Today is the last working day of 2023 for most of youlast working day, so as usual we are sharingvisa grants, invitations and skills assessments — the good news! Whether it is over the break or in 2024, we hope your own good news arrives soon!
189/190/491/191
Recent visa-grant data
First, thanks to the reader who shared recent grant data for the four main skilled categories via an FOI request
Monthly grants across the four categories:you can see that the average works out toaround 3,000 per month
Four-category backlog as at end of October:
189 is in the healthiest state — because no new invitations were issued from July to October, no new applications came in, and the 189 backlog has cleared very quickly.
190： invitations kept being issued and new applications kept coming in, so 6,086 backlog applications were cleared in four months, with close to 50,000 still on hand
491： is slightly better: 7,322 backlog applications cleared, 47,600 still pending
New skilled-visa
processing priority order
In addition, Ministerial Direction No. 105 sets the new processing priority order for skilled visas
1、 Employer-sponsored applications where the nominated occupation is in a regional area
2. Healthcare and teaching roles (these roles have always been prioritised — in practice not much will change)
3. Within employer-sponsored visas, applications sponsored by an Accredited employer
4. All quota-counted permanent or provisional-permanent visas except the 188 (including 491/190/189/858 and others)
Healthcare and teaching roles that qualify for priority
Onshore and offshore skilled permanent-residence applications no longer haveany difference in priority, and holders of specific passports no longer receive priority processing
Student-visa processing priority order
The above covers skilled migration; Ministerial Direction No. 107 sets the new processing order for Student visas!
Offshore Student-visa applications:
– First, applicants in the school sector, foreign affairs or defence sector, andpostgraduate research applicants
– Next, higher education, ELICOS, VET and Non-award where the course provider is at level 1
– Subsequent offshore dependant applications
If primary and dependant applicants apply together, the dependant has the same priority as the primary
Based on past experience, case officers do not always follow the above priority guidelines 100 % of the time during assessment. Treat this as a guide only.
Now let us return to our success stories — enjoy!
Employer sponsorship
482 visa granted — nomination approved in November, occupation: chef, visa officially granted this week
189 visa granted
190 visa granted
888 Investor visa — permanent residence granted
A seven-year journey handled end-to-end by Newstarsec: 188A granted in August 2017, 888A granted on 18 December 2023. The new migration policy is now in place — the new “Talent and Innovation” visa will replace the current 188 investor-migration category. Prospective clients are welcome to follow the updates and come to us early to start planning.
GTI — Global Talent Independent program
858 visa granted with spouse included — lodged February this year!
Skills assessment approved
TheICT Business Analyst skills assessment lodged in early December has been approved!
Engineering Technologist
Electronics Engineer
143 Parent visa
Both parents granted together
Finally, here are the holiday schedules for the state governments and major skills-assessment bodies
Recommended reading
Migration Strategy officially released! Points test, 485, Student visa and more — all are changing!
So much going on with the 485 lately… will it affect you? One article to understand where the 485 stands today!
Key reform directions the Department will focus on early next year! Net overseas migration growth already slowed in the June quarter!
Migration news group chat
2023
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2023 recommended
