Jenny - Ian Harrop & Assoc.

There are some occupations that are not currently available for 489 Family Sponsorship. All eligible occupations for 489 Family Sponsorship are currently being invited with 60 points at the first invitation selection date. You can monitor this from the SkillSelect website under Invitation Round Results.

Providing your Partner can be included in your application (i.e. you are married or meet the de facto requirements), then their sister can be the sponsor if they meet the criteria. The sponsor can be a relative of either or you.

The points for your age are as at the time of your Invitation to Apply for the Visa; not invitation to apply for NSW state nomination. Sounds like you are waiting for NSW to approve your state nomination. Only after this will you receive your Invitation to Apply for the Visa.

Everyone's situation is completely different and you should be speaking to a Registered Migration Agent to ensure you do not waste your time or money. You cannot submit an EOI for a 189 until such time as you have a positive skills assessment for an occupation on the SOL and accumulated a minimum of 60 points.

Child visas lodged in the UK are quoted as taking approx. 12 months, although they can, and do, come through much quicker. The initial email to acknowledge receipt of your application can take a few months; remember someone has to enter all the information onto the Government system since these applications are not yet available through the ImmiAccount process. You can help your application by ensuring all the required documentation is included with the application and even completing medicals and the relevant police clearance certificates. If you have a genuine reason for the visa to be granted sooner (i.e. a job that you must start on a particular date) you can provide this information to AHC; they are not unreasonable people. Everyone's situation is different and seeking professional assistance is always advisable.

Converting your provisional 489 to the permanent 887 is based on you proving you have met the conditions of the 489; i.e. lived and worked in the Regional/Designated areas. Police certificates (AFP) are required. Don't submit the application until you have spent the required 2 years actually IN Australia, but most certainly before your 489 expires. Any time spent on trips outside the country must be made up before you can apply; i.e. you must physically have been onshore - and can document where you have been living - for 730 days. Once you submit the 887 application the Bridging Visa is automatically granted. You should be applying via the ImmiAccount system where colour scans of orignal documents are uploaded; you shouldn't need any certified documents. As with anything to do with your visa, using a Registered Migration Agent is always the safest method; they don't have to be in Australia - you can use an Agent from anywhere in the world.