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Melbourne

Sydney

visa@immi-law.com.au

Visa Assessment

Skilled Independent (189) – Points Tested

This visa allows highly skilled workers who are not sponsored by an Australian employer, State or Territory government, or family member to live and work permanently in Australia.

General Requirements

At the time that you are invited to apply for a skilled visa:

  • be under 45 years of age
  • nominate an occupation that is included on the relevant occupation list – we can assist with this
  • have your skills assessed by the appropriate Australian skills assessing authority as suitable for your nominated occupation
  • have competent English
  • score at least 65 on the relevant points test (which takes into account your age, English competency, qualifications and work experience, amongst other factors)
  • be nominated by a State or Territory government (Subclass 190 only).
  • be nominated by a State or Territory government OR sponsored by a family member residing in regional Australia (Subclass 491 only).

Application Process

Anyone who wishes to apply for this visa under the Skilled Migration Program stream must first be invited to lodge an application by the Department of Home Affairs.

Stage 1: Initial Eligibility Assessment

The first step that we will take is to conduct an initial assessment of your eligibility for this visa. This involves reviewing your qualifications, work experience, English language and other circumstances, to establish whether or not you are likely to meet the relevant requirements.

We will then provide you with informed and comprehensive advice about your ability to meet the minimum standards (including State/Territory nomination or family member sponsorship) that the Department of Home Affairs requires migrants to fulfil in order to qualify for an invitation to apply for this visa.

Stage 2: Skill Assessment

Should our initial assessment indicate that you are eligible for a positive skills assessment, nomination and EOI, we will prepare your skills assessment application.

We will provide you with a full list of the information and documents required to support your application. When you have provided the necessary details and documents, along with the required assessment fee, we will lodge your application with the applicable skills assessing authority.

Stage 3: Expression of Interest (EOI)

Once you have received a positive skills assessment from the skills assessing authority, we will prepare and lodge your EOI. If you are seeking State/Territory nomination, you will need to specify which Australian state or territory you wish to nominate your visa application. Alternatively, you can choose to be available for nomination by any State or Territory.

Provided you meet all relevant requirements, including State/Territory nomination or family member sponsorship, you will then be invited to lodge a visa application.

Stage 4: State/Territory Nomination (If applicable)

If you are seeking State/Territory nomination, the government agency of the State or Territory that you have chosen will review your EOI to determine whether or not you meet their particular criteria for nomination (this includes the requirement that your nominated occupation be included on the skilled occupation list for that State/Territory).

We will supply the State or Territory government agency concerned with the evidence required to show that you meet their criteria. The nature and extent of the supporting evidence required varies depending upon the State or Territory in question. If your supporting evidence is deemed acceptable, the State or Territory government agency will then nominate you for the visa.

Stage 5: Visa Application

Once the Department of Home Affairs has invited you to apply for this visa, we will prepare and lodge your visa application within the specified time frame, together with all of the documents that support the information that you provided in your EOI. This includes your skills assessment, English language test results, qualifications, work references and all other required documents.

You may be either in Australia or overseas when your visa is granted.

Additional Information

If you were nominated by a State or Territory, you must live, study and work in a regional Australian, and comply with any other residential conditions specified by the relevant State/Territory government agency.

If you were sponsored by a family member, you must live, study and work in a designated area of Australia (any area of Australia with the exception of Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and the Brisbane metropolitan area).