Skhush

Hi All, Hope you are keeping yourself safe! I have been unlucky with my visa, my 489 for SA was granted in Nov 2019 and I had planned to fly to my dream country Aus in April 2020. I am one of those unfortunate mates who could not make their first entry before pandemic and there is no chance I will be able to fly this year as well. Moreover I am in India, so not sure about 2022 situation as well. Exemptions is not possible for 489 with ICT Project Manager occupation and no job offer in hand. Lost 2 years out of 4 years of grant and unsure about other 2 years. I will definitely not gonna fit into criteria for PR or be eligible. The hope has faded away now. I am looking if there is any refund declared by Aus Govt or will be declared for those who lost their visa time in pandemic or not able to travel due to border restrictions. I could see refund updates for visa granted after Feb 2020 but nothing for visa grants in end of 2019. If anyone have any update on this please share with me...... Anything I need to initiate if I opted for refund? do I need to submit application and request SA visa department for refund? or wait for further announcement ? What should visa holders like me should do?

I meant temporary visa applications. I am aware 489 is closed and 491 has been introduced. I do see people are receiving 491 grant not critical skills. people have received visa grants but they too cant plan travel until there is news on opening border. the only good thing is they will not loose years like us who have been granted visa end of 2019 or start of 2020. I Agree on second point with you and my only request or perhaps suggestion for AUS government would be they should at least look at 489 visa holder waiting to make first entry and ease on some restrictions.

People who planned their travel in April or May 2020 to Australia must be feeling same as you. I planned to travel in June 2020 and still waiting. its so frustrating to watch news and read articles everyday with a hope of some good news. it feels like you made decision to move, you are all there mentally because of which you cant focus on your current job or life. there will be no news until June 2021 I believe as then declared border closer until June. I am loosing my patience already and looking for alternate option. June News is last hope for me, if there is no good news by then the visa will be scrap and 4 years for efforts, time and money wasted. looks like Aus making a lot of money through this, they are inviting, granting visa, processing it but not opening borders. Sorry to say this 489 visa application money is helping them survive COVID

Not a good news to hear at all. I choose Australia over Canada and my friends who received there Canada visa same time when I got my 489 grant, they are now in Canada and I am still waiting with no alternate and no good news assumed this year as well :(. very disappointment with the approach of AUS. started my process in March 2017, took 2 years to get grant in Nov 2019 and now waiting 2 years more to make entry which I assume will in 2022. almost 4 years gone and there is no way I will be able to fulfill criteria of 887 PR path. now if I change my mind and try for Canada that will be another 2 years of process time and shell out more money.

I heard the borders will be closed until June 2021. those who are waiting to make first entry have to wait till June now. is there any official news on the same?

Any News on 489 visa holder allowed to travel Australia? and make first entry? What if the visa holder are have sufficient fund to support themselves for some time and look for job simultaneously. I suppose govt should allow now at least the criteria of living in region for 2 year is fulfilled by those who lost 1 year due to COVID and cannot make entry yet. This situation where you have everything ready but cannot travel brings different thoughts and a lot might drop plan on moving to Aus and look for other options.

I lost a year out of 4 years of my 489 grant for SA. I could not make the first entry before the date given, yes I am aware there has been waive off published but still loosing a year of time is really frustrating. you have given ample time in processing, you wait and wait with all the patients in the world for get one email with the subject line as Invited then visa granted, you are prepared and all ready to go and suddenly world changes and everything is closed. I wanted to know if there are any hope if travel will be open early 2021. does anyone have any update? I am applying for jobs in SA but as I am not there my application is rejected at start I believe. All I can do is wait for borders to open which is unfair to some extent considering its open for 190 but not for 489 - not complaining but disappointed.

Hi Paul, Could you please share what concessions are made for the 489 to 887 transition? and is applicable for those who are loosing an year in 489? I got my 489 SA grant in Nov 2019 and I haven't made my first entry yet. I am aware of the letter published for all 489 visa holder on waiving the no later than entry date which is Nov 2020 for me. I lost one year already and not sure how much more I need to wait, but would be good to know how the process of moving from 489 to 887 would be for people who are loosing time due to this.

Congratulations ! are the entry restriction taken away? I assume the entry for 491 and 489 is still restricted. I got my grant end of 2019 and before I could plan my travel, they closed the border.

Hi There, hope you are keeping safe! where can I find the timeline for international travel open or flights are open? I have 491 grant and looking for borders to open to make entry. Thanks

I am sailing in the same boat as you. I got my 489 SA in Nov 19 and I planned my entry in June to SA, my spouse resigned in Feb and I was suppose to resign in March end but due to border closed and COVID 19 there is not much we could do. The only good thing is my spouse could retain his resignation so we don't loose our current income and no one know when things will be normal. we are in touch with our agent and he is helping us to be optimistic about the situation and suggest once the border are open plan your trip as soon as you can and at least get your first entry before the timeline. we have time till Nov 2020 to make our first entry and we are hope/wish/pray the borders to open by Aug/Sept. I hope you make your entry as well

Thanks ! I wish to get the grant soon.... the wait is really killing now.

Congrats !! I applied for visa in March 2019 and received request for additional document (provident fund statement of previous organisation) on 26th Sept. I uploaded the required documents on 2nd Oct through my agent. Now the status of my application is further assessment. Does this mean CO contacted for additional requirement? if yes how long does it take after CO contacted?

Congratulations. I am hoping for mine to come soon too !

Hey There, Any idea how much do one person need to pay for Medical insurance while on 489?

Hi Alka, my application status is received and document required shows passport size photo. I contacted my MARA agent and he said its not that important and I have not uploaded. did you had same request to add passport size photograph as required?

Hi I applied for the same occupation and lodged SA 489 Visa on Mar 6 (me as primary and my husband as secondary). lets keep a track of our application status and let know each other on the progress. this will help both of us.

My Visa is lodged by agent and he has given his email id for any further contact. importing my application help me to keep a watch on my application status and inform my agent if anything is needed...... its good to know where is application status is rather than asking agent.

Hi All, I am waiting for grant on 489 SA.... I wanted to know if its difficult to get job in Adelaide specially in IT? I have experience of 12+ years in Project Management Office.

I lodged my 489 SA and able to import the my application. but for 190 VIC I am waiting for invite from Vic State and I only have EOI ID that is the reason I guess I cant import details. I guess import works for lodged application not for EOI.

Hi Alka, is there any way you know by any chance to check status of EOI submitted for 190?

Hi Akash, I applied for ICT PM 190 for VIC in Oct 18 with 75 points and still waiting for invite. My prediction after following few other forums is that the maximum time for 190 ICT BA and PM is 6 months. I might not be correct as I am also waiting and trying to find wait time for invite.

I am waiting for invitation for 190 Vic. I submitted EOI in Oct 2018. have they stopped sending invitation as well?

Thanks! let me go through it and follow steps.

Hi All, my husband was in US for 6 years and came back in 2014. now my agent is asking PCC for my husband from India and US as well... I am having hard time on understanding how to get PCC for US from India. the guidelines are also not clear. can anybody guide if they have been in same situation?