Australia General Skilled Migration

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Subclasses 189/190/489 are all visa programs for skilled and aspiring migrants. Subclass 189 is a skilled independent – Permanent Residence visa. Subclass 190 is skilled nominated Permanent Residence –visa. Subclass 489 is a skilled regional – Provisional Residence visa. All the three subclasses are options to obtain PR status in Australia as a general skilled migrant. Visa subclass is selected in accordance with the skills, requirements, and eligibility.

For 189/190/489, an applicant has to qualify the point-based test. After that the applicant must submit an expression of interest. Upon receiving an invitation, they have to apply to any one of the above points based subclasses.

The points in these subclasses are calculated for factors like age, English language competency, overseas employment in nominated skilled occupation, education qualifications at the time of invitation, Australian education, nomination/sponsorship, etc.

There’s more to the General Skilled Migration Program. You can Get in touch with us to get detailed information on the same.

CHECK ELIGIBILITY

Find out which of these subclasses fits your profile really well. Check eligibility first, and then take the next steps forward.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Eligibility Requirement:

The threshold points to qualify for this visa are 65 and the applicants are required to meet the points as per the invitation received. Points are awarded on the basis of the factors listed below.

Age:- The age of the applicant should be between 18 -45 years. Minimum points 15 with a maximum up to 30 can be granted.

English language:- The applicant should prove that he/she meets the English language of the competent level by submitting the test results before the application is lodged. One would meet the English Language threshold if they score TOEFL iBT scores of 12 in Listening, 13 in Reading, 21 in Writing, 18 in Speaking or PTE Academic scores of 50 in each band or IELTS 6 bands in all the components or if holds a valid passport and is a citizen of one of the following countries: United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, United States of America and Republic of Ireland.

To score points for English requirement, an applicant must meet proficient or superior level as mentioned in below table. English Language test results are required supporting these claims at the time of application.

English Language proficiency level	Points	Test component	IELTS	TOEFL iBT	PTE Academic	Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)*
Functional	0 Points	Average/total/overall across test components only	4.5	32	30	147
Competent	0 Points	Listening	6	12	50	169
		Reading	6	13	50	169
		Writing	6	21	50	169
		Speaking	6	18	50	169
Proficient (for points tested Skilled visas)	10 Points	Listening	7	24	65	185
		Reading	7	24	65	185
		Writing	7	27	65	185
		Speaking	7	23	65	185
Superior (for points tested Skilled visas)	20 Points	Listening	8	28	79	200
		Reading	8	29	79	200
		Writing	8	30	79	200
		Speaking	8	26	79	200

Nominated occupation:- The applicant should nominate an occupation on the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List) for subclass 189 and subclass 489(if sponsored by a relative) or on state occupation list that is eligible for a state nomination as per states occupations list.

Skill Assessment:- It is mandatory for an applicant to get a positive skill assessment for a nominated occupation before the EOI is lodged.

Points can also be earned on the following eligibility criteria:

• Overseas Experience points (Experience outside Australia):– The applicant for the Australia Skilled Immigration Program can claim points for having three/five/eight years of overseas experience in the nominated occupation in the last 10 years. Minimum points 5 with a maximum of up to 15 can be granted.
• Overseas Qualification points (Qualifications gained outside Australia):- The applicant for the Australia Skilled Immigration Program can claim points for recognized qualifications which is at a level of Bachelors or higher or PhD or holding qualifications that are assessed by the assessing body during the skills assessment. Minimum points 10 with a maximum of up to 20 can be granted, according to the level of qualifications AQF Diploma or Bachelors /higher or PhD or qualifications recognized by the assessing body during the assessment. The relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation can usually determine whether your qualifications are of a standard that is comparable to a relevant Australian qualification.

• Australian Experience:- The applicant for the Australia Skilled Immigration Program can claim points for having worked in Australia for one/three/five/eight in one of the occupations listed on the SOL, in a full-time paid employment. Minimum points 5 with a maximum of up to 20 can be granted.

• Australian Study:- The applicant for the Australia Skilled Immigration Program can claim additional points for Australian study for a qualification which is a course of at least two Academic years or more. Minimum points 5 with a maximum of up to 15 can be granted.
•  Partner Skills:- The applicant for the Australia Skilled Immigration Program can claim points under partner skills, if the partner satisfies the basic requirements of age, English language ability, qualifications and skills assessment result. The partner should obtain positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority and competent English. Spouse nominated occupation should be from the same occupations list as per the primary applicant. Partner skills will lead to 5 points.
• Professional years/ Credential community language:- Professional year programs for at least 12 months done from Australia in the last 4 years and Credential community language qualifications if you have been assessed as a Paraprofessional translator by NAATI will lead to 5 points.
• Sponsorship points:- The applicant would require a successful, valid nomination from the state, regional area or sponsorship from family members living in designated areas of Australia. This sponsorship will lead to 10 points.

Sponsorship by a State/Territory:- Applicant’s nominated occupation should be listed in the respective state SOL and he/she should meet all the eligibility criteria as set by the state. The client has to commit to live and work in this state for initial 2 years of stay in specified regional areas of Australia.

Specified Regional Areas:

• You must have lived in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area for at least two years if you were nominated for this visa by a state or territory government. These areas are listed by postcode and state on the table below.

Regional and low population growth metropolitan areas:

Regional and low population growth metropolitan areas	Postcodes
New South Wales (NSW)Anywhere except Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast and Wollongong	2311 to 2312, 2328 to 2411, 2420 to 2490, 2536 to 2551, 2575 to 2594, 2618 to 2739, 2787 to 2898
Northern Territory	Entire territory
Queensland Anywhere except the greater Brisbane area and the Gold Coast	4124 to 4125, 4133, 4211, 4270 to 4272, 4275, 4280, 4285, 4287, 4307 to 4499, 4515, 4517 to 4519, 4522 to 4899
South Australia	Entire state
Tasmania	Entire state
Victoria Anywhere except the Melbourne metropolitan area	3211 to 3334, 3340 to 3424, 3430 to 3649, 3658 to 3749, 3753, 3756, 3758, 3762, 3764, 3778 to 3781, 3783, 3797, 3799, 3810 to 3909, 3921 to 3925, 3945 to 3974, 3979, 3981 to 3996
Western Australia Anywhere except Perth and surrounding areas	6041 to 6044, 6083 to 6084, 6121 to 6126,6200 to 6799

Sponsor by a relative:

• The applicant should be sponsored by an eligible sponsor who is either an Australian citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen residing (under a special category visa) in Australia.
• Relation: The relation between the sponsor and the applicant can either be a Brother, Sister, Parent, Non-dependent child, Uncle, Aunt, Nephew, Niece, First Cousin, Relative of the applicant’s spouse, De-facto spouse, Inter-dependent partner or Half and Step-relatives.
• Location: The sponsor should be living in a designated area of Australia before lodging the application and should also prove that he /she will continue to live in the designated area till the decision is made regarding the application.
• Assistance: The sponsor will have to sign a sponsorship undertaking stating that he/she will provide the required assistance to meet the applicant’s financial and social obligations for the period of 2 years to make the applicant’s living comfortable in Australia.

Designated areas of Australia:

Health requirements:

You must meet certain health requirements. The health examinations you need, will depend on your personal circumstances, including your country of citizenship, time spent in another country during the last five years and your intended activities in Australia. The results of your health examinations are generally valid for 12 months.

This applies to you and any dependent family members included in your visa application.

Character requirement:

You must meet certain character requirements. You must provide a police certificate from each country you have lived in for 12 months including all short visits or more during the past 10 years after you turned 16 years of age.

This applies to you and all the dependent family members listed in your application who are above 16 years old, whether they are migrating or not.

Debts to the Australian Government:

You must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged to repay any outstanding debts to the Australian Government before this visa can be granted.

Family Members:

You can include the following people in your visa application:

• Your partner (married or de facto)
• Yours or your partner’s dependent children

These family members must meet the requirements for including family members in your application. The application must include documentary evidence of their relationship with you. Your family members must be able to show that they meet health and character requirements.

Dependent visa applicants, who are above 18 years are required to meet at least Functional English requirement through study where medium of instruction is in English or by proving functional English requirement or by paying visa second installment charges towards English requirements.

You can add your partner and dependent children to your application before the decision is made on visa application. But for 489 visas, you need to add dependents before this visa application is filed.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

What the visa lets you do?

This visa allows you and your family to:

• Stay in Australia for up to four years
• Live, work and study in a specified regional area of Australia
• Travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid
• Provides a pathway to a Permanent Residence visa in Australia

*Not eligible for any benefits on this visa

APPLICATION COST

Application Fees for the Australia Skilled Immigration Program

• Skill Assessment fee – AUD$300-AUD$2200
• State Sponsorship fee- Varies from AUD$200- AUD$600 (if applicable)
• Education Assessment (if applicable) – AUD$60 – AUD$300
• Medicals/Registration– case specific
• Department of Home Affairs (DIBP earlier) Application Fee: AUD$3755
• Dependent aged below 18 years: AUD940
• Dependent age above 18 years: AUD$ 1875
• Spouse English Requirement Fee: AUD$4885 (This fee is applicable only if the spouse or the dependent above 18 years is unable to prove the functional English requirement)

VISA PROCESS TIME LINES

Priority Group Number	Visa Sub Class	Processing Time
1	RSMS (Subclass 119, 857)	Low Risk – 5 months
	Skilled Regional	High Risk- 8 months
	Skill Select (subclass 187)	6 months
2	Skill Select (subclass 186)	6 months
3	SMP(subclass 176,475,487,886)	12 months
	Skill Select SMP(subclass 190 and 489)	6 months
4	Nominated Occupation on the SOL- Schedule 1(subclass 175, 495, 496, 861, 862, 863, 880, 881, 882, 883, 885 and 176, 475, 487 if not SMP)	18 Months
	Skill Select Independent and Family Sponsored (subclass 189 and 489)	12 months
5	All visas listed in priority 3 and 4 that are not SMP or Nominated Occupation on the SOL – Schedule 1	Assessment will commence when all cases in priority groups 1-4 are finalized

FLYGO PROCESS

Our Full Service & Processing Includes:

Document checklist :

• Complete Migration Processing & Application Processing
• Forms, Documentation & Petition Filing
• Guidance on acquiring the specific Police Clearance Certificate
• Assistance with Medicals
• Updates & Follow up with the Department of Home Affairs (DIBP earlier)
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Review of application and call consultation service by RMA agent*
• Job Search Assistance*

FLYGO IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT

• We offer documentation processing, application & filing services for those interested in immigrating.
• Our Immigration Processing Department ranks amongst the best in Africa. A strong research team ensures that cases are evaluated and processed as per the latest rules and regulations.
• Our experience at having filed thousands of applications has resulted in a strong & comprehensive case study database.
• Our office in  Nigeria make us the only consultant in Nigeria with a widespread presence, because of which we file the highest number of applications from Nigeria. We have the highest success rate & over 50% of our business comes from referrals & word of mouth.
• There are five countries that currently have a point based immigration program. Point-based immigration is a good option for those who want to work & settle overseas.
• There are a number of categories under which an applicant can file his/her application. You can either apply independently /a relative can sponsor you / an overseas Employer can sponsor you or the country itself can sponsor you. Applicants whose occupations are in demand usually get bonus points & faster processing. Each country has their specific list of occupations.

WHY SHOULD YOU FILE YOUR MIGRATION PETITION THIS MONTH?

Why should you not delay?

Rules may change. Everything has a quota!

Immigration rules are volatile and governments are always debating whether to close the door or whom to close the door on. Don’t take the rules for granted. Apply now when you are eligible! You may not be eligible, a few months from now.

You save time

 If you postpone your decision, you end up in the same career junction even next year. Take a decision and advance your career right now.

 You aren’t growing any younger!

Most countries have an age limit and it gets stricter as you grow older. You may not be eligible even a year later. And then as you get older, your ability to adjust to new surroundings also decreases.

Apply now – you may also earn extra points for age!

Your kids adjust faster when they are younger

Your kids adjust better and learn faster when younger. Remember, this opportunity is for them too.

Better in every way

If you are not married, it will improve your profile and get you a better partner.
It is never a bad thing to hold a PR visa that allows you to work & live overseas.
It is never a bad thing to hold an additional UK, Australia, Germany or Canadian Passport.

No kids? Even better

If you are married and do not have children yet, your kids born in the country will become Naturalized Citizens automatically.

You may change your mind

You or your spouse may change your mind later and may miss on something good in your life and for your children.

Treat your migration petition as an investment for the future –for you and your children. Apply for it now, watch it mature later. Avail of the benefits all your life.