RichK

Ah, nothings simple is it - especially with immigration. Your comment comes as no surprise as I spoke to 2 different people and it was apparent they didn't really know but eventually came up with answers for me. Do you know who it has been outsourced to? How do I get hold of the people "in the know" who can give me a definite view please?

With the current Coronavirus travel restrictions, If I am successful in obtaining a 186 PR Visa, does anyone know if there would be any reason I could not travel into Australia? I assume I am considered a Permanent Resident from the moment the Visa is granted and I don't have to have previously entered Australia to have validated it first? Or any other such restrictions? Any thoughts / comments welcomed please! Regards, Rich

I've just spoken to Australian HomeAffairs who have confirmed that offshore 186' are indeed still being processed. I've also spoken to VETASSESS who have advised that although their website states they are taking longer to do skills assessments, they are still doing these within 10days under the priority route and within 4-6 months for non-priority. All good so far with this new plan then....

Thank you for responding Raul. It seems the key missing piece of the jigsaw is, as you mention, whether offshore 186 applications are still being progressed. I'll try and get in touch with HomeAffairs today and find out. I've googled it and it's strange that no one across the internet had mentioned any impact to 186 processing due to covid.

So after spending the day trying to figure this one out myself, I was hoping experts such as yourselves may be able to help... I currently have a 482 application in processing - it was lodged 3 weeks ago from the UK where I am currently based. My employer (well, the Australian arm of the global company for whom I work) has raised concerns that if I cannot get into Australia this year due to the covid travel restrictions, then they will not be able to keep the position open. Which made me think... if I can get a 186 underway at the same time, the permanent residency aspect would allow me to travel into Australia and start work. Unfortunately, I'm starting to fear that I'm grasping at straws here and I might trip myself up with some overly optimistic assumptions. Some wise words would be appreciated please! In particular, I cannot figure out the following: 1. Am I allowed to raise a new application for a 186 whilst I have an ongoing application for a 482? 2. With regard to the employer nomination, the Homeaffairs website notes that "We can’t link a new nomination to your existing visa application. If this happens one possible option is to withdraw your first visa application and submit a new visa application in relation to the new nomination.". But the terms "new" and "existing" are throwing me here (as I actually wish to link an existing nomination to a new visa application). In short, would my employer have to lodge a new nomination or can i use the TRN # from my 482 for this 186. 3. Is there a generally accepted probability of skills assessments being able to be take down the "priority processing" line with VETASSESS? Seems they normally need 3-4 months if they can't process an assessment as a priority, which would kill this whole plan - but you only find out once you've logged the request with them.... Thanking you in advance for any help you can provide - I'm slowly losing my hair trying to figure this plan out, Regards, Rich