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A Comprehensive Guide to Australia’s Points-Tested Skilled Migration: Application Process, State Requirements, and Latest Invitation Scores
News January 3, 2023 newstarsec

A Comprehensive Guide to Australia’s Points-Tested Skilled Migration: Application Process, State Requirements, and Latest Invitation Scores

Time flies — and here we are in 2023. Australia remains one of the world’s most sought-after and liveable migration destinations. After more than three years of pandemic-related stagnation, Australia’s points-tested skilled migration programme has entered a boom period in the 2022–23 financial year. Quotas have increased significantly, policies have become more favourable, and invitation scores from both the federal government and individual states have been falling steadily — reigniting the Australia migration dreams of many who previously fell short on age, work experience, or points.

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2022 Australia Skilled Migration Annual Review — A Historic Year Worth Remembering
News December 31, 2022 newstarsec

2022 Australia Skilled Migration Annual Review — A Historic Year Worth Remembering

In 2022, Australia's migration and study abroad landscape split into two distinct phases. The first half brought light at the end of the tunnel; the second half saw the clouds finally lift. Unlike previous years, 2022 was full of happy surprises — and even genuine astonishment. Many who had been waiting — to return to campus, to enter Australia, for an invitation, or for a visa grant — finally got their moment. 2022 truly marked a series of historic milestones for Australian migration, and Newstars was there with you through every one.

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Australia Migration Weekly Bulletin #266: Subclass 189 Backlog Surges — But Still the Fastest? ACT Issues More Subclass 190 to Compete for Skilled Migrants! Multiple Bodies Push for Better PR Pathways for International Students!
News December 25, 2022 newstarsec

Australia Migration Weekly Bulletin #266: Subclass 189 Backlog Surges — But Still the Fastest? ACT Issues More Subclass 190 to Compete for Skilled Migrants! Multiple Bodies Push for Better PR Pathways for International Students!

This issue's Migration Weekly highlights — 1. Canberra's final 2022 Matrix round issues more Subclass 190, score cuts on the horizon 2. Subclass 189 backlog surges rapidly, Subclass 491 finally drops, Subclass 190 stays steady 3. Department updates processing times — is Subclass 189 still the fastest? 4. Migration reform proposals continue: better PR pathways for international students 5. Weekly summary of grants, invitations, skills assessments and citizenship processing

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[Issue 266 — Australia Study Abroad Weekly] Go8 2023 Postgraduate Deadlines! PhD-MBA at Flinders. USYD CET Important Update.
News December 24, 2022 newstarsec

[Issue 266 — Australia Study Abroad Weekly] Go8 2023 Postgraduate Deadlines! PhD-MBA at Flinders. USYD CET Important Update.

The 2022 Study Abroad Weekly — Final Edition First of all, Merry Christmas to everyone! The Study Abroad Weekly is back on time as always, written this week by education consultant Kevin. Highlights this week: - It's finally here: ANU announces its 2023 return-to-campus plan - Go8 2023 postgraduate application deadlines at a glance - Flinders University launches a PhD-MBA programme in 2023 - University of Melbourne Master of Arts: latest update - USI: to register or not? Check the official website update - 2022 ARTU ranking released — University of Melbourne tops Australia again - IMC/Top adds a Perth campus with a CPA-accredited course - University of Sydney CET important update

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Weekly Grants & Invitations Roundup | Multiple 2019-Lodged Subclass 190 Applications Finally Granted! Subclass 489 Backlog Cleared — Last Batch! State Governments Still Processing Nominations!
News December 23, 2022 newstarsec

Weekly Grants & Invitations Roundup | Multiple 2019-Lodged Subclass 190 Applications Finally Granted! Subclass 489 Backlog Cleared — Last Batch! State Governments Still Processing Nominations!

Every Friday, Newstars shares our internal data on grants and invitations for popular visa categories. Current visa processing times (Department of Home Affairs): see item two in today's bulletin. Newstars Internal Data — This Week: 19–23 December 2022

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Department of Home Affairs Updates Visa Processing Timeframes | Subclass 189/190/491 — Faster or Slower? Employer-Sponsored Still Priority Processing!
News December 23, 2022 newstarsec

Department of Home Affairs Updates Visa Processing Timeframes | Subclass 189/190/491 — Faster or Slower? Employer-Sponsored Still Priority Processing!

Yesterday we discussed the year-end visa processing backlog figures. Right on cue, the Department of Home Affairs has also updated its reference processing times across all visa subclasses. A word of caution — the official figures include extreme outliers and have limited practical value, and carry a degree of lag, so the numbers may differ from real-world experience.

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QLD Investor Migration Effectively Closed This Financial Year — Which Alternative Pathway Should You Consider? A Detailed Analysis of the Pros and Cons of Popular Migration Options
News December 23, 2022 newstarsec

QLD Investor Migration Effectively Closed This Financial Year — Which Alternative Pathway Should You Consider? A Detailed Analysis of the Pros and Cons of Popular Migration Options

The Queensland Business Investor Immigration stream has effectively closed for this financial year. With investor migration no longer a state government priority, here is a detailed breakdown of the most recommended alternative pathways — including Subclass 189, NSW Subclass 190, QLD Subclass 491 Small Business, and the Northern Territory MINT programme — along with the pros and cons of each.

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Subclass 189 Backlog Up 14,000 — Is It Really Faster Than 190? Subclass 491 Finally Declining, 143 Rising Sharply! Real Offshore Grant Rates for Chinese Applicants on 500/600?
News December 22, 2022 newstarsec

Subclass 189 Backlog Up 14,000 — Is It Really Faster Than 190? Subclass 491 Finally Declining, 143 Rising Sharply! Real Offshore Grant Rates for Chinese Applicants on 500/600?

Migration visa grants and FFI requests have been accelerating across the board recently. The Subclass 887 processing team has added many new case officers. The final batch of Subclass 489 applications lodged at the end of 2019 are finally being granted. Employer-sponsored 186/482 visas have not been overlooked either, and temporary visas such as 485/500/600 are being processed even faster.

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