Maussie

@Daffyduck are you including a potential 20 points from the language test? If not then definitely worth looking into.

That's very useful indeed, thank you Marisawright. Going over to activate the visas is not an issue and the 5 year or so cushion would be ideal.

Thanks. Am also thinking to just go for the 189 and forget about it until something lands in the inbox. Family dynamics are a bit tricky in that a couple of older kids have just started uni (from home due to covid) and the wife is having cold feet. Have two younger ones and one is well settled in a good school a couple of years before GCSEs are due. The youngest would be sitting her 11+ in a couple of years too. My intention would be to aim for citizenship but not necessarily emigrate for good as I envisage living in both the UK and Australia during my crumbly years. There's a fair chance I end up working in Oz on my own for a few years with family regularly coming over from the UK, but I don't know how that would affect their status. Lucky enough to have the fellowship - did mean having to go from the UK for exams...more than once but got there in the end, and have AHPRA specialist registration used for telerad (isn't technology wonderful!). Interestingly I did visit Darwin for an AoN position in 2017 but that fell through. I thought it was nice enough and didn't mind the humidity. Question for floor...let's say I am successful with a 189 for the six of us but not all of us come over. Is there a time limit for the non-main applicants to enter for PR? I understand there are residency requirements when transitioning from PR to citizenship, but would they forgo their privileges if they didn't take them up within a set time period?

Thanks. I was thinking the employer sponsored 186 PR visa. I have no concerns regarding supplying evidence, other than the legwork, it was more weighing up the cost and uncertainty of going for the 189 versus getting a company to sponsor it, though the downside is it may affect perceived working conditions as at the mercy of an employer. Perhaps I'm overthinking it. Offshore.

Thank you. ANZSCO 253917 Thanks. Will have to give it some serious thought about whether to apply for 189 or aim for employer sponsored.

Came back to say I did the PTE Academic at the beginning of this month and uploaded the results. Got the 20 points to boost the score to 70 for a 189. Have just checked my junk mail and been invited to apply for a 189! My dates were: 4/9/20 EOI submitted 2/10/20 EOI amended 21/10/20 Invitation received To pick brains again if I may...the processing times are: 75% of applications: 9 months 90% of applications: 19 months Would the differences in timescale be due to gathering paperwork and clearing medicals which vary for individuals, or is there a monthly overall limit that once reached means waiting for the next batch to be reviewed? Also If I apply and the time limit is exceeded through no response (on their part) would that mean no refund? There's six of us so it's a fair amount of money. Haven't clicked on the Apply button yet as it's past midnight but I've logged in to my skillselect account to confirm it was there!

Thanks for the replies folks, all very informative. Well aware that's points are dismally low but thankfully have other options via employer sponsorship which should be straightforward enough. Did go over for a few months on a 457 in 2017. Age is creeping ever closer to having no options at all as currently 42 and a half. Will make a decision in the next few months. Can I pick collective brains and ask if transitioning from PR to citizenship has any age limit? I saw the Miriam Margolyes program on the BBC recently and she was conferred citizenship only a few years ago so hopefully there isn't but she's obviously a celebrity. I may as well try to improve the English language ability to up the 491 score from 65 to 85 and cross fingers and toes. I understand it can be challenging even if a native speaker. Bit odd that the applicant gets zero points regardless of level of education but my wife gets an automatic 5 points for having a passport from an English speaking country and assuming she is competent. Still 5 points is better than none.

Wondering if anyone could clarify how the points system works for EOI. Does the points score trump the intended job or will the job have a greater bearing on whether you are invited to apply, that's for 189, 190 and 491. e.g. if a state requires let's say butchers but the cohort of butchers have lower points than the bakers or candlestick makers, could the butchers still be invited to apply as those roles require filling and the state may have enough members of the other professions. I ask as I have a very low score (50) for a 189 and was wondering if it was worth trying to up it with a formal English test. Think I could potentially get 85 for a 491. Regardless I should be able to get an employer sponsored visa but thought I'd have more freedom with work decisions if I got there off my own back. Thanks in advance.