1. Invitations were issued from as low as 55 points (before any nomination bonus), mostly to offshore applicants — and among those offshore applicants, quite a few graduated from Australian universities, returned home for a few years, and have now chosen to start afresh.

2. Computing occupations are fairly competitive for Subclass 190 across every state-nomination stream, with scores needing to be 80 or higher. What makes it even tougher is that Victoria and NSW have rarely issued IT invitations in recent rounds. If you are offshore, or for other reasons your points simply will not climb any higher, the 491 is well worth considering.

1. Niche occupations such as organisation, marketing and finance remain NSW favourites this financial year.

2. Most applicants in these occupations are offshore, and as we head towards the end of the financial year the competition has become fiercer. To secure a 190 invitation, your points and work experience need to stand out.If you cannot keep up with the competition, consider the 491 — the score required is lower; you only need to reach 50 points on your own, which really is the lowest of the low.

1. Some external auditors were invited at 80 points before any nomination bonus — a score not far off the 190.

2. Engineering invitations also continue to be issued steadily, occupations like civil and mechanical engineering are ones NSW routinely invites, with invitations issued at 50 or 55 points before any bonus — a genuinely generous offer.

1. Roughly two-thirds of invitations may have come through Pathway 2, and the remaining invitations this financial year will also be concentrated in this stream.

2. Some applicants who lodged through the RDA stream before the deadline may also receive invitations, provided that RDA still has quota remaining. If you have lodged and not yet heard back, you can wait a little longer.