Two updates today — let’s cover both!

Update 1: PY (Professional Year) Validity Period Changedfrom Date of Completion — 48 months!

In an email today from MIA (Migration Institute of Australia) to registered migration agents: the PY validity period has been changedfrom date of completion(complete) — 4 years of validity; previously it was 48 months calculated from the start of enrolment.

This rule has already taken effect and mainly affects those who received a Subclass 189 invitation in December last year. Under the old rule, some applicants’ PY had already expired and they assumed they would have to abandon their invitation. However, as they are still within the 60-day lodgement window following the invitation, they can still lodge their visa application — there is still time!

If you are affected, please contact us as soon as possible

Don’t let your invitation go to waste!

Also updated: the official Department of Home Affairs (for limited reference only)Visa Processing Times:

189 — Points-Based (Skilled Independent)

It still appears to be the fastest on paper — but why “appears”? Based on grant data collected from our clients and external sources, most recent Subclass 189 grants involve invitations and lodgements from October last year in priority occupations — healthcare, nursing, social work, and teaching. Grants in other common occupations remain relatively scarce.

190 — State-Nominated

Subclass 190 is genuinely the fastest category both in data and in practice. Processing has broadly reached applications lodged around mid-2022, with some 2021 backlog also being cleared.

491 — Skilled Work Regional (State-Nominated)

Subclass 491 grants have continued flowing. The Department is currently clearing applications lodged in early 2021. Outside of priority occupations, very few recently lodged 491 applications appear to have received a grant.

The predecessor to 491, 489, has also been seeing grants recently. Not many left; hopefully it wraps up soon!

887

Any progress? Just the tiniest bit…

Partner Visa (Onshore — Subclass 820/801)

Partner Visa (Offshore — Subclass 309/100)

Subclass 143 — Contributory Parent Visa

No official data is available, but the Subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa has accelerated significantly this financial year. Document requests have now reached applicants lodged in April 2017; from document request through to decision and grant, the current wait is approximately 2–3 months.

858 GTI (Global Talent)

482 — Employer-Sponsored (Skills in Demand / TSS)

186 — Employer Nomination Scheme

The Subclass 186 Direct Entry stream processes somewhat slower than 482 TSS, but 186DE delivers permanent residency in one step. For applicants with 2+ years of work experience, it remains an excellent no-points-test pathway to PR — see:Accounting, IT, engineering, marketing and many more — PR without a points test, no relocation, keep your job. The highest and most stable quota category this year — don’t overlook it!

500 — Student Visa

Recent news indicates that a large wave of Chinese international students is expected to rush to enter Australia. The visa is the first hurdle — offshore student visa processing is currently fairly quick, with most outcomes within 1–3 months.

485 — Graduate Work Visa

600 — Visitor Visa

408 — Pandemic Event Stream

All processing times above are for reference only

We have noted repeatedly that these [official] visa processing time figures can be misleading. treat them as a rough guide only. For example, Subclass 189 is not genuinely faster than 190 overall — the apparent quick times in the data are driven by priority occupations.

This is the monthly grant volume by popular occupation category (through to 2022) obtained from official records, Subclass 190 clearly outperforms other categories; Subclass 189 volumes are higher than 491, but bear in mind that a portion are via the NZ Stream.

Now look at the backlog of applications awaiting processing: Subclass 190’s monthly grant rate is broadly keeping pace with new lodgements; 491 is just managing but slowing; after several rounds of large invitation draws for Subclass 189, the backlog is growing!

Today’s fresh grants — share in the good fortune!

To close, here are a few grants issued today — wishing you all the best for yours soon!

189 — all lodged October last year

190 — April 2021 and May 2022 respectively

491 — all lodged in early 2021

Recommended Reading — Click the image to read

Top 10 Fields of Study for a Smooth Path to PR After Graduation — 2023 Recommendations

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Online Courses No Longer Recognised — Overseas Students Should Apply to Return to Australia Now!

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Less Than 30% of Year-End Quota Used — NSW Issues Another Subclass 190 Invitation Round!

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Reply in the Official Account with any of the following numbers or keywords (not in the article comments below) to get the most up-to-date and expert migration information! Reply [A] to view the full index (all topics)!

Reply: 0000 → View the 16 Nov policy update (491 + skilled migration points)

Reply: 000 → Latest visa / citizenship processing times

Reply: 001 → Latest Subclass 189 EOI official report

Reply: 002 → Subclass 189 Skilled Independent

Reply: 003 → Subclass 190 state nomination (all states)

Reply: 004 → Subclass 489 Skilled Regional (State-Nominated)

Reply: 005 → International student entrepreneur / investor migration

Reply: 006 → Parent migration visas

Reply: 007 → Employer-sponsored visas

Reply: 008 → Subclass 485 Graduate Work visa

Reply: 009 → Partner migration / points bonus

Reply: 010 → Work experience points

Reply: 011 → PY (Professional Year) points

Reply: 012 → NAATI/CCL points bonus

Reply: 013 → Regional area points bonus

Reply: 014 → Visitor / family visit visa

Reply: 015 → Working holiday visa

Reply: 016 → Studying at TAFE

Reply: 017 → Australian international students migrating to Canada

Reply: 018 → Subclass 407 Training visa

Reply: 019 → Subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa

Reply: 020 → New Zealand migration

2023 Recommendations

Backlog Down by 400,000 at Year End! Is Temporary-to-Permanent Conversion the Key Reform Focus?Clickthe “Original Link” — Migration Weekly Video Edition

Your Subclass 189 Invitation Might Still Be Saveable! PY Validity Period Confirmed Changed to 4 Years from Completion — and Visa Processing Speed Updated: Is 189 Still Faster Than 190?

Top 10 Fields of Study for a Smooth Path to PR After Graduation — 2023 Recommendations

Online Courses No Longer Recognised — Overseas Students Should Apply to Return to Australia Now!

Less Than 30% of Year-End Quota Used — NSW Issues Another Subclass 190 Invitation Round!

Less Than 30% of Year-End Quota Used — NSW Issues Another Subclass 190 Invitation Round!

Less Than 30% of Year-End Quota Used — NSW Issues Another Subclass 190 Invitation Round!

Less Than 30% of Year-End Quota Used — NSW Issues Another Subclass 190 Invitation Round!

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