Skilled Independent Visa Australia
The Skilled Independent Visa – Subclass 189, is a permanent visa in the General Skilled Migration Visa Program which allows overseas skilled workers, who have received an invitation to apply for this visa, to live & work permanently anywhere in Australia. The Skilled Independent Visa 189 does not require sponsorship by anyone. To be eligible for the 189 Skilled Visa, you must have skills in particular occupations and other attributes that will contribute to the Australian economy and meet all threshold requirements.
Eligibility criteria of the 189 Skilled Independent Visa
Some criteria to be met by prospective visa applicants are as follows :
- You must be under 45 years old to apply for this visa
- The occupation you nominate must be available on the relevant “Skilled Occupation List“, and be exactly related and/or closely related to your work experience.
- You must satisfy the “Points Test”. Here, the significance of an Australian education cannot be overemphasized enough. A qualification from an Australian educational institution could be highly beneficial when you apply for any points-based General Skilled migration visa because of the extra points that you could score on the “Points Test”, which in turn enhances your chances of being invited to apply for this visa. Added to this is the fact that when you get your skills assessed by a skills assessing authority (which is mandatory for this visa), an Australian qualification is more likely to be recognized as being equivalent to an Australian standard than an overseas qualification. Just an Australian qualification could grant you extra points in each of the following categories :
- Any Educational Qualification
- Australian Specialist Educational Qualification
- Australian Study Qualification
- Australian Professional Year Qualification
- Study in a Designated Regional Area in Australia
Each of the above categories has its own eligibility criteria, which can be confusing at times. Contact us to know if you can get extra points for any of the above categories & how you can maximize your points and hence enhance your chances of being invited for this visa.
- Due to recent changes in the Skilled Migration program-
- Spouses/partners of visa applicants can also add to your points in the Points Test, depending on their skills & English Language proficiency.
- You can also get extra points if you are single or if you are married to an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident.
- Visa applicants must note the fact that merely passing the points test is no guarantee that they will be invited to apply for the Independent 189 visa. Contact us to know your chances of getting an invitation for this visa.
- You must have your skills assessed by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation. Please note that skills-assessing authorities have their criteria, which are distinct from the DHA criteria. The assessing authority must positively assess that your skills are suitable for your nominated occupation. It is only then that you can move to the next step of your visa application process.
- You must file an “Expression of Interest (EOI)” to let the Department know that you wish to apply for this visa
- You must be INVITED to apply for the Independent Skilled Migration visa
- You & some of your family members must meet the English Language Requirement
- You & your family members must meet the Health Requirement
- You & your family members must meet the Character Requirement
- Eligible family members must be included in your visa application. They cannot be included after you have been granted this visa
- Eligible family members you include in your visa application must meet the Secondary criteria for this visa
- You can apply while you are in or outside Australia. If you are in Australia, you must be the holder of a Substantive visa or a Bridging visa
Benefits of the Independent Skilled Migration Visa
Some of the Rights of Subclass 189 visa holders are as follows :
- You can live permanently / indefinitely in Australia
- You & your family members will become “Permanent Residents” from the day this visa is granted
- You can work or study anywhere in Australia
- You may enroll in Australia’s public health care scheme MEDICARE
- Your children can study at local tuition fees
- You may travel in & out of Australia as many times as you want for 5 years
- If eligible, you can apply for Australian Citizenship
In our almost 20 years of providing immigration assistance for Australian migration prospects, we have observed innumerable instances of the “Department of Home Affairs (DHA)” website being used as the primary source of providing immigration advice to prospective clients. Persons interested in migrating to Australia must note that the DHA website is useful in that it contains a great deal of explanatory material about visas. However, it does not distinguish between legislation & formal policy. There are critical factors relevant to each visa that can only be found in legislation. At times, even some basic relevant factors can be absent on the DHA website & your reliance on it to file a visa application can seriously jeopardize your chances of success. Experienced legal expertise in ever-changing Australian migration law is a prerequisite to succeeding in your migration goals.
Contact us to –
- Determine your eligibility for the General Skilled Migration Visa 189
- Understand the laws & policies applicable to your situation
- Prepare & submit a decision-ready application
- Meet your migration goals
FAQs
The 189 Skilled Visa is a points-tested permanent visa that allows highly skilled workers, who are not sponsored by an Australian employer, family member, or nominated by a state or territory, to live and work permanently in Australia.
To apply for the Skilled Independent visa 189, you must first obtain a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation and then lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI). If successful, you will receive an invitation from SkillSelect to lodge a visa application.
To be eligible for the General Skilled Migration Visa 189, applicants must have an occupation on the relevant SKILLED OCCUPATION LIST and a suitable skills assessment for that occupation. They must lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) and be invited to apply, meet the points test pass mark of 65 points, be aged between 18 and 44, have competent English, and meet health and character requirements.
The Skilled Independent visa is a permanent visa that allows you to stay in Australia indefinitely. While its travel component expires 5 years after the date of visa grant, you can obtain a Resident Return visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter Australia after this period.
You can apply from either inside or outside Australia. If applying from within Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging A, B, or C visa. Upon applying from within Australia, you will receive a bridging visa allowing you to remain in the country while your application is processed.
You can include your partner and your or your partner’s child or step-child in your application. Family members who are granted the visa will have the same rights and privileges as you.
The 189 visa is a permanent visa that allows you to stay in Australia indefinitely. With this visa, you can work and study in Australia, enroll in Medicare (Australia’s public health care scheme), sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence, and travel to and from Australia for five years. Additionally, if eligible, you can apply for Australian citizenship.
Contact us for a free consultation & know if you are eligible. If eligible, we can help you apply for this visa.
