Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,

Yours faithfully,
I am writing to seek clarification regarding the assessment of "skilled work experience" for the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) in relation to the median wage threshold changes in 2023.

My situation is as follows:

Visa Approval: My Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) was granted on 02 February 2023.

Median Wage at Grant: At the time of my visa approval, the applicable median wage threshold was $27.76 per hour.

Employment Start Date: I commenced my employment under this visa in April 2023.

Policy Change: On 27 February 2023, the median wage threshold was increased to $29.66 per hour.

Could you please clarify whether the work experience I have gained since April 2023 will be recognized as "skilled work experience" for the purposes of an SMC application, given that my visa was granted and my employment terms were settled based on the threshold in effect prior to the February 27 update?

I would appreciate guidance on whether I am required to meet the new median wage threshold ($29.66) for this experience to be counted, or if the threshold from the date of my visa grant ($27.76) remains the benchmark for my current period of employment.

Thank you for your time and assistance. I look forward to your response.

Kind regards, Jon