Immigration Lawyers and Migration Agents

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After months of not releasing the number of invitations issued through SkillSelect, the Department of Home Affairs has finally released the invitation rounds for May and June 2020. Not everyone will be happy with the results.

Just three months into the new program year and there are signs that skilled migration invitations are going to be in short supply without a state or territory sponsorship.

September SkillSelect invitation round

The latest report on invitations issued by the Department of Home Affairs shows that only 100 were issued for the Skilled Independent subclass 189 visa. This remained at the same level seen in August 2019 but is a significant drop from the 1000 invitations issued in July 2019. The minimum points cut-off score has also increased to 85 points after being at 80 points for the past two months.

The report also includes invitations issued for the Skilled Regional subclass 489 visa (family sponsored stream). These have remained at 100 invitations, but the minimum cut-off score has also increased to 85 points.

Occupation specific cut-off scores are also utilised by the Department and several have been increased since the previous round in August. The cut-off score for Accountant has been increased from 85 points to 95 points. Cut-off scores have also been increased for Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers (85 points to 95 points), Other Engineering Professionals (90 points to 95 points) and Computer Network Professionals (80 points to 85 points).

Our view

The report does not include invitations issued by state and territory governments for the state/territory sponsored version of the Skilled Regional subclass 489 visa (soon to be 491 visa) or the Skilled Nominated (permanent residency) subclass 190 visa.

While many applicants may have a preference for and might meet the minimum requirements for the Skilled Independent subclass 189 visa, the state or territory sponsorship pathway might be the only way to secure a visa without a long wait (or risk missing out entirely).

Do you need help with an Australian visa application?

At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting applicants in all matters relating to Australian visa applications. Our areas of expertise include Partner Visas, Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills Migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work Visas and other Family Migration visas as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial Review and Ministerial Intervention.

If you require further information regarding your Australia visa options you can contact us through:

(08) 8351 9956 or +61 8 8351 9956 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• 1000 Skilled Independent visa invitations were issued
  • applications with 70 points or more were invited
  • applications submitted 15 July 2017 have been invited
• 210 Skilled Regional Sponsored visa invitations were issued
  • applications with 60 points or more were invited
  • applications submitted 25 July 2017 were invited

Key terms: SkillSelect – Invitation to Apply – Skilled Independent subclass 189 - Skilled Regional Provisional subclass 489 – Expression of Interest – Points Test

Results for the SkillSelect invitation round on 1 March 2017 have been published. Here is a summary of the results:

• 1832 Skilled Independent visa invitations were issued (up from 1253 in the previous round)
  • applications with 60 points or more were invited
  • applications submitted 1 March 2017 have been invited
• 32 Skilled Regional Sponsored visa invitations were issued (up from 27 in the previous round)
  • applications with 60 points or more were invited
  • applications submitted 28 February 2017 were invited

Key terms: SkillSelect – Invitation to Apply – Skilled Independent subclass 189 - Skilled Regional Provisional subclass 489 – Expression of Interest – Points Test

Results for the SkillSelect invitation round on 15 February 2017 have been published. Here is a summary of the results:

• 1253 Skilled Independent visa invitations were issued (up from 1144 in the previous round)
  • applications with 60 points or more were invited
  • applications submitted 15 February 2017 have been invited
• 27 Skilled Regional Sponsored visa invitations were issued (down from 28 in the previous round)
  • applications with 60 points or more were invited
  • applications submitted 14 February 2017 were invited

Key terms: SkillSelect – Invitation to Apply – Skilled Independent subclass 189 - Skilled Regional Provisional subclass 489 – Expression of Interest – Points Test

Results for the SkillSelect invitation round on 1 February 2017 have been published. Here is a summary of the results:

• 1144 Skilled Independent visa invitations were issued
  • applications with 60 points or more were invited
  • applications submitted 1 February 2017 have been invited
• 28 Skilled Regional Sponsored visa invitations were issued
  • applications with 60 points or more were invited
  • applications submitted 31 January 2017 were invited

The latest invitation round for the SkillSelect programme was held on 23 November 2016. During the invitation round occupation group 2335 - Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers was placed in the group of occupations that are subject to pro rata arrangements due to high levels of demand. Occupations are placed under a pro rata arrangement to ensure availability throughout the course of the migration programme year. The occupation group includes ANZSCO code 233511 Industrial Engineer, ANZSCO code 233512 Mechanical Engineer and ANZSCO code 233513 Production or Plant Engineer.

According to the invitation round results, industrial engineers, mechanical engineers and production or plant engineers will now need to achieve at least 70 points in the SkillSelect points test to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Latest pro rata arrangements and cut off for points score

The pro rata arrangement for Invitations to Apply under SkillSelect now applies to:

• ANZSCO Group 2211 Accountants
• ANZSCO Group 2212 Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers
• ANZSCO Group 2334 Electronics Engineers
• ANZSCO Group 2335 Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers
• ANZSCO Group 2339 Other Engineering Professionals
• ANZSCO Group 2544 Registered Nurses
• ANZSCO Group 2611 ICT Business and System Analysts
• ANZSCO Group 2613 Software and Applications Programmers
• ANZSCO Group 2631 Computer Network Professionals

The results for the latest invitation rounds are as follows:

Source: Department of Immigration and Border Protection

Contact Work Visa Lawyers if you need further information about the above.

Sources:

http://www.border.gov.au/WorkinginAustralia/Pages/23-november-2016-round-results.aspx

Comments by Chris Johnston – Principal Lawyer and Registered Migration Agent at Work Visa Lawyers

The 2016-17 migration programme year is reaching its halfway point as we come to the end of 2016. For the General Skilled Migration programme, this may mean that certain occupations which have received many applications face limitations in receiving Invitations to Apply (ITAs), require higher points to receive ITAs or are unable to obtain state nomination or sponsorship for the year.

It is best to proceed with a visa application as quickly as possible but at the same time you should ensure that all information and documents provided are accurate and relevant to your application. If you need to consider other visa application options please contact Work Visa Lawyers to arrange an appointment to discuss alternatives.

This information is accurate on 8 December 2016

Do you need help with an Australian visa application?

At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting applicants in all matters relating to Australian visa applications. Our areas of expertise include Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills Migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work Visas, Partner and other Family Migration visas as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial Review and Ministerial Intervention.

If you require further information regarding your Australia visa options you can contact us through:

(08) 8351 9956 or +61 8 8351 9956

or   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.