Skilled Independent Visa for Australia (subclass 189)
The Australian General Skilled Migration (GSM) Programme
Skilled Visas for Australia
• Am I eligible to apply for a Skilled Independent visa for Australia?
• How can Concept Australia help me apply?
• What services can I expect to receive from Concept Australia?
• Why should I use a professional MARA registered migration agent?
• How much does it cost to apply for a GSM visa for Australia?
• How long will it take for my visa to be granted?
• Free Preliminary Assessment
• SKYPE or personal consultations
Am I eligible to apply for a Skilled Independent visa?
The Skilled Independent visa - subclass 189 is a permanent General Skilled Migration visa which does not require nomination by a state or territory government or sponsorship by a relative residing in a designated area of Australia.
You must be able to meet the following basic criteria:
- Nominate an occupation that is on the MLTSSL
- Obtain a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation
- Be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation
- Have at least Proficient English in order to claim points
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Be invited through SkillSelect to apply for a subclass 189 visa
- Satisfy health and character requirements
Invitation round 11 December 2019
Many applicants are asking "is 65 points enough for a 189 visa?" but, this visa class is subject to monthly invitation rounds and occupational ceilings and only the highest ranked applicants by points score are being invited to apply for a Skilled Independent subclass 189 visa for Australia. In the last published invitation round held on 11 December 2019, 250 applicants with 95 points were invited to apply for a Skilled Independent visa. As the Skilled Independent visa programme is likely to
remain competitive throughout the programme year with fewer invitations
and a higher points target beyond the reach of most applicants you should explore other visa options.
Other visa options
An alternative option is to see whether you can meet criteria for nomination by a state or territory government (Skilled Nominated
(subclass 190) or (Skilled
Regional Work visa (subclass 491). Applicants selecting these visa
options will need to meet individual state/territory nomination criteria
but will benefit from being able to claim additional points for the
nomination and will potentially require less points to be invited by a
state or territory government. Nomination approval will automatically result in an invitation being issued by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to submit an application for a visa.
SkillSelect
Skilled Independent applicants must submit an application through SkillSelect which is the DHA online visa application system. Once you have received a positive skills assessment from an Australian assessing authority and by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) you can generate points for the following factors:
- Your age
- being a single applicant
- Recognised qualifications
- Employment
- English language skills (via a test)
- Partner skills
- Study in Australia
- Specialist Education qualifications
- Accredited language skills
- Professional year in Australia
How can Concept Australia help me to apply for a Skilled Independent Visa?
The most Frequently Asked Questions we receive from skilled applicants are:
- Will my skills or work experience be recognised in Australia?
- How much work experience can I claim under the Australian points test?
- What evidence do I need to submit in support of my employment?
- How detailed do my work statements need to be?
- Are 65 points enough for a 189 visa
- Is it likely that the invitation mark will be lowered?
For peace of mind we can offer you the benefit of our knowledge and experience so as to ensure all aspects of the visa process are addressed at an early stage and that all visa options are examined before you commence on your visa journey. This will ensure that there are no hidden barriers you may have to face and that you have a realistic chance of being invited by the DHA to apply for a skilled visa for Australia.
What services can I expect to receive from Concept Australia?
Concept Australia has been assisting people since 1991 to obtain visas to reside in Australia. All of our staff are based permanently in the UK and have previously been employed by the Department of Home Affairs. Concept Australia works directly with its clients and does not sub-contract work out to other companies or individuals. We will take responsibility for the entire management of your application so as to ensure that your case runs as smoothly as possible. Our services include:
• Advising whether you qualify for a visa and recommending the best pathway
• Identifying the correct ANZSCO occupation to nominate for skills assessment
• Completing your skills assessment form
• Advising what work experience can be claimed under the points test
• Lodging your EOI once your skills have been recognised for migration purposes
• Ensuring claims made in your EOI can be substantiated
• Completing and submitting your visa application form for Australia
• Uploading all relevant documents to the online ImmiAccount
• Managing your application until your Skilled visa for Australia is decided
Why should I only use an agent registered with MARA?
The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) is managed by
the DHA who is responsible for monitoring the conduct of registered
migration agents both in and outside Australia. MARA approves continuing
professional development activities of all registered agents to ensure
they maintain up-to-date knowledge of migration law and procedure so
that only the highest level of advice and assistance is provided to
prospective applicants.
The DHA strongly advise that if you need assistance with the visa
process that you should only appoint an agent who is registered with the MARA. A
person who is not registered cannot offer you legal protection and you
run the risk of
being exposed to migration fraud by someone who has limited knowledge on
immigration procedures and who is not accountable for his/her actions.
How much does it cost to apply for a Skilled Independent visa for Australia?
The Department of Home Affairs charge a fee of AUD4,045 for the primary applicant, AUD2,025 for the spouse and AUD1,010 for each dependent child. Other costs you will incur on your visa journey include skills assessment, English language test, health and character checks.
Concept Australia’s fees are charged in stages as we undertake the preparation and completion of forms on your behalf and covers all persons included in the visa application:
Stage 1 - £695 + VAT = £834 on engagement of our services. Note: If you attended a consultation the fee paid to Concept Australia will be deducted from stage 1;
Stage 2 - £595 + VAT = £714 when your application has been sent to the assessing authority or once the skills assessment has been approved;
Stage 3 - £495 + VAT = £594 when we submit your visa application to the DHA.
How long will it take for my visa to be granted?
The processing timetable can be influenced by a number of factors such as the nominated occupation, sitting an English language test or your points score. Generally, the overall timetable is between 9 – 12 months and in our experience the length of time is determined by the quality of documents presented throughout the entire process.
Preliminary assessment of your potential eligibility
Concept Australia can offer you a preliminary assessment and advise you in plain English whether you have a realistic chance of being granted a Skilled Independent visa to reside permanently in Australia. If you would like to know how we can assist you in obtaining your Skilled Independent visa, please telephone Concept Australia on 020 8468 1076) or complete the Enquiry form below and submit your details to Concept Australia.
Personal or SKYPE consultations
If we have assessed that you have the potential to be granted a visa and you would like to find out more, the next step is to arrange a no-obligation consultation which will not only provide you with an opportunity to ask key questions about the visa process but also enable us to explain how the migration regulations will be applied to you. A small fee is charged for the consultation which will be deducted from our overall fee should you decide to appoint Concept Australia as your migration agent. Consultations are conducted in the London Borough of Bromley but if you are unable to travel to see us, we can also arrange a SKYPE or telephone appointment at a mutually convenient time.