recognised qualification or relevant to your current or offered skilled employment in New Zealand. Or, you can show us that you work experience is skilled because it provided you with considerable specialist, technical or management expertise.

You can gain bonus points if you have work experience lawfully gained in New Zealand or that was in an identified future growth area, cluster or area of absolute skills shortage (see links below for definitions of these terms).

If you do not have current skilled employment or an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand, your work experience must have been in a comparable labour market in order for you to claim points*.

* From 24 July 2006, the definition of recognised work experience is changing. The new definition allows points to be awarded for work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage, gained in any labour market. Applicants who do not have skilled employment or an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand, but who do have work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage gained in a non-comparable labour market, can claim points for work experience on their Expression of Interest from 24 July

Related Links
See definitions of Identified future growth area, Cluster, and Comparable labour market.

I hope this give some extra points. good luck.

Comparable labour market

A labour market is the commercial environment in which people exchange their work for income and where employers and workers ‘trade’ on the demand for, and supply of, skills. If you do not have skilled employment or an offer of skilled employment, your work experience must have been gained in a comparable labour market in order for you to claim points.

Australia Japan
Austria Malaysia
Belgium- Luxembourg New Zealand
Canada Netherlands
Cyprus Norway
Denmark Philippines
Finland Portugal
France Republic of South Korea
Germany Singapore
Greece Spain
Iceland Sweden
Ireland Switzerland
Israel South Africa
Italy United Kingdom
United States

[Ana&Steve]

OMG...we submitted ours in June..
/banging head against wall
//seriously considering new EOI

[Angie and Mick]

Hi Ana and Steve

If you feel you can get extra points you can edit your existing EOI just remember to re submit.

[Ana&Steve]

:) Thanks, I'm gonna research right now!
Ana

[NandA]

Do you have to pay to resubmit or is it all covered in the original payment?

[Trigirl]

the rules are as follows:

work experience:
standard points: you can claim standard points for work experience if it was in a comparable country or in a role that is on the skills shortage list.

bonus points: you can only claim bonus points for cluster or future growth area if you have a job or job offer in NZ. you can claim bonus points for area of skills shortage even if you don't have a job or job offer in NZ.


the only change since july is for those people who aren't in a comparable country - they can now claim their work experience points so long as they are in a skills shortage area. so for someone who's work experience is in UK or US the change in july will make no difference at all.

hope that helps

[Angie and Mick]

Ana

No to edit an existing EOI does not cost extra money.

[hongkongstuey]

Can't really add much that'll be of help to you but just wanted to say you're not on your own in this matter and keep plugging away at them - I've now had my EOI selected and then deselected TWICE!

The first time was because my experience (in geotechnical engineering, a skills shortage area) was mostly Hong Kong based and they don't consider that a comparable market for some reason or another - they wouldn't tell me why when i asked. This lost me six years worth of experience points and dropped me back in the pool at a much lower down.

I was then re-selected on my lower score (even though they'd since changed the rules regarding the above, it seems they didn't give me back the points they took away). This time however they're claiming I'm not actually a professional engineer because my degree's are engineering geology (essentially the same as geotechnical engineering in most aspects) based and not Washington Accord accredited Civil Engineering degrees. This is even though I'm a a registered Chartered Engineer / Professional Engineer in both the UK and Hong Kong and could acquire similar status in NZ under reciprical rights agreements.

I'm currently appealing their decision although things have gone noticably quiet since I did so - about 4-5 weeks ago

[Myrkk]

Hmm, this is interesting. My hubbie is in IT [12yrs exp]and has an HND and a PgDip but no degree. We'll have to ask at the expo tomorrow. That could 'cause us probs too.

[StuartBFrost]

Submitted my EOI last night and it has been selected today with 125 points. I then came across this thread and it got me worried.

I have an HND in Computer Studies and I have 19 years IT experience. I claimed bonus points on the skills shortage. Does this mean that I am likely to have my EOI deselected ?

Thanks

Stuart

[Angie and Mick]

Hi Stuart

I do not know if you have heard anything yet re your EOI however unless your HND is the qualification that is specified in the skills shortage list then it could mean you loose the bonus points. If that is so then you would go back into the pool, however if that happens I have recently seen a selection of 110 with out the bonus points or job offer. 25 Oct 06.

This is still a bone of contention with me, I tried claiming the bonus points for work experience in a comparable market, however it still came down to the qualification that they required in the skills shortage list hence lost the bonus points. I am hoping for a future selection with the 110pts, here's hoping.

[jules1961]

Hi all
I have noticed a differenct criteria now my graduate certificate isn't listed but post grad is. Quite confused now. I get points for skills shortage under the Management/Administration catagory.
What a dilema :wah :wah

[StuartBFrost]

I haven't been deselected (yet) but I got a letter last weekend confirming the EOI selection based on having bonus points for work experience in a shortage area and therefore having 15 bonus points.

I hoped that meant that they had already scaled my EOI down to 115 points dropping the 10 bonus points for the qualification.

Stuart

[Trigirl]

hi stuart. they will just mean at this stage that this is the category you were selected under (eg some people get selected for having >140pts, some for having a job offer, some for having bonus points etc). 115pts is simply the level at which they select people with your type of bonus points. almost certainly they wont yet have looked at your application and decided on your points.

[Angie and Mick]

Sorry but this will not be the case. We got that letter, however it took at least 6 weeks before getting another letter saying sorry and giving clear details why. If you do have to drop any points, unless you meet the selection criteria for that selection date you will not be selected. Option to reply, if not opportunity to obtain these points else where you would be put back in the pool.

Does it say at the bottom of the letter the need to validate points.



Angie

[StuartBFrost]

It doesn't say they need to validate the points, it just says it has been forwarded to London where they will check if my EOI is credible.

When I looked at the breakdown of the selection I am certain that even if I had not accidentally claimed for the qualification, I would still have had 115 points because I have 19 years of I.T. experience and a HND in Computer Studies, and therefore would still have been selected.

Stuart

[StuartBFrost]

Got my letter today taking off all my bonus points and so putting me back in the pool (after 3rd January anyway).

Now I only have 100 points and will probably not get reselected having no bonus points.

It seems mad that NZ quite clearly say that they have a long term skills shortage and are quite happy to take someone fresh out of University with a degree and no experience but reject others with HND's and 19+ years of experience.

Stuart

[veronica]

would think that it would be worth your while to come over on a job seeking mission and get a job offer, would give you the extra points so you would be back in again. if your job is on the shortage list I would think there would be no problems gtting a work visa, starting work and then going for PR.

[StuartBFrost]

The plan was to get the PR, sell up, and we would have a nice chunk of money.

I couldn't take the risk of selling up and moving out to NZ if there is a possibility of not getting in or getting in but not being able to stay in.

It's very frustrating that I get the points for having the HND but then it seems worthless since I won't be selected because I don't have bonus points for not having a degree.

Stuart

[Angie and Mick]

HI Stuart

I could not agree with you more, I have the same problem. I got the 50 pts for my qualification in Social Work however cannot claim the bonus points because it is not a degree. I have been working as a SW for three years however another 18 years have in relevant work area. I tried claiming for the 3yrs wk experience believing that this was in a comparable market however again cannot claim the bonus pts. I was told I still needed the degree to claim the points. So frustrating as I can get work as a Social worker with my Dipsw in NZ as long as this was obtain prior to I believe Oct 2003.

Now in a similar boat to you on 110 pts no bonus pts, with current selection process, unlikely to get selected.

Looking at obtaining a job first and go on a Work visa and apply for PR at the same time. Like you I want to sell the house to take the capital with me, however this is not my preferred option.

[StuartBFrost]

It seems even more frustrating because after digging around today I have found out that an HND is equivalent to a foundation degree.

If I wanted to (which I can't afford to do), I could give up my uniterrupted 19+ year IT career to take a 1 year course just to top up my HND to a degree so I can get bonus points.

When I took my HND 20 odd years ago, HND and degree course in IT were not like today where everyone has a PC. It was mainframe and shared resources.

It's a shame that NZ immigration don't look at the whole picture and maybe say that for an HND or similar you have to have say 7 years experience to get bonus points.


Stuart

[Angie and Mick]

Hi
My Sister in Law said that I could get my qualification assessed by NZQA as the diplomas in England are at a standard to NZ degrees.

You could always get your qualification assessed by NZQA, cost I have been told about $350.

Good Luck

[Glo & Gil]

HI

Have been deselected as well. Have more than 20 yrs experience in electrical + IT (technical side). Unfortunateley my city & guilds are not complete to the startard requested in NZ. Am trying to figure out what to do as I am back to 50 points. :wah

It's a shame the experience I have in different equipment ( am a field engineer) is not taken into consideration. :mad:

[alan999]

It seems even more frustrating because after digging around today I have found out that an HND is equivalent to a foundation degree.

If I wanted to (which I can't afford to do), I could give up my uniterrupted 19+ year IT career to take a 1 year course just to top up my HND to a degree so I can get bonus points.

When I took my HND 20 odd years ago, HND and degree course in IT were not like today where everyone has a PC. It was mainframe and shared resources.

It's a shame that NZ immigration don't look at the whole picture and maybe say that for an HND or similar you have to have say 7 years experience to get bonus points.


Stuart

Hi, sorry to hear about your probs, I am in a similar position.

I understood my qually was level 4, but came back level 3 so I need a job offer. My idea was as yours, get PR then sell up and go. However thinking about it the job offer requirement hasn't changed things much for me, apart from timing.

This is because, even if I had PR without a job offer I would not have sold up and moved out without already secured employment. So the result will be the same, just arrived at using a slightly different path.

I'm going out in a fortnight for a 3 week job search.

Alan.

[Glo & Gil]

Hi Alan

I was thinking of doing same. Do you think 3 weeks is enough time to secure a job. In what field are you?

[alan999]

Hi Alan

I was thinking of doing same. Do you think 3 weeks is enough time to secure a job. In what field are you?

Mechanic. Since I've told the recruiters when I'm going I already have interviews in place, with two interviews without using recruiters just by answering ads.

I didn't have any joy without being able to say when I am in NZ, but as soon as I had dates people started to talk. Needless to say, the more work like this done before going over the better it should be.

And I've not had to use any recruiters wanting a fee, or any demanding I use them and no other, but it's fingers crossed.

Alan.

[Glo & Gil]

so all the best then

:nice1

[hongkongstuey]

Stuart - don't give up yet.

I went through the same thing (twice - first they discounted all Hong Kong work experience and then later claimed I'm not a Professional Engineer as my degree is not Washington Accord accredited - even though I'm a Chartered Engineer etc).

Anyway, I went down from 130 points to out of the pool altogether and then eventually back to 100 points after lots of arguing with NZIS - got my ITA last week even though I only had 100 points so there is still hope for you.

My advice is to just keep questioning their judgement

[pintpot]

Hi,
This is my second post. My name is Paul and I am hoping to move out to NZ with my wife and kids. This thead has got me worried about how many points I will actually get. I'm trying to figure out how the bonus points I could be awarded. So here's my situation:

25 points for age (35)
10 points for wife's qualification
50 points for BSc in Maths & Physics
30 points for 10 years work experience in IT.

Now my degree is not in IT so will this affect any points for work experience and bonus points? Likewise I think my degree won't count as it isn't in IT, therefore no bonus points.

Based on the information in this thread I think I'll get 115 with no bonus points. Any ideas?

Cheers
Paul

[StuartBFrost]

Stuart - don't give up yet.

I went through the same thing (twice - first they discounted all Hong Kong work experience and then later claimed I'm not a Professional Engineer as my degree is not Washington Accord accredited - even though I'm a Chartered Engineer etc).

Anyway, I went down from 130 points to out of the pool altogether and then eventually back to 100 points after lots of arguing with NZIS - got my ITA last week even though I only had 100 points so there is still hope for you.

My advice is to just keep questioning their judgement

I did question the deselection and they just confirmed that my HND is not good enough for any bonus points. They said a HND is level 5 and a degree is level 7.

They did say that I still have 100 points and that I could still be selected but I don't know how likely that is without any bonus points.

I've gone from being annoyed by NZIS to thinking that if they can't see that studying for 1 extra year 20 years ago (when IT was nothing like it is today) is worth more that 19+ years solid IT experience with some major multi million pound (and dollar) companies then that is their loss.

Stuart

[StuartBFrost]

Hi,
This is my second post. My name is Paul and I am hoping to move out to NZ with my wife and kids. This thead has got me worried about how many points I will actually get. I'm trying to figure out how the bonus points I could be awarded. So here's my situation:

25 points for age (35)
10 points for wife's qualification
50 points for BSc in Maths & Physics
30 points for 10 years work experience in IT.

Now my degree is not in IT so will this affect any points for work experience and bonus points? Likewise I think my degree won't count as it isn't in IT, therefore no bonus points.

Based on the information in this thread I think I'll get 115 with no bonus points. Any ideas?

Cheers
Paul


Correct, you can't claim the bonus points because your degree is not in IT.

Stuart