1. SkillSelect Update
The Home Affairs published the invitation round result up to 9 May 2019. The total number of invitations remained at 110, while 100 invitations were allocated to subclass 189 and the remaining 10 were for subclass 489. The allocation mix between non-pro-rata occupation and pro-rata occupation was 2:3.
Due to the significant drop in invitation numbers in recent rounds, the minimum points to get an invitation hovered at 80 points. The cut-off time was now up to 22 March 2019, compared to 15 March 2019 for the previous round, meaning that the backlog is accumulating.
Implications:
For 2018-19 program year, the number of invitations issued for subclasses 189 and 489 was around 22,700. This number has already exceeded the number in last program year (2017/18: Total number of invitations was around 16,000). As such, we expect the number of invitations issued for June invitation round will keep at current level to make the total invitations for the year close to 23,000.
For the next program year, with the places reserved for subclass 189 applicants will be slashed to only 18,652. We will expect the invitations in each round will sit between 500 and 800. The minimum points to get an invitation will hover at the high point level between 75 and 85. EOI applicants with 70 points are encouraged to seek professional advice on how to increase your points in order to have a higher chance to get an invitation.
The top 10 occupations to receive an invitation (non pro-rata occupations) in current round are as follows:
| Occupations | Occupation ID | No. of EOI invitations |
| Life Scientists | 2345 | 6 |
| Civil Engineering Professional | 2332 | 4 |
| Database and Systems Administrators and ICT Security Specialists | 2621 | 4 |
| Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers | 2411 | 3 |
| University Lecturers and Tutors | 2421 | 3 |
| Telecommunications Engineering Professionals | 2633 | 3 |
| Chemical and Materials Engineers | 2331 | 2 |
| University Lecturers and Tutors | 2421 | 2 |
| Other Medical Practitioners | 2539 | 2 |
| Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians | 3122 | 2 |
The table below shows that minimum points current processed for the eight pro-rata occupations:
Pro-rata arrangement occupations | Occupation ID | Number of invitations in current rounds | Minimum points currently processed | Minimum points processed in previous round |
Software and Applications Programmers | 2613 | 25 | 80 | 80 |
Accountants | 2211 | 13 | 90 | 90 |
Computer Network Professionals | 2631 | 8 | 80 | 80 |
Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers | 2335 | 6 | 80 | 80 |
ICT Business and Systems Analysts* | 2611 | 5 | 85 | 85 |
Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers | 2212 | 5 | 85 | 85 |
Other Engineering Professionals | 2339 | 3 | 80 | 80 |
Electronics Engineers | 2334 | 1 | 85 | 80 |
Processing time
According to the Home Affairs, the latest estimated visa application processing time for the following visas are as follows:
Subclass 189 (points-tested stream) around 6-7 months
Subclass 190 (state nomination) around 11-14 months
This is for indicative purpose only. Please bear in mind that processing times are impacted each month by changes in application volumes, seasonal peaks, complex cases, and incomplete applications.
3. State nomination update
Queensland (QLD)
In our May Issue , we mentioned that QLD was reopened the ‘Working in Queensland’ and ‘Masters’ and ‘PhD’ Queensland Skilled Occupation Lists from Thursday, 18 April 2019. Unfortunately, the quotas have been filled up since 10 May 2019.
Business & Skills Migration Queensland (BSMQ) will continue to process those EOI’s that have previously been lodged from 18 April – 10 May 2019 12pm until quota has been reached.
BSMQ advises that those who missed this round, to consider to apply again with a new EOI in early July this year. As the Queensland business and skilled state nomination programs will re-open again with new quotas and new criteria for 2019-20 financial year in early July 2019.
State nomination statistics for subclasses 190 and 489
The Home Affairs has published the latest state/territory nomination statistics for the current program year as follows:
Subclass 190
April 2019 | Mar 2019 | Cumulative 2018/19 | |
QLD | 21 | 73 | 1,002 |
NSW | 369 | 336 | 2,747 |
VIC | 260 | 236 | 2,468 |
WA | 28 | 30 | 186 |
SA | 58 | 79 | 812 |
TAS | 58 | 133 | 606 |
ACT | 93 | 79 | 591 |
NT | 16 | 23 | 255 |
Total | 903 | 989 | 8,667 |
Subclass 489
Apr 2019 | Mar 2019 | Cumulative 2018/19 | |
QLD | 3 | 37 | 482 |
NSW | 92 | 76 | 1,486 |
VIC | 8 | 7 | 59 |
WA | 2 | 3 | 19 |
SA | 87 | 145 | 1,895 |
TAS | 129 | 100 | 997 |
ACT | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NT | 39 | 20 | 270 |
Total | 360 | 388 | 5,208 |
To explore your visa options, please visit our website or complete a free online assessment and book for an initial assessment with our professional migration professional.