Jia

It will reopen in April 2021. Hi Smirti, pregnancy shouldn't affect your visa eligibility (if you receive an invitation), however, be aware that you'll need to undergo health examinations for the visa application which includes a chest x-ray. This may affect your pregnancy so that's something you need to consider.

Hi FMH, you don't need to submit any supporting documents with the EOI. You only need to submit supporting documents for the state/territory nomination and the visa application. Which state/territory are you planning to move to? Check the relevant state/territory website for documentary requirements for the nomination application.

Hi tonks, have you considered applying for jobs in Australia while you are overseas? Your husband probably has a better chance of securing a job offer from an Australian employer since his occupation is on the PMSOL, and he will be eligible for a travel exemption on the basis of being sponsored by an employer on the PMSOL. Check out this page on the Department of Home Affairs website for more information: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/travel-restrictions#toc-3 DHA specifically states: "The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force and decision makers may grant you an individual exemption if you are: a foreign national sponsored by your employer to work in Australia in an occupation on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL)" Of course the 190/491 visas are still an option later down the track (particularly if you are already living in Australia). It doesn't hurt to get a head start on your Australian migration plans. Might as well start job hunting while waiting for things to go back to normal! All the best PS. Also I would consider applying for jobs everywhere in Australia, if only to secure a sponsorship, just to get a foot in the door so to speak. Once you and your husband are physically in Australia you can always change employers, move around, etc.

Hi Phoebe, the online application only allows you to add details of 2 relationship witnesses but in reality the more Form 888's you submit the better. I would ask close friends and family. Bosses and co-workers are not really essential. It's best to ask people who have known both you and your partner since the beginning of your relationship and have seen you together regularly.

Hi cvohra, I can't advise without seeing any documents. If you want to have a chat feel free to contact me directly via my website.

Hi CHEL, yes you should be able to do this through ImmiAccount as well. Open the application in ImmiAccount, click the "Update details" link on the left side menu, then click on "Notification of incorrect answer(s)" and submit the relevant information.

Yes perhaps not the best choice of words...what I meant was "immigration legal advice" which can be provided by both RMAs and immigration lawyers (same thing really).

Hi brightoctober19, it is a good idea to get legal advice whenever there is a health issue. What visa are you and your wife thinking of applying for?

Hi SteveinPerth, you can try applying for a travel exemption for your MIL based on compassionate and compelling reasons (https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/travel-restrictions). DHA doesn't provide any clear guidance on what constitutes "compassionate and compelling reasons" other than the "death or critical illness of a close family member", however it doesn't hurt to try. Your MIL will also need to have a visa to travel to Australia.

Hi Kaushal, it's best to speak to an immigration lawyer to get some clear legal advice regarding your options.

I was thinking the OP could get a head start on getting an Australian degree during the pandemic, before Australia's borders re-open (the latest I've heard on the news is that the borders will not re-open till mid-2022 but don't quote me on this). Points are not relevant if OP is hired by an Australian company and goes down the employer sponsored pathway to permanent residence (ie. 482/186 or 494/191). Also, not necessarily relevant but Australia's digital technology industry is growing and will create a demand for more skilled workers in the next couple of years: https://www.hcamag.com/au/news/general/australias-tech-skills-gap-putting-10bn-economy-growth-at-risk/246503 Might be something OP could look into. Bear in mind that the occupation lists are going to be updated so I would not make a career choice based on the current SOL.

Sorry, my bad! I must have misread the original post. Please ignore my reply above.

Not bad, thanks for asking! Good luck with the application

Hi cvohra, what visa are you on now? Have you considered reapplying for the 186 visa? Your employer will also need to lodge a new nomination application. Also just out of curiosity what is the reason you applied for 186 DE not 186 TRT?

Hi StevenP, just out of curiosity what visa are you on now? You mentioned you are in Perth. Was employer sponsorship not an option, since you are already in Australia? I hope I didn't misread your original post because you said you were "stuck in Perth".

Hi Bezdo, very few invitations are being issued at the moment. You can check the latest invitation data on the DHA website: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skillselect/invitation-rounds I believe the next invitation round should be sometime in April because invitation rounds are now quarterly for this year and the last one was in January, according to the DHA website.

Hi Chris, I know from personal experience that some employers are willing to fork out the visa costs for a highly skilled employee, especially if they are unable to fill the position from the local job market. I would contact a recruitment agent based in Australia which specialises in trades jobs and go from there. Or you can try contacting employers directly and see if they would be interested in sponsoring you. If you get a job offer from an Australian business you may be able to apply for a travel exemption which would allow you to come to Australia during the pandemic. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. You can try this website as a starting point but I'm sure there are others: https://www.seek.com.au/jobs-in-trades-services I also found this website after a quick google search: https://www.bluecollarskills.com.au/ Good luck.

Hi LJL, do you know which visa you are going to apply for and under what skilled occupation? Have you checked if you are eligible for the visa? To answer your question, Vetassess should have information on their website about what qualifications are required for a skills assessment application. If not, you can try calling or emailing them.

Hi Demi, there is no skilled visa 142111. The relevant visa is called the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494) and you would need to be sponsored by an Australian employer to work in a regional area of Australia. It's not impossible but it may be difficult to find a job that matches your employment background especially in a regional area. You can always try doing some job market research by looking at Australian recruitment websites such as https://www.seek.com.au/. Also bear in mind that you need to be under 45 when you apply for the 494 visa and you need to work for at least 3 years on the 494 visa before you can apply for permanent residency. The age cut-off for a permanent work visa application is also 45, so you need to factor that in as well.

Hi Jayyyy20, sounds like you need career advice more than migration advice (although I understand those two go hand in hand). You may want to explore your career and course options on Australian careers websites such as: https://myfuture.edu.au/ https://www.joboutlook.gov.au/ Perhaps research the Australian job market first before making any decisions. This might be a good place to start: https://www.employment.gov.au/lmip Some Australian universities offer online courses for international students. You may wish to look into this option as well.

Hi OzLover, it's best to get professional advice from an immigration lawyer or migration agent. They may be able to advise you on things that others have missed.

Hi Chopped Pork, Visa expiry dates can't be extended so you'll need to be in Australia before the visa expires. Based on the Department of Home Affairs website (at of 12 February 2021) you can enter Australia as an Australian Permanent Resident without applying for a travel exemption. Currently COVID-19 testing is mandatory for incoming international travellers and there are also quarantine requirements. Please check the Department of Home Affairs COVID-19 website for details: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/travel-restrictions

Hi LucaLeon, when was the last time you and your partner were in Australia? Are you concerned about the age cut-off for any potential visa application or are you concerned about your job prospects in Australia? I suggest you do a bit of job market research before making any decisions.

Hi Wass, It's best if you contact Vetassess to clarify their documentary requirements.

Hi Jess B, I am a registered migration agent and immigration lawyer. Please send me a private message if you would like to discuss (I am unable to message you because I just joined).