Conyo2588

Hi,

The 491 visa is a regional visa and therefore, your partner would be unable to work or live in Brisbane unfortunately

My partner is a Tiler and we’ve just put in our visa application, albeit, using an agent. I’d highly recommend using a MARA registered agent as the process is exhaustive, especially if you have to sort skills assessments etc

TRA did my partners assessment. I think there’s also another called VETASS? Or something along those lines

We were advised by the agent to do PTE as apparently that’s what tradies have more success with...I’m not sure how true that is, just the advice we received

Also, only post qualification experience gains points, this has to be proven by tax records, statements from employers or customers if self employed. Any experience prior to qualification doesn’t count

Hope this helps

6 hours ago, Cameron2310 said:

Apologies if this is in the wrong forum but my partner is thinking about withdrawing his visa for a 489 and applying for a 491. The 489 is still in process

He contacted migration SA and asked if he withdrew his visa is there a time frame he needs to wait to apply again for state sponsorship. They just sent the paragraph from the website which we read. I understand state sponsorship isn't guaranteed however does anyone know if there is a time frame he needs to wait. I emailed them again but I've not had a reply yet. The last reply was -

The requirement is 1.3.7. If you withdraw your VISA application we may not be able to offer you another nomination.

 

Thanks 

Hi

I’m not sure about if there are any consequences retracting a 489 for a 491, but I thought the 491 programme was closed for the time being?
Or is that just for offshore candidates? Are you onshore?

26 minutes ago, PJA87 said:

I got my invite in March and still no grant. At the time the estimated processing time was 30 days but the last update was up to 85 days, which I have surpassed and now there isn’t an estimated progress time visible anymore. So, I assume my application has been pushed back for a while which is understandable considering Covid. 
 

Did you submit and pay for your visa prior to the 28th of June to avoid it being deleted then? 
 

https://www.acacia-au.com/state-migration-update-june2020.php

I assume the link relates to state sponsorship applications? 
We lodged our state sponsorship application in April and paid the fee then. We got notified in June that it had been accepted, which is the point where we put our full visa application in to DOHA

When you say you got your invitation in March, do you mean notification that you were successful in gaining state sponsorship and applied for the 491 visa through DOHA?

8 minutes ago, AmyL said:

I will do yes I'm dreading it as well but booked it for as soon as I could to get it out the way. Will let you know what to expect afterwards! 

We have been watching youtube videos of suburbs in adelaide to get a feel for it Haha we want to be close to adelaide but not live in the city. We like the look of Glenelg and Henley beach. We had hoped to get over there for a research trip before covid set in this year but we might just make the move when we can and do a bit of exploring when over there to see where we want to settle. Part of the adventure I suppose!

What about you where are you thinking of going to?

Yeah we also saw Glenelg and Henley Beach, think they’re quite popular! They look really nice!
We looked a bit further inland, still commutable to Adelaide, we just didn’t want to live in the city as we’re not big city fans. We liked the look of Aberfoyle Park. 
It’s really difficult isn’t it as you don’t know what the areas are like until you actually start living there!

20 minutes ago, AmyL said:

Yeah we are the same with just needing to send medicals and police certificates. Have our medical on thursday.

I had a feeling offshore processing was on hold that's why I was so surprised to get an invite! At least then everything is done though and it is just a waiting game. Fingers crossed!

I think the hold must have only come in early July, from what I’ve seen on here. 
I’m just going to keep an eye on the Govt website to see if the processing times get updated. Sort of hoping they don’t considering we can’t travel anyway!

Will you let me know how your medicals go please? I’m dreading it!

Also, where in SA were you thinking of going to? 

On 12/07/2020 at 21:42, AmyL said:

On 24th June I received an invite to apply for my state nominated 491 visa for SA and occupation of counsellor nec.

I didn't expect an invite as I had assumed they were not processing provisional visas. Just wondering if anyone has had a grant recently or if any agents know of processing times? I don't want to get my hope's up eagerly watching my inbox over the next couple of months if receiving a decision for this visa is unlikely within the near future 

Hi

We also received our ITA from SA at the end of June, we were told the visa application had to be lodged within 60 days or it would expire.

We lodged it around a week ago, now need to send Medicals, Police checks etc

Our agent has said that visa processing for offshore candidates is currently on hold due to travel restrictions so they can’t predict when it’ll be processed. We just have to wait and see and know it’ll be a few months down the line.

Fingers crossed things improve soon

On 15/07/2020 at 07:55, KangaKit said:

Just wondering if anyone in the uk managed to get their medical done in covid times or whether all clinics are shut..there are a couple l've not been able to contact..also has anyone's 491 application changed from received? I presume this means they haven't looked at it yet? Does it flag up automatically when medicals have been completed for the case officer to then review the info? Sorry..loads of questions!

Manchester are still doing medicals 

We’re looking at a 491 on my partners trade, not accountancy.

Also, I have seen jobs in Adelaide for accountants, are you saying you anticipate there not being much work there for my field?

Hi, I’m also an accountant (ACCA qualified 2019) but had been working in that area for years prior (as you do whilst studying etc)

I completed an online questionnaire which said I was eligible to apply as I had over 65 points. 

Upon speaking to an agent, I found you can only claim work points for post qualification experience. Also, the barrier is that high for accountants now (95-100) that it’s nigh on impossible to get in unless you have points for Australian study/work. 

We’re currently in the process of trying to get a regional 491 visa on my partners job. I had a skills assessment for extra partner points to his visa, just sent them my AAT & ACCA certs and it came back really quickly. 
 

I suggest you speak to a MARA agent and get their advice, if you haven’t already done so. 
 

Hope you get some good news