Sasidhar

Hi, I work for a consulting company in US as Software Developer. I work for clients at the respective client site on contract basis for some period of time, depending on the client's requirements. My employer will be consulting company, who runs my payroll, generates my W2 tax statement, WHILE I actually work for client, at client's location and its the client who decides my roles and responsibilities of my employment. But, client doesn't provide any employment letter, reference letter with stated duties & responsibilities and also he wouldn't support for any kind of background verification because clients don't maintain employment records of their contractors. Officially, it's the consulting company who will be my employer, and only he will provide the employment letter, reference letter and the support for background verification. Those consulting companies are not well-recognized MNC's unlike the end clients. So, can someone please let me know if the documents given by consulting companies such as experience letter, reference letter are accepted by ACS as valid proof for establishing work experience in related Skilled Occupation (Software Developer). Also may I know if the employment needs to be continuous (for 3 years or more) or few months of break in the middle is accepted, because When working on contract basis it is quite natural that there would be a break after a contract ends and before another contract starts. Thanks, Sasidhar.

Hi, I couldn't clearly understand how the invitations are issued to 489 visa for pro-rata occupations. If an applicant lodges EOI with 65 points --189 visa & 75 points -- 489 visa, which visa would have high chances of getting invitation. Assuming that 65 is the minimum point score needed to get invitation for that pro-rata occupation, due to high volume of applications (for example Software Engineer). Someone please clarify.

Hi, I couldn't clearly understand how the invitations are issued to 489 visa for pro-rata occupations. I read many posts written by the 489 applicants, which say that the waiting period is very high even if the total point score they got is 70 or higher including 10 points for Family sponsorship. (for engineering occupations such as Computer System and Network Engineer). I've always thought that there will be very high chance to get the invitation if the total point score is 70 or higher. Is it true? Can someone who has got invitations for 489 visa in late 2016 or 2017, please post the following details 1. Total point score with which EOI is lodged 2. Your SOL occupation. 3. Time taken to get invitation.

Thanks a lot for both of you for clearing the doubt. Something like this is mentioned in DIBP's website - "Unless asked by assessing authority to take Academic test, it is advised to take General test for immigration". Because Engineers Australia doesn't specifically ask for Academic version, is there a chance that DIBP ask for General test score.

Hi, I am just looking to know the emerging trend in issuing invitations for 489 FS visa. Can some one who has got their 489 visa approved in 2016 - 17, share their experiences and below details to get an idea of the trend. Total points you got when lodging 489 FS visa EOI. The SOL occupation - on which 489 EOI is lodged. Time taken to get 489 invitation.

Hi, I have recently given IELTS academic, and got 7 band in all sections. As Engineers Australia accepts both IELTS academic & general tests to perform assessment, I am using the csore to get assessed for SOL occupation Electronic Engineer. Can someone please let me know if the score I got in IELTS academic can be used to claim 10 points towards immigration besides using it for assessment.

Hi, under 489 visa, you need to work full-time for 1 year period in your designated low population area, to get PR visa after 2 years of stay in that area. The hour count for full-time work could be combined work hours of two or more part-time jobs you worked, and need not be in the SOL occupation on which you are granted the 489 visa. You can seek assistance from job agents to help you find the part-time jobs. Can you please let me know the total point count you got, when applied for 489 visa, the date you applied, and your SOL occupation.

Hi, can you please let me know the total point score, with which you applied 489 visa and the SOL occupation.

Hi Mark, thanks a lot for providing detail information. I am mainly concerned about Skill assessment by ACS for the occupation - Software Engineer. I got Masters degree (2 year full-time course) in Computer Science from State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) located at Utica, NY, USA, and 6 months of relevant, unpaid internship experience. Can you please let me know if that would suffice to get positive skill assessment by ACS.

Thanks a lot for your reply. Hi, I am working as Software Engineer, but the experience is less than 1 year in US. However, in India I have 1.5 year of work experience as Systems & Network Engineer in a private school. I do have offer letter, experience letter given by them, but I was paid cash in hand every month for the salary, so I don't have any bank statement or income tax form related to my employment there. Can you please let me know if that counts towards acceptable work experience.

Hi, Can someone please let me know how the skill assessment works for Skilled Occupation of IT Professional by ACS. Isn't that Master's degree (2 year study) from Australian University or equivalent institute in ICT major enough to meet the criteria, or 2 year work experience is required along with the degree. I got Master of Science (MS) degree, 2 year full-time study, in Computers & information Science (CIS) from State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly, Utica, New York, USA). I did my B.Tech from JNTU, India in Electronics & Communications stream. I also got certifications from Oracle, namely Oracle Certified Java 6 Programmer (OCJP 6) & Oracle Certified Associate - Database Administration (Oracle 11g). But, I don't have 2 years work experience yet. Please let me know if I can get positive skill assessment to apply for 489 subclass visa.

Hi, Can someone please let me know how the skill assessment works for Skilled Occupation of IT Professional by ACS. Isn't that Master's degree (2 year study) from Australian University or equivalent institute in ICT major enough to meet the criteria, or 2 year work experience is required along with the degree. I got Master of Science (MS) degree, 2 year full-time study, in Computers & information Science (CIS) from State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly, Utica, New York, USA). I did my B.Tech from JNTU, India in Electronics & Communications stream. I also got certifications from Oracle, namely Oracle Certified Java 6 Programmer (OCJP 6) & Oracle Certified Associate - Database Administration (Oracle 11g). But, I don't have 2 years work experience yet. Please let me know if I can get positive skill assessment to apply for 489 subclass visa.

Hi Dominic, Liz is a professional IELTS tutor, living in UK. You can check her website ieltsliz.com for her contact details and useful study material as well.

Hi, This is Sasidhar, from India, but currently living and working in USA as Java Developer. I am looking to apply for 489 subclass visa, through sponsorship from my first cousin, who is living & working in Melbourne. Can someone please evaluate my below profile and tell me if there could be any risk factors that can potentially cause the visa to be denied. As said, I am currently located in US, and so planning to apply for the 489 visa Offshore, from here, being in US. EDUCATION: I pursued Master of Science (MS) in CIS from State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) with 3.15 GPA in 2015. Back in India, I did B.Tech from JNTU, in 2010. Is there any possibility that 3 years of gap, between 2010 when I did B.Tech, and 2013, the year I entered US, pose to be an ISSUE, that can affect my chances for visa approval. OTHER DETAILS: I am 27 years old, have got some work experience in US (but less than 3 years). Though I can meet the point requirement by getting sponsorship, skill assessment by ACA, and required IELTS band scores. I can provide almost any document required to establish the above details mentioned. ONE MORE THING I am worried about is skill assessment requirement. Please let me know if I can hope for sure, to get positive skill assessment by ACS, for my US work experience, and MS degree from a reputed US university. Finally, can anyone please let me know if its TRUE or NOT that 489 visa is usually not rejected , when the applicant's profile and supporting documents are good enough to get approval.