In today’s globalized job market, skilled professionals constantly seek opportunities to enhance their careers and explore new horizons. The Australian Computer Society (ACS) plays a crucial role in this journey, providing skill assessments for ICT professionals intending to migrate to Australia.
This particularly applies to IT professionals using PR under subclasses 189, 190, or 491. Applicants must ensure the accuracy of their related ANZSCO Code, work history, educational qualifications, and relevant experiences.
As of the current requirements, a minimum score of 65 points is essential to qualify for Australian PR. The processing time can be significantly reduced once the appropriate occupation is selected per the ACS Skill Assessment guidelines. However, it is essential to note that the processing time for ACS Skill Assessment may be extended if the provided information cannot be sufficiently justified, resulting in a request for additional documents. This can considerably prolong the processing period.
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) is the authorized assessing authority for evaluating individuals’ skills, knowledge, and expertise in ICT, non-ICT, or tertiary qualifications. The skills assessment conducted by ACS is a mandatory requirement for international immigrants seeking skilled migration and aspiring Australian PR applicants. Opting for a recognized skill-evaluating body ensures a faster processing time for the application.
For ICT professionals intending to migrate to Australia, submitting a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Report to either ACS or Engineers Australia as part of the Australian PR application process in 2023 was imperative. Furthermore, it is crucial to meticulously adhere to the ACS Skills Assessment document checklist, as all the required documents must be provided to complete the assessment process.
This blog post will delve into the various dimensions of the ACS skill assessment processing time, offering insights, tips, and recommendations to help you navigate this critical phase smoothly.
Documents to ensure faster ACS Skill Assessment processing time
1. Personal Documents
Ensure you provide colored scanned copies of your passport-only identity pages that show your name, address, and other documents. In the case of a name change, if you have changed your name, provide proper documentation suggesting a name change.
Read More: Career opportunities for ICT Support Engineer in Australia.
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
It is another essential document required for skill assessment. Ensure you provide complete information on your academic qualifications, work experience, and the correct timing. You need to mention the roles and responsibilities you have gained and the specifications you hold. This assures that your skill assessment can be done per the Australian skill labels. In case of any difficulty in the information, one must wait a longer processing time as your information must be sufficient for the skill assessment.
3. Qualification Documents
Professional qualification posts like diplomas, bachelor’s, master’s, and other degrees must provide scanned copies of the transcript, mark sheet, and certification. You need to mention the degree and title you completed, the university or college from which the degree was awarded, due dates for completion, marks, and grades for each subject or unit you covered.
You need to provide the following information in your application form:
- Degree or Title
- University from which you granted a degree
- Degree Completion Date
- Course information, along with marks and grades
4. Work Experience
It is another important criterion for accepting a faster processing time. Before submitting your RPL report to ACS:
- Cover all the work experiences.
- Include official payments like salary slips, appointment letters, and offer letters, along with your roles and responsibilities and other official activities.
- Mention your average working hours, location of work, and contact information.
While preparing documents for work experience, you need to mention the following details:
- The start and end dates of employment need to be mentioned in the career experience. You must include your date if you are still working in the company.
- Include all the roles and responsibilities you performed while in the position.
- Average working hours per week must be mentioned as a part-time or full-time employee.
- The work you worked on needs to be mentioned.
- Company letterhead, position title, address, signed by the supervisor or senior, and company information.
- Salary Statement
Learn More: ACS Reference Letter Sample for Software Engineer.
5. Third-Party Statutory Declaration
If you are taking services from others, you must provide information regarding the working arrangement and environment. Make sure you provide the following documents while filling out your ACS Skill Assessment Online Form:
PDF Files: All your records and documents must be mentioned in a single PDF file with detailed information about qualifications and work experience. The file or documents should not be more than 3MB.
Upload of Original Documents: Documents like transcripts, licenses, passports, resumes, and other documents must be uploaded in colored scanned copies with a resolution of at least 300 dpi.
If you do not provide all the documents, then ACS will ask for additional documents. In such cases, rename the folder you have previously submitted. If you give a document in a language other than English, you must have it translated into English by an accredited English authority. Original and translated, both copies need to be sent together to ACS.
6. Validity of ACS Skills Assessment
ACSRPLAustralia is the best service provider for RPL report writing, skill assessment, and other skilled visa-related issues for Australian Immigration. The ACS Skill Assessment is valid for at least 24 months from the issue date. And takes about 8–10 weeks for skill assessment processing. However, if you need to provide additional documents, it is unclear how long it takes to process your documents by ACS and the decision to be taken. It is best to consult a service provider instead of wasting your time and money by doing it yourself.
Documents required for ACS Skill Assessment for Australian PR
Ensure you meet all the required criteria set by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection before submitting your migration skill assessment for Australian PR. Here are the document lists you must submit for skill assessment for Australian PR through ACS:
- Copy of a birth certificate or passport.
- If you are married and your name has been changed, you must provide a certified copy of your marriage certificate.
- Certified copy of your academic transcript and award certificate or completion letter for Australian qualification
- A valid copy of the employment reference letter or third-party statutory declarations.
- Submit an ACS recognition of prior learning form to recognize the prior learning (RPL) application.
- Along with the documents, applicants must submit a Curriculum Vitae or Resume per the ACS guidelines.
Hence, you must mention all these documents when claiming Australian PR, which is also required for the ACS Skill Assessment. You must meet at least 65 points for visa acceptance to get PR points.
Cost for ACS Skill Assessment
The cost for RPL Assessment differs for different visa types. Here is the list of different visa types and their prices.
Application type | Fee in AUD |
Temporary Graduate – 485 Skills Assessment | $500 |
Post-Australian Study Skills Assessment | $530 |
Skills (general application) | $530 |
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) | $575 |
Review Application | $395 |
Appeal Application | $395 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A. What if I need to update my application during the processing period?
Explaining the process and guidelines for updating an application during the processing period, including any specific requirements or restrictions.
B. Can I expedite my ACS skill assessment process?
Discussing any available options, if applicable, for expediting the ACS skill assessment process, such as priority processing or fast-track services.
C. How does the ACS handle applications with incomplete documents?
Providing insights into how the ACS handles applications with missing or incomplete documents, including the possible outcomes and steps applicants can take to rectify the situation.
D. Are there any alternatives or additional pathways to consider?
Exploring alternative pathways or additional options applicants can consider if they encounter challenges or delays during the ACS skill assessment process, such as exploring different visa categories or seeking employment sponsorship.
Conclusion
The ACS skill assessment processing time is a critical phase in the journey of ICT professionals aspiring to migrate to Australia. It usually takes 8-10 weeks to assess your application thoroughly.
By understanding the factors influencing processing time, following the suggested strategies, and staying updated with ACS guidelines, applicants can navigate the skill assessment phase effectively. Remember, the ACS skill assessment is a significant milestone, and with proper planning and perseverance, you can pave your way to a successful career in Australia.
If you need help assessing your application in time, ACSRPLAustralia is here to help you. We have an expert professional team to help write RPL Report with 100% genuine and unique content without plagiarism. We have a 99% approval rate from ACS.