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!

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Reply: 013 → regional-area points

Reply: 014 → Visitor / family-visit visa

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Reply: 016 → TAFE study

Reply: 017 → Australian international students migrating to Canada

Reply: 018 → 407 Training visa

Reply: 019 → 408 Temporary Activity visa

Reply: 020 → New Zealand migration

2023 recommended

Department of Home Affairs announces new processing priority for skilled visas and Student visas — 190 backlog still near 50,000, 491 at 47,600, and 189 is “healthy”!

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!

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