With three consecutive large-scale invitation rounds since the start of the new financial year,the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visahas broken years of silence and made a dramatic comeback!
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Three rounds of Subclass 189 invitations so far this financial year
NO.1 12,200 invitations issued
Financial year round on 22 August 2022First round, 12,200 invitations issued,mostly nursing, early childhood education and social work, plus a range of other niche and less common occupations. Invitation scores were as low as 65 points. For details, see:First EOI Round Official Report This Financial Year | 12,200 Subclass 189 Invitations Issued — Large Numbers of Offshore Applicants at 65 Points Selected!
NO.2 11,714 invitations issued — offshore engineering applicants at 65 points invited
Financial year round on 6 October 2022Second round, another 11,714 invitations issued,In addition to the pandemic’s top-tier occupations and healthcare, this round inviteda large number of offshore engineering occupations, with the vast majority receiving invitations at just 65 points.For details, see:[Subclass 189 10 October Round EOI Official Report] Over 11,000 invitations — large numbers of offshore engineering applicants in construction/QS/civil and related fields at 65 points!
NO.3 Accountants and IT invited for the first time in over two years
The third round on 14 October 2022, just eight days after the previous round. The official report had not been published at the time of writing,however we have multiple accountants scoring 100 points who received invitations — the vast majority onshore(some offshore applicants also received invitations), with Dates of Effect ranging from late 2020 to mid-2021.There were also IT software engineers scoring 105 and 100 points who received invitations.It looks like one round was used to ‘specially accommodate’ the two largest high-scoring popular categories. For details, see:Moving! Latest Subclass 189 Invitation Round Issued — Multiple Accountants Invited, IT Professionals Also Selected!
The volume and occupational breadth of these rounds is the highest in recent years
Has Subclass 189 made a comeback!?
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At least it can serve as a Plan B
Indeed, after the new Labor government took office, a number of adjustments were made to migration policy — such as increasing the proportion of skilled migration places, bringing in migrants to fill talent gaps left by the previous government, and processing the backlog of visa applications, and so on.18Subclass 189 is one of the categories managed and operated directly by the federal government to rapidly fill skills shortages. Compared with state nomination and employer sponsorship, it is more efficient.
So the move to issue invitations well in excess of the quota hasgiven us greater expectations for Subclass 189 this financial year and potentially over the coming years.
As things stand, the Subclass 189 — which can be lodged both onshore and offshore, grants PR upon approval, and is not subject to state government restrictions — can at least become a Plan B for many waiting applicants!
● Offshore applicants: still a key focus for invitations
Subclass 189 has no mandatory work experience requirement and can be lodged from both onshore and offshore. Based on current invitation patterns, the English language requirement for offshore applicants is as low as 6 in each band.Furthermore, at last week’s MIA annual summit, the Minister for Immigration stated that the invitation focus would be placed on overseas applicants,making Subclass 189 well worth trying for offshore applicants. In the first three rounds, offshore engineering occupations were invited at as low as 65 points!
● Onshore applicants: lodge your EOI and join the queue — why not?
Not only offshore applicants, but onshore applicants can also consider lodging.
For niche and less common occupations, as well as the perennial favourites — nursing, early childhood education, and social work — applicants with lower scores can lodge their EOI and join the queue first;
for popular occupations, those with mid-to-high scores can also consider lodging an EOI — the wait may be longer, but it is perfectly reasonable to treat it as a Plan B or Plan C.
● While awaiting a migration pathway: consider case by case
Applicants who are already mid-way through a Subclass 482 employer sponsorship or a partner visa application may also wish to consider lodging an EOI. You can lodge an EOI right up until your Subclass 491 is granted, but once it is granted you cannot apply for Subclass 189 for three years.
189 How do you go about it?
The requirements and lodgement process for Subclass 189 are considerably simpler than for state nomination.
Step 1: based on your qualifications and work experience, identify a nominated occupation on the relevant list and complete your skills assessment.
Step 2: achieve at least 6 in each band of IELTS (aiming as high as possible is recommended).
Step 3: accumulate enough points to meet the minimum 65-point threshold. [Contact the author to obtain the points calculator](It is recommended to aim for the highest score possible — for niche occupations, a high score means faster invitations; for popular occupations, it increases your chances of being selected.)
Step 4: lodge your EOI and wait for an invitation.
Step 5: receive your Subclass 189 invitation and lodge your visa application. Your PR will then be granted upon approval.
Contact the author of this article for a detailed assessment and consultation.
It is true that during the years Subclass 189 fell into decline, many applicants gave up hope — and perhaps even forgot which year or month they had lodged an EOI. Now, with sudden invitations being issued, or a sudden wave of large-scale invitation rounds,if you want to try againand wonder whether thatEOI still in the pool can be ‘retrieved’,
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For applicants already in the Subclass 189 queue who have not yet received an invitation —
please be sure to self-check and ensure that all your documents are within their validity period.
Validity periods for common skills assessments and points-booster items
It is recommended to start renewing your NAATI certification and skills assessment 0.5–1 year in advance. Contact the author if you need assistance.
If you unexpectedly received an invitation in one of the earlier rounds —
if any documents had expired at the time of invitation,there is still an opportunity to attempt lodgement if the missing documents are supplied within 60 days.This is because the Full Federal Court has ruled on the interpretation of ‘time of invitation’ in a way that differs from the Department of Home Affairs’ position, and has overturned the Department’s visa refusals.Therefore, based on the Full Federal Court’s precedent, even if the Department refuses the visa, there is still a chance of success on appeal.
Of course, every case is different, and there are various limitations on the right to appeal, plus the costs of visa application and review fees. If you are in this situation, you are welcome to get in touch for an assessment and a solution.
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Over 11,000 invitations — offshore construction/QS/civil engineering applicants at 65 points!
Over 11,000 invitations — offshore construction/QS/civil engineering applicants at 65 points!
Over 11,000 invitations — offshore construction/QS/civil engineering applicants at 65 points!
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Western Australia’s second round — 1,500 invitations; Victoria ROI predominantly for onshore applicants!Clickthe ‘Original Link’ — Weekly Migration Bulletin Episode 7 video version
