1. SkillSelect Update
In the new program year, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) changes to conduct the invitation round for SkillSelect on a monthly basis.
The latest round was conducted on 11 July 2018. The results were as follows:
· There are 1010 invitations offered, 1000 were allocated to subclass 189 visa while the remaining ten were for subclass 489 EOI applicants.
· The minimum points to get an invitation dropped to 70 points again.
· The allocation mix between non-prorata and protata is 84:16
The table below set out the allocation of invitations by point score in July’s rounds (for subclass 189 only).
Top ten occupations get the most invitations
The top 10 occupations to receive an invitation (non pro-rata occupations) are as follows:
Rank | Occupations | No. of EOI invitations |
1 | Civil Engineering Professionals Registered Nurses | 105 105 |
3 | Telecommunications Engineering Professionals | 88 |
4 | Database and Systems Administrators and ICT Security Specialists | 72 |
5 | Other Medical Practitioners | 68 |
6 | Electrical Engineers | 48 |
7 | Chemical and Materials Engineers | 42 |
8 | Secondary School Teachers General Practitioners and Resident Medical officers | 34 34 |
10 | Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers | 26 |
Number of invitations and minimum points for pro-rata arrangement occupations
For the pro-rata occupations, the number of invitations and the minimum points to get an invitation is set out below:
Pro-rata arrangement occupations | Number of invitation | Minimum points currently processed |
Software and Applications Programmers | 69 | 75 |
Accountants | 36 | 85 |
Computer Network Professionals | 21 | 75 |
Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers | 17 | 75 |
ICT Business and Systems Analysts* | 14 | 80 |
Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers | 13 | 80 |
Other Engineering Professionals | 7 | 80 |
Electronics Engineers | 3 | 75 |
Estimated waiting time
Here are the assumptions for the estimation:
· Lodgement date was in August 2018
· Same occupation ceiling as last year
· 1000 invitations in each round with 80% of the invitations go to non-pro rata occupation
Points | Approx. Waiting time for those who reached the points |
75+ | Next round |
75 | Next round |
70 | At least 4 months |
65 | At least 1 year* |
Please note that the above analysis is based on the assumptions that the number of invitation and invitation rounds are maintained at current level.
*The above estimation is for reference only. It does not necessary mean that candidates with the given points can have an invitation.
Red lights applicants
We also estimated the following applicants may have little chance to get an invitation before their EOI expired unless there is a significant change in invitation policy.
70 points or below | 65 points |
2211 – Accountants 2212 – Auditors 2611 – ICT Business Analysis 2613 – Software Application Programmers | 2334 – Electronics Engineers 2335 – Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers 2339 – Other Engineering Professionals 2611 – Computer Network Professionals |
These what we called “Red light applicants” should seek professional advice from registered migration agents for alternative visa options or possible ways to increase their points.
2. State nomination update
Queensland (QLD)
The QLD Government has reopened the state nomination program for subclasses 190/489. However, interstate applicants are no longer able to apply for Queensland state nomination.
In addition, Engineering Technologist (ANZSCO 233914) was removed from all the Queensland Skilled Occupation Lists (QSOLs) on 16 July 2018 as the QLD Government has received large number of EOIs for this occupation and have filled the quota.
Tasmania (TAS)
The TAS Government has changed the 190/489 requirements
For 190/489 visas,
Category 2 – Working in TAS, the TAS Government now requires the applicants to have ongoing work for at least six months immediately prior to apply for state nomination.
For 489 visa,
Category 4 – Family in TAS. First cousins are no longer eligible under this category
Category 5 – Small Business Owner. Now only for applicants already living in Australia
There are three occupations newly added to the TAS occupation list, namely:
131112 – Sales and Marketing Manager
252712 – Speech Pathologist
261111 – ICT Business Analyst
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
The ACT 190 nomination program remains closed for overseas applicants without close ties to Canberra, and is now closed to overseas applicants with close ties to Canberra.
Victoria (VIC)
The Skilled and Business Migration Program is now accepting Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) nomination applications.
A new application process applies to engineering and building, as well as nursing occupations.
For details, please refer to: https://liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au/migrate/skilled-migration-visas/skilled-nominated-visa-subclass-190#applyICT
South Australia (SA)
New occupation list for 2018/19 is available at http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/skilled-migrants/lists-of-state-nominated-occupations .
New South Wales (NSW)
Temporarily suspended the nomination invitation until further notice.
Review of last year's state nomination program lights applicants
During the last program year, there were a total of 10,646 nomination offers by various states and territories. NSW offered the most nomination, followed by VIC and QLD.
| NSW | VIC | QLD | WA | SA | TAS | ACT | Total |
17/18 | 3798 | 2890 | 1036 | 1 | 940 | 785 | 900 | 10,646 |
3. Visa processing time
Based on the latest information provided by DHA, the processing time for visa 189, 190 and 489 are as follows:
Subclass 189 (points tested stream): around 8-10 months
Subclass 190: around 6 – 7 months
Subclass 489 (State nomination stream) : around 7 – 10 months
4. Contact FortuneChance
Given that the competition of general skilled migration is keen and the regulations and policies are ever changing, it is of vital importance to have a professional to guide you through the whole process. For those who are looking for a registered migration agent or are thinking of migration through Skilled migration categories, please contact us to arrange a free assessment and learn more about how FortuneChance can make a difference.