SKILLED INDEPENDENT SUBCLASS 189 VISA (POINTS-TESTED STREAM)
Permanent visa
The point-tested stream under subclass 189 is for highly skilled workers who are not sponsored by a family member, business, Australian State or Territory. You must also have been invited by Immigration to apply for a skilled independent subclass 189 visa under the point-tested stream.
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The point-tested stream under subclass 189 visa has 3 stages involving 3 different applications.
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Stage 1: Obtaining a positive skills assessment
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Stage 2: Receive an invitation from SkillSelect to apply for a subclass 189 visa under the point-tested stream
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Stage 3: Apply for a subclass 189 visa under the point-tested stream
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Both the first AND second stages must be successful before you can move to the third stage. Smart Australian Visas can compete a preliminary assessment to determine if you could meet these requirements.
Members of the family unit can apply for a subclass 189 visa at the same time as the primary 189 visa applicant or may be added before a decision had been made on the 189 visa application.
Stage 1: Skills assessment application
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From 11 March 2019 the occupations list for a subclass 189 visa for applicants who have not yet been issued an invitation will be Migration (LIN 19/051: Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities) Instrument 2019:
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All occupations listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic List (MLTSSL) on LIN 19/051 are eligible occupations for nomination for subclass 189 visa under point-tested stream
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All occupations listed on the Short-term Skilled List (STSOL) on LIN 19/051 are not eligible for nomination occupations for subclass 189 visa under point-tested stream
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An assessing authority must conduct a skills assessment. Requirements will differ as it depends on the assessing authority and the nominated occupation.
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Smart Australian visas can assess and identify if any occupation listed on MLTSSL on LIN 19/051 matches your qualifications, skills and/or work experience. We can instruct you on the requirements of the relevant assessing authority to prepare and lodge a skills assessment application on your behalf.
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You must attain a positive skilled assessment from the relevant assessing authority for the nominated occupation before proceeding to stage 2. (The FREE essential 189 point-tested fact sheet can provide more details on requirements).
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Stage 2: Expression of Interest (EOI) application
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Should you receive a positive skills assessment then preparation can begin for an Expression of Interest (EOI) application through SkillSelect on the immigration department’s website.
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A minimum of 65 points is required and is based on several factors/criteria (e.g. age, English language ability, overseas and Australian work experience in nominated occupation, education etc.).
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After submitting your EOI application you must be issued an invitation by Immigration to apply for a subclass 189 visa before proceeding to stage 3. (The FREE essential 189 point-tested fact sheet can provide more details on requirements).
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Stage 3: Skilled Independent subclass 189 Visa
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Should you receive an invitation to apply for a subclass 189 visa under the Points-tested stream), then preparation can begin to lodge a visa application providing requirements can be met. The visa application must be lodged within the expiry date on the invitation. The FREE essential 189 point-tested fact sheet can provide more details on requirements.
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WHAT IS THE PROCESSING TIME?
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The length of time for a decision varies from case to case and can depend on such factors as quantity of visa applications for that subclass, chronological order of lodgement, applicants risk assessment, case complexity and staffing number at the visa processing centre.
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Immigration processing times are updated on a regular basis: http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about/access-accountability/service-standards/global-visa-citizenship-processing-times
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IF THE SUBCLASS 189 VISA IS GRANTED
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Should your subclass 189 visa application (point-tested stream) be approved you will be granted a permanent visa which allows you to live and work in Australia for 5 years. You may be either in Australia or overseas when your visa is lodged and granted.
Contact Smart Australian Visas office for further information.