This Week’s Migration News Roundup

Migration Weekly

1. 190,000 PR places for the new financial year — 189 and employer-sponsored up slightly, 190 and 491 held steady!

2. Visa fees rise sharply from 1 July — lodge now if you can!

3. NSW “quietly” issued plenty of 491 invitations; Victoria ran a small round

4. Canberra’s “first round” after lowering requirements — scores still low!

5. Weekly roundup: grants, invitations, skills assessments and citizenship processing progress

1. 190,000 PR places for the new financial year — 189 and employer-sponsored up slightly, 190 and 491 held steady!

The biggest news this week was the Federal Government releasing its 2023–24 Budget. The part most directly relevant to migration applicants is the announcement of PR grant places for the new financial year. The number and allocation of PR places for the new year are broadly similar to this financial year

Change 1: Subclass 186 gains another 1,825 places — the only skilled category to see an increase.Combined with the recently relaxed requirements for transitioning from employer sponsorship to PR, the Labor Government is throwing its full support behind employer-sponsored migration.

Change 2: Total Subclass 189 places drop by 1,725,but because of the New Zealand Stream reform, they no longer draw on the 189 quota,so the 189 points-based stream actually gains 4,575 places

Change 3:The regional category falls by 1,700 and Subclass 190 by 600. These are minor adjustments to the grant quotas,state nomination allocations won’t change much from this financial year — it just means some states may get more places and others fewer

Change 4:Business and investor migration is slashed by 3,100 — the single biggest loser, no question.But at least business and investor migration is being retained for the coming financial year

Unchanged are parent migration, partner migration and the GTI — the GTI surviving is a pleasant surprise, a sign Labor still wants to develop it well.

For more analysis see:The new financial year’s PR allocation is here! The 189 points-based stream effectively gains 4,500 more places! 190 and 491 each have around 30,000! Employer-sponsored places rise again!

PR grant quotas don’t decide everything, but they set the tone for the new financial year. With this many grant places, state nomination allocations stay stable and processing speeds can be maintained or even quicken.For everyone still on the migration journey, you can prepare with confidence — state nomination and 189 won’t be too bad in the new year. We do remind you to keep a close eye on employer sponsorship: anyone with 1.5 years of full-time work experience is welcome to come for an assessment!

Skills assessment, PR pathways, parent visas and parent migration — get in touch for an assessment

2. Visa fees rise sharply from 1 July — lodge now if you can!

Released alongside the quotas was the visa fee increase. Visa fees change every financial year in line with CPI, generally by 1%–2%. This year, though, it’s clearly a “manual adjustment”.

From 1 July 2023:

– Visitor visas and some temporary visas (including working holiday, training and temporary activity) will rise by 15%

– Business and investor visas will rise by 40%

– Other categories will rise by 6%

Parent migration visas and visitor visas in particular should be lodged before 1 July if you can!

3. NSW once again quietly issued plenty of 491 invitations; Victoria ran a small round

NSW 491also got in on Budget night, issuing a fairly concentrated round of 491 invitations.So far we’ve seen invitations for accounting, audit, IT, marketing, finance and similar occupations, and most of this round came through the NSW Government’s pre-invitation stream,because most of the RDAs that can issue nominations directly have closed for submissions, and there aren’t many places left among those that still have quota

For details see:

As of the end of April, NSW’s 190 quota is essentially used up, and we don’t expect any further pre-invitation rounds.Subclass 491, however, still has 2,435 places, and the state government has long signalled multiple large 491 rounds in the second half of the financial year. The 491 is ideal for offshore applicants who can’t reach a high score — you only need to scrape together 50–70 points for a strong chance of an invitation! Get in touch for an assessment.

Victoria190 still has over a thousand places. After closing new lodgements in early May, it has issued two rounds — one last week and another this week.This week’s round focused on priority or fast-track occupations. The invitation summary is below; we picked up scattered invitations for IT-related fields:

Students who need an early assessment for Victorian state nomination in the new financial year

can add our consultant below!

4. Canberra’s “first round” after lowering requirements — scores still low!

23 April was Canberra’s first invitation round after lowering its application requirements. Because the requirements for offshore applicants were cut substantially, it has attracted plenty of enquiries and even lodgements,and everyone is keen to know whether lowering the requirements will increase applicant numbers and push scores up.

In the first round after the scores were lowered,offshore 491 needed only a matrix score of 50–60 — including IT and engineering occupations — and offshore 190 needed only a matrix score of 60–70.For EOI scores, 491 needed only 50 of your own points, and 190 only 60.

Applying offshore for Canberra 190 or 491 state nomination after the requirements were lowered

491 requirements:

– EOI of 65 (you only need to reach 50 on your own EOI)

– Occupation on the Canberra list with a valid skills assessment (covering the vast majority of occupations)

– 1 year of work experience in the nominated occupation

– English of at least 6 in all four bands

– Settled offshore, including your partner

190 requirements:

– EOI of 65 (you only need to reach 60 on your own EOI)

– Occupation on the Canberra list with a valid skills assessment (covering the vast majority of occupations)

– 3 years of work experience in the nominated occupation

– English of at least 7 in all four bands

– Settled offshore, including your partner

Canberra is one of the state nominators with relatively ample quota at the end of the financial year. If you already have a skills assessment, it’s well worth trying as soon as possible. We expect Canberra’s policy, occupation list and invitation rounds to stay stable in the new financial year. Get in touch for an assessment!

5. Weekly roundup: grants, invitations, skills assessments and citizenship processing progress

A roundup of Newstarsec’s recent grants and invitations across all categories:Press and hold below to view — the page is updated continuously, so we strongly recommend saving and bookmarking it!

State nomination invitation / GTI invitation data

Canberra State Nomination

The following are formal nomination approvals

Lodged 17 April 2023, invited ACT190 on 24 April 2023, Accountant (General)

Lodged 18 April 2023, invited ACT190 on 26 April 2023, Architectural Draftsperson

Lodged 17 April 2023, invited ACT491 on 26 April 2023, Organisation and Methods Analyst

Lodged 18 April 2023, invited ACT190 on 27 April 2023, Accountant (General)

Lodged 18 April 2023, invited ACT190 on 27 April 2023, Software Engineer

Lodged 18 April 2023, invited ACT190 on 27 April 2023, Systems Analyst

Lodged 04 May 2023, invited ACT190 on 08 May 2023, Electrical Engineer

Lodged 05 May 2023, invited ACT190 on 09 May 2023, Network Administrator

Lodged 05 May 2023, invited ACT190 on 10 May 2023, Accountant (General)

Lodged 04 May 2023, invited ACT190 on 10 May 2023, ICT business Analyst

Lodged 04 May 2023, invited ACT190 on 10 May 2023, Software Engineer

Lodged 07 May 2023, invited ACT491 on 11 May 2023, ICT business Analyst

Lodged 07 May 2023, invited ACT491 on 11 May 2023, Accountant (General)

Lodged 05 May 2023, invited ACT491 on 12 May 2023, ICT Security Specialist

Lodged 07 May 2023, invited ACT190 on 12 May 2023, External Auditor

Nomination lodged 4 May 2023, Nomination Approval and invitation to lodge visa on 11 May 2023, applicant onshore, Registered
Nurse – 254499, 75+5

The following are Matrix invitations

Lodged 01 May 2023, invited at 60 points on 08 May 2023 – Conference
and Event Organiser

Lodged 03 May 2023, invited at 105 points on 08 May 2023 – External
Auditor

Lodged 10 Feb 2023, invited at 100 points on 08 May 2023 – Accountant
(General) 491

Lodged 24 Apr 2023, invited at 100 points on 08 May 2023 – Financial
Investment Adviser

Lodged 02 May 2023, invited at 100 points on 08 May 2023 – Marketing
Specialist

Lodged 24 Apr 2023, invited at 100 points on 08 May 2023 – Advertising
Specialist

Lodged 21 Apr 2023, invited at 90 points on 08 May 2023 – Quantity
Surveyor

Lodged 01 May 2023, invited at 75 points on 08 May 2023 – Electrical
Engineer

Lodged 26 Apr 2023, invited at 65 points on 09 May 2023 – University
Lecturer

Lodged 24 Mar 2023, invited at 60 points on 09 May 2023 – Retail
Pharmacist

Lodged 26 Apr 2023, invited at 70 points on 09 May 2023 – Web
Developer

Lodged 26 Apr 2023, invited at 90 points on 09 May 2023 – Developer
Programmer

Lodged 08 May 2023, invited at 80 points on 09 May 2023 – ICT
Security Specialist

Lodged 27 Apr 2023, invited at 90 points on 09 May 2023 – Network
Analyst

Lodged 08 May 2023, invited at 75 points on 09 May 2023 – Accountant
(General)

Lodged 08 May 2023, invited at 70 points on 09 May 2023 – Marketing
Specialist

Lodged 24 Apr 2023, invited at 65 points on 09 May 2023 – Electronics
Engineer

Lodged 25 Jan 2023, invited at 75 points on 09 May 2023 – Civil
Engineer

Victoria State Nomination

Nomination lodged 3 May 2023, Nomination Approval and invitation to lodge visa on 8 May 2023, applicant offshore, Accountant (General) –221111

Tasmania State Nomination

TAS 190 ROI lodged 3 April 2023, TAS 190 pre-invitation received 6 April 2023, TAS 190 application lodged 13 April 2023, 190 invitation 3 May 2023, ICT Business Analyst – 261111, 60+5

TAS 190 ROI lodged 6 April 2023, TAS 190 pre-invitation received 11 April 2023, TAS 190 application lodged 17 April 2023, 190 invitation 3 May 2023, Civil Engineer – 233211, 65+5

TAS 190 ROI lodged 1 May 2023, TAS 190 pre-invitation received 5 May 2023, Accountant
(General) – 221111, 75+5

TAS 190 ROI lodged 5 April 2023, TAS 190 pre-invitation received 5 May 2023, Civil
Engineer – 233211, 60+5

ROI lodged 10 May 2023, ROI invitation to lodge 190 Nomination on 12 May 2023, Marketing Specialist – 225113 70+5

ROI lodged 11 May 2023, ROI invitation to lodge 190 Nomination on 12 May 2023, Developer Programmer – 261312 75+5

ROI lodged 11 May 2023, ROI invitation to lodge 491 Nomination on 12 May 2023, Home Care Assistant – 249299 55+15

NSW State Nomination

For the 491 pre-invitation data, see the summary above

The following are formal nomination approvals

Lodged 14 April 2023, invited NSW491 on 28 April 2023

NSW 491 invitation, occupation: Systems Analyst, lodged: 14/04/2023 invited: 28/04/2023

NSW 491 invitation, occupation: Print Journalist, lodged: 10/04/2023 invited: 28/04/2023

Lodged: 18/04/2023 approved: 03/05/2023, occupation: Marketing Specialist
Lodged: 08/05/2023   approved: 12/05/2023, Mathematician
Lodged: 08/05/2023   approved: 12/05/2023, Mechanical Engineer

South Australia State Nomination

South Australia 190 High Performing Graduate

Lodged 2 May 2023, invited 10 May 2023, onshore, occupation: Registered Nurse nec, with partner

Queensland State Nomination

21 April 2023pre-invitation received, formal nomination received 9 May 2023

WA State Nomination

491 pre-invitation received in early May 2023, accounting occupation, general stream sch2

NT State Nomination

The following are MINT projects

Lodged: 12/1/2023, approved: 12/05/2023, occupation: Project Administrator

Lodged: 24/10/2022 approved: 12/05/2023, Project Administrator

Lodged: 04/01/2023 approved: 12/05/2023, Project Administrator

Lodged: 11/01/2023 approved: 12/05/2023, Financial Investment Adviser

Lodged: 01/02/2023 approved: 12/05/2023, Marketing

Business and investor migration / GTI invitations

This week’s grant progress and analysis

189 Skilled Independent migration

189 lodged onshore 17 Jan 2023, granted 10 May 2023 – Early Childhood
(Pre-primary School) Teacher

190 State-Nominated skilled migration

190 lodged onshore 04 Nov 2022, granted 27 Apr 2023 – Accountant (General)

190 lodged onshore 12 Nov 2022, granted 10 May 2023 – Early Childhood
(Pre-primary School) Teacher

190 lodged onshore 06 Oct 2022, granted 09 May 2023 – Software
Engineer

Lodged onshore 6 October 2022, granted 9 May 2023

491 new regional / 489 old regional nomination visa

491 lodged onshore 30 Mar 2022, granted 26 Apr 2023 – Electronics Engineer

491 lodged onshore 02 Dec 2021, granted 27 Apr 2023 – Software Engineer

491 lodged onshore 31 Mar 2022, granted 27 Apr 2023 – Graphic Designer

Lodged May 2022, granted May 2023

Lodged 17 March 2022, granted 10 May 2023, ECT

887 Regional Permanent Residence visa

Lodged June 2022, granted May 2023 (family of four)

Lodged March 2023, granted May 2023

Lodged August 2022, granted May 2023

Lodged onshore 9 August 2021, granted 9 May 2023

Employer sponsorship

186 lodged onshore 22 October 2022, granted 10 May 2023, accounting

Business and investor migration / GTI

None this week

600 Visitor visa

Visa lodged 30 March, granted 25 April, offshore

Lodged 24 March 2023, granted 25 April 2023

Lodged April 2023, granted May 2023

Lodged 20 April 2023, granted 6 May 2023, offshore

Lodged offshore 27 April 2023, granted 11 May 2023
Lodged offshore 13 April 2023, granted 12 May 2023

Lodged offshore 24 April 2023, granted 6 May 2023

Lodged offshore 14 April 2023, granted 6 May 2023

Lodged offshore 21 April 2023, granted 6 May 2023
Lodged offshore 5 April 2023, granted 8 May 2023
Lodged offshore 27 April 2023, granted 11 May 2023

500 Student visa

Lodged April 2023, granted May 2023

Lodged March 2022, granted May 2023

Lodged offshore 21 April 2023, granted 11 May 2023

Lodged 4 May 2022, granted 11 May 2023

485 Graduate Work visa

Lodged March 2023, granted May 2023

Lodged onshore 9 March 2023, granted 10 May 2023

Partner migration

820 visa lodged February 2023, granted May 2023

820 visa lodged November 2021, granted May 2023

Lodged onshore 30 August 2022, granted 10 May 2023

Parent migration / visa / child visa

Lodged 6 February 2017, further documents 20 February 2023, 2nd VAC paid 9 May 2023, granted 10 May 2023

408 visa

Lodged 4 May 2023, granted 10 May 2023

Lodged 3 May 2023, granted 8 May 2023

155 visa

Lodged 14 April 2023, granted 6 May 2023
Lodged 20 April 2023, granted 9 May 2023

Visa lodged 27 April, granted 12 May, offshore

Citizenship applications

Lodged 7 November 2022, test notification 8 May 2023, Melbourne
Office

This week’s skills assessment processing progress

ACS (IT-related)

Occupation: Software Engineer, lodged: 19/01/2023 approved: 25/03/2023

Lodged 19 January 2023, completed 1 May 2023

Lodged 29 March 2023, completed 1 May 2023

ICT Business Analyst
261111, lodged 26 April 2023, completed 10 May 2023

Lodged 10 February 2023, approved 9 May 2023, Software Engineer

Lodged 9 February 2023, approved 9 May 2023, ICT BA

Lodged 13 April 2023, approved 11 May 2023, Computer Network and Systems Engineer

CA(accounting-related)

Accountant (General)
221111, lodged 23 March 2023, completed 9 May 2023

Lodged 31 March 2023, approved 9 May 2023, External Auditor

IPA (accounting-related)

Lodged 20 January 2023, completed 2 May 2023

EA (engineering)

Chemical Engineer 233111, lodged 29 March 2023, completed 6 May 2023

VETASSESS

Occupation: Private Tutor lodged: 16/04/2023 approved: 24/04/2023

Occupation: Private Tutor lodged: 17/04/2023 approved: 22/04/2023

Occupation: Arts Administrator 139911 Arts Administrator or Manager lodged: 12/04/2023 approved: 28/04/2023

Occupation: Architectural Draftsperson lodged: 23/04/2023 approved: 28/04/2023

Occupation: TESOL lodged: 12/04/2023 approved: 26/04/2023

Occupation: Private Music Teacher, lodged: 10/04/2023 approved: 28/04/2023

Occupation: Organisation and Methods Analyst, lodged: 11/04/2023 approved: 26/04/2023

Occupation: Finance Broker, lodged: 24/04/2023    approved: 04/05/2023
Occupation: Property Manager, lodged: 25/04/2023    approved: 08/05/2023
Occupation: Civil Engineering Draftsperson, lodged: 22/04/2023    approved: 02/05/2023

Occupation: Marketing Specialist, lodged: 15/04/2023 approved: 01/05Add to calendar/2023
Occupation: Project Administrator, lodged: 23/04/2023 approved: 28/04/2023
Occupation: Marketing Specialist, lodged: 26/04/2023 approved: 28/04/2023
Occupation: Private Tutor nec, lodged: 19/04/2023 approved: 28/04/2023
Occupation: Financial Investment Adviser, lodged: 1/05/2023 approved: 09/05/2023
Occupation: Financial Investment Adviser, lodged: 8/05/2023 approved: 11/05/2023
Occupation: Television Journalist, lodged: 1/05/2023 approved: 10/05/2023
Occupation: Project Administrator, lodged: 1/05/2023 approved: 09/05/2023
Occupation: Massage Therapist, lodged: 26/04/2023 approved: 05/05/2023

ANMAC (nursing-related)

Lodged 20 March 2023, completed 4 May 2023

Catch up on past articles

Newstarsec Education & Migration Group’s Perth office is now open!

Newstarsec has arrived in Xiamen, China!

Understand Australia’s major migration overhaul in one article: points system / employer / 500 / 485 / parent / GTI / investor all covered!

Migration News Sharing Group

2023

Step 1: Press and hold to add our consultant

Step 2: After adding, please

Study abroad, migration, visas — we are the professionals

Attention！please verifygenuineNewstarsec consultant!

Study-abroad and migration enquiries — consultants by location

Sydney

Melbourne

Canberra

Brisbane

Adelaide

Hobart

Beijing

Guangzhou

Follow the Newstarsec official account

Reply on the official account withone of the numbers below or any keyword (not in the comments at the bottom of the article)to get the most timely and professional migration news!Reply [A] to view the directory (includes all knowledge points)!

Reply:0000 → view the 16 November policy news (491 + skilled migration points)