RD there is light

So, reading the gist of this post, it seems that unless you are a 491 granted critical occupation or have a job offer in a critical occupation, you are unlikely to be granted a travel exemption, would that be correct?  I have 491 grant since Feb 2021, though as a Plumber (non critical) for SA, and ready to leave whenever possible.  I have been applying to positions in SA, and unless they offer me a job, then my chances are slim.

Any other person know of people's experiences of non-critical occupations being granted travel exemption with or without job offers please?  Feeling low with hearing that international flights will not likely resume until well into 2022 or even 2023, until Australia sort out their own vaccine rollout meaning Ozzies can leave and return, but what about those skilled visa holders that can't get in? (the clock is ticking for 491s to meet their first entry point and also overall visa conditions to fulfil for future 191).  Need some hope!

On 07/03/2021 at 20:18, martl_2001 said:

Which state nominated you RD? I thought only onshore with the exception of some critical, mostly healthcare roles were being considered for 491. Or was this before all that was put in place?

Sorry for the late reply.  SA was the state nomination.  At the time of my state nomination application in April 2020, for my occupation I was permitted to apply based offshore, which I believe is now not the case.  Lots has changed since and for 491 ITA are largely for critical occupations and also need to be based onshore.

On 11/02/2021 at 20:03, Monster said:

Hi,

Are you still waiting for your SC491 to be approved or is it already approved and you are just waiting for the borders to open so you could enter? Your grant letter will say by when you should do an initial entry normally it's 12 months from grant date.

 

Visa has been granted on 5 Feb.  First entry by 5 Feb 2022.  Waiting for borders to open so we can enter

On 11/02/2021 at 08:04, Billie Jean said:

 

59 minutes ago, Billie Jean said:

thanks RD and how long did it take from your initial EOI submission to the state to visa grant? I know this is variable and hard to predict but I'm trying to get a sense of total timeline.

So, EOI submission was around January 2020, lodged for state nomination on 24 April 2020, received invitation to apply (ITA) from SA on 28 June, submitted 491 visa application online on 21 August, visa grant 5 Feb.  I am offshore with occupation 334111 Plumber with 75 points.

8 hours ago, Billie Jean said:

Hi all,

From the date of being awarded a 491 Visa, how long does one have before they have to arrive on Australia? What kind of a window is provided to move before the Visa is cancelled.

 

Thanks

Hi,

I have had 491 granted on 5 Feb and we have 12 months from date of grant to make first entry as per the grant letter.  Hope this helps.

On 07/02/2021 at 18:23, Conyo2588 said:

Congratulations! I bet that’s a relief!

To be honest I’m really shocked that you’re offshore and non critical occupation. I assumed everything was on hold until borders opened back up!

Best of luck with your move. At least you have something to celebrate in this horrible lockdown

Thanks Conyo2588!  Such a huge relief!  It was a daily discussion as to when we were likely to get an outcome.  I sympathise with all that are waiting still.  Shame that there seems no real logic with regard to which occupations they grant for.  Like I mentioned, as mine was offshore and non-critical, I was going on the global processing timeline of 6-8 months, and for my case it was 168 days from time of visa lodgment.  We front loaded our medicals soon after lodgment and also PCCs.  It was only late Nov they asked for new PCCs based on my wife's maiden name which we did, and uploaded mid December.

Now it the challenge of when travel restrictions can be lifted and we can plan our move.  In the meantime, at least we can start some planning at home, look at surburbs, schools, jobs etc and get ourselves 'ready' as best as we can.

On 07/02/2021 at 16:18, paulhand said:

What occupation are you?

Hi Paul,

Sorry for the late response.  334111 Plumber with SA state nomination

On 07/02/2021 at 14:39, Eagle2020 said:

What is your occupation?

Sorry for the late response.  Occupation Plumber 334111, state nomination SA 491

On 13/07/2020 at 04:42, 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 Amy,

Just to give you a quick update.

I was granted 491 visa on 5 Feb 2021!  We have to make first entry by 5 Feb 2022 so hope travel restrictions lift.  As you may be aware we are offshore and were nominated by SA.  I am a non-critical occupation so the grant comes as a pleasant surprise considering the order of visa grants for priority occupations.  Total timeline from visa lodgment: 21 Aug 2020 to 5 Feb 2021 (168 days).

On 22/11/2020 at 13:02, RD there is light said:

Thanks for that.  I'll go with lodgment date and checking global processing times recently, looks like it has been pushed out further to 6=8 months.  If you lodged in March, then I'm at least six months behind you in the queue.  Guess we wait and see.

Hi all,

Pleased to advise and give hope to those that are waiting on grants.  I was granted 491 visa on 5 Feb!!  I am offshore, though do not have an exemption to travel as non-critical occupation.  I will update my timeline.  Thought this may help others who are still waiting.  Just hang on in there like we did, and when least expected (especially with all the comments in forum about 491 visas, offshore applciants and non-critical occupations), you will wake you to the email you have been waiting for!

Hi,

Pleased to say I have been one of the lucky ones being granted 491 on 5 Feb.  I'm offshore.  Hope this helps.

On 11/11/2020 at 18:22, Eagle2020 said:

It should be from visa lodgement but with the pandemic those processing times are fantasy. I lodged my application back in March and still nothing. Unless a vaccine is found I don't think any offshore grants will be issued to non priority until at least July next year

Thanks for that.  I'll go with lodgment date and checking global processing times recently, looks like it has been pushed out further to 6=8 months.  If you lodged in March, then I'm at least six months behind you in the queue.  Guess we wait and see.

Does anyone have any insights in to processing times lately or know of any non-priority occupation grants?  I note that it has changed from 63 days-3 months to 73 days-4 months now.  I lodged for 491 visa for Plumber SA state nomination in August 2020 and I have uploaded medicals etc. I understand that borders are closed so there would be no hurry for non-priority occupations.  My visa application doesn't have a case officer assigned as yet.  Does anyone know if the 73 days processing time start from time of visa lodgment or from when case officer is assigned?  

On 16/08/2020 at 23:44, AmyL said:

believe the character check is the police check

Thanks very much AmyL

On 24/07/2020 at 08:34, Jody said:

We started doing my husband’s visa (489 Electrician) but after doing the English test and the Vetassess skilled documentation check we made an error and the check got rejected, so we had to resubmit and pay again before moving onto the practical part. After that we went with an agent (Concept Australia) to do the EOI, SA State part and the main visa application. It took the pressure off and gave us peace of mind that we hadn’t missed anything to cause a rejected outcome. It’s an extra cost but I would say worth it.

My husband tried PTE a couple of times but found this difficult (he is dyslexic). He switched to IELTS and passed it first time and found it a better style test for him. 
 

From the start to receiving our visa is was a two year process.

But the final stage of submitting the main application after SA sponsored us was 3.5 months, so we were pretty lucky for that final part. 

Hi Jody, well done, exciting times.  Can I confirm your 489 visa was granted within 3.5 months? Is that a recent grant i.e. in last few weeks?

On 03/08/2020 at 04:33, AmyL said:

@RD there is light Oh gosh I'm not sure as I had an agent put all my stuff together and submit it. I know I completed a form 80 on invitation which was submitted and then I received a request to action police checks and medical pretty much soon after submission. My medicals and police checks were requested pretty much immediately after lodging the full visa application so just something to be prepared for as you have 28 days to show evidence that you have acted on the request I.e booking medical appointment and uploading this into your account.

I'm not sure if that was at all helpful! 

What part of SA are you thinking of going to?

 

Thanks so much Amy. And sorry for late reply.  As our agent was not helpful at the earlier skills assessment stage, we decided to work without him.  What you have mentioned is helpful indeed.

No idea where we'll go to in Adelaide as yet, not even sure when borders will open to allow 491 holders into Australia, though will be following SA 491 holders closely. We may even end up a small community supporting each other once we are over there!

Me again.  Just lodging apapplication now, though asking for character checks to be completed.  Is this different to police checks which seems is requested afterwards visa app submission?

On 09/08/2020 at 16:38, paulhand said:

There was a  small invitation round in July for 189 and 491 family sponsored applications, which are both done at the Federal rather than State level. As I understand it, the points barrier for the family 491 was 100 and it was a very small number. 

I wouldn’t be holding my breath for an invite in this stream.

However, remember with the 491 you need to spend 3 years living and working in the regional area to be eligible for the 191 permanent visa, so actually the timeframe to make the move is really 2 years not 5. 
 

 

Thanks Paul.  I think I may have inadvertently really blown my chances previously as I had 75 points in early June with DOE of Feb 2020.  Looking at the June round, there were 491 family sponsor invitations to applicants with 70 and DOE April 2020.  But I managed to score an extra 5 points for employment so changed my EOI to update this and thus lost my old DOE from February.  I am kicking myself as I feel as though I would have had a strong chance of being invited back in June if I hadn't updated my points.  Only unknown with this would have been whether 491 family sponsor would be affected at state level i.e. would WA have considered my points only for family sponsorship or would my occupation also need to be considered?

Do you know anything more about the 491 criteria re spend 3 years living and working in the regional area?  i.e. would I be able to move in say 18 months after living in SA to WA if I had a better job offer? I read that WA is still all regional so this would be possible, though I would need to notify SA migration if I move state as part of the conditions.

On 09/08/2020 at 14:55, Marisawright said:

As far as I'm aware, there won't be an invitation round for August.  The quotas haven't been released for this financial year (which runs from July to June in Australia) and none of the states can consider any new visas until they are. There's unlikely to be any news on quotas until October at the earliest.

Thanks for this.  I mentioned this as I saw there was an invitation round in July, all be it small numbers for 189 and 491 family sponsor.  I have read that the official quota will be around Oct which will be well past my 60 days.  Think I'll continue with applying to SA 491, as you are right, with the current situation, it is very fluid and you never know when things can change.  Would be silly to miss this ITA and then wait for unknown number of months before possibility for 491 WA invitation.

Hi all,

On a similar note, please can anyone shed light on this scenario:

ITA received for 491 SA at the end of June 2020.  Have 60 days to apply.  Have also another EOI for 491 WA family sponsor though no invitation as yet.  Our preference would be WA as ultimately we have family there.  Qu - while SA has issued ITA, does it affect the EOI for 491 WA?  We are hoping to wait for the next invitation round in August and pray for 491 WA family sponsor ITA.  If this doesn't come through, then we will proceed to apply for the SA one.  Obviously then, we understand that we will accept and live and work in SA as per visa conditions if and when this is granted.

The reason I ask the question is I am not sure whether the SA ITA impacts the EOI for WA at all?  If it does, then is it likely we are wasting our time waiting?  Could two separate EOIs be triggered with ITA from two states i.e. can you have two invitations at the same time?

Hello,

To let you know that I also had ITA on 27 June for 491 SA.  Will be applying within the 60 day timeframe.  Never been to SA so a bit like you here.  Seeing I am a bit behind in my DOHA application, is it a case of 'accept' and then I will be notified of documents that need to be submitted?

7 hours ago, Marisawright said:

States are not issunig 190's very often these days.  The whole point of the 491 is that they're fed up of people getting a 190 and then going off to live in another state. The 491 is a way of putting you on probation, so you have to stay in the state or lose your visa. If they've offered you a 491 then they're not going to offer you a 190.

It's true the 491 is only temporary, however unlike any other temporary visa, it has a clear pathway to a permanent visa.  

Look at it this way. For the other temporary visas (student and 482), they're letting someone come to Australia to fulfil a temporary role.  The government wants those people to go home at the end, so they make it difficult to transition to PR. For the 491, it's the opposite.  The government really, really wants you to stay at the end of the 491, so provided you can meet the criteria, you're in.  Yes, you're temporary for 4 years but you've got that carrot at the end. 

It's so very difficult to get a visa for Australia right now, I would not be turning my nose up at the offer you've got.

Hi Marisawright,

Thank you.  I am definitely not going to turn the ITA for the 491S.  My preference would be a permanent visa as would so many others, but at least there is a pathway to PR.  The reason I posted was the earlier poster was also a plumber and keen to understand his/her background and circumstances as I know not many tradies are getting a look-in at all on any vissa type.

Thanks once again.

17 hours ago, Shanewcov said:

Nationality: British 

Occupation: Plumber 

Nomination submitted  22/11/2019

186 application             16/01/2020

Bridging visa type A    05/03/2020

Medical                         29/01/2020

UK police check          04/02/2020 

Requested more information about nomination 02/06/2020

Information provided 18/06/2020

Nomination approved 23/07/2020  

S56 request                 23/07/2020

S56 info provided       24/07/2020

 

getting closer, any idea how long until I hear back now ? 
Are there any tradies on here or anyone in similar situation 

 

thanks 

Hi, 

Extremely new to this forum, and just signed up.  I'm also a british citizen with plumber occupation.

I'm applying for other visas and EOIs for them but curious about 186 Visa.  Did you get a sponsor while offshore or are you based onshore?

I'm offshore and desperate for any permanent visa.  At present I have just received state nomination for 491 from SA which is obviously temporary.  I haven't lodged application as yet and praying for 190 at least.  Would love guidance how 186 visa works and how to get sponsor, thanks