Thanks for all the advice, guys!
lebourvellec, you said if he can reach the 60 points, he will get sponsorship. That sounds like a definite thing, is that the case that he'll certainly get it? I understood, that a sponsorship application could also be refused...
Also, in respect to sponsorship and the actual visa application later on, I've read that the more points you have the more likely it is to be successful. That's why I thought an IELTS might be good, even though not required, just to get additional points and therefore an advantage over the other applicants.
Ah okay, that's good then, I thought you'd only be eligible for a bridging visa as of the time you've lodged your application. So if we can get the bridging visa once he's been invited, do you think it's realistic to plan on not leaving the country at all? Like, if he loses his job now, then there's around 3 weeks until DIAC will know about it, and a further 4 until the visa is cancelled. So that leaves us with 7 weeks until we will have to have the bridging visa, therefore have been invited...however, I read somewhere that process would take 2 or 3 months So what happens if our 457 is cancelled before my partner will be invited and we can get a bridging visa? Are we unlawful for that time being? Or is that a case for bridging visa C?
What I was also wondering, would the chances of getting a 489 be better than a 190? I'm just thinking that maybe less people want the 489, and that there's a high demand for 190...
Again regarding SS, what's going on with these numbers? I've read people saying "oh I've got 50, so my chances are good" and others were like "mine is 1349, so it's a long wait for me" ...?
Again, thanks so much for your help!
Sarah