handlesinc

I found a useful list on this website, but I don't know if it's reliable. https://ahwc.com.au/australian-immigration-news/australian-health-waivers/

Thanks again. I think it's looking like a pretty slim chance to squeeze under the community cost threshold, but I will wait and see what the professional assessment comes back with. I hope that, for others in the longer term, this rule is relaxed as it has been elsewhere.

Thanks. Indeed I’m hoping that the 5 year horizon of the 491 visa that I’d like to apply for works in our favour, but even that might be too long. One question I’m curious about is what the cost estimate might entail beyond school (and do you have to assume school lasts until age 16, 17 or 18?) but hopefully my agent will answer that in the assessment. The student visa idea is an interesting one that I hadn’t considered before, but worth finding out more about.

Fair enough. I just meant that parents of disabled children are well aware of the limitations of remote assessment, regardless of the professionalism of the assessor. I accept that this is inevitable in this kind of process, as they can't exactly meet all the children on a one-to-one, but that doesn't mean it isn't frustrating. I appreciate everyone's advice and I am indeed getting a professional assessment.

Thank you. I had crudely based an estimate of how much the cost implication might be on the IESP grant system in South Australia: https://www.education.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/school-res-notes-2021.pdf?v=1605240578 In this model, moderate learning difficulties imply an annual cost for supported mainstream education of the order of $10-15k, which would make it difficult to get under the threshold. However, I have no idea how the MOC will actually do the assessment, so I'll get some professional advice. The bottom line is that, as you say, it is very hard to judge and the decision will rest with someone who has very limited information to go on. That's life.

Oh, okay. I have no idea how that would work as part of a family move, but i'll look into it.

He is only 13 so I don't think a student visa applies. I will try to get a more thorough assessment done and see if there's a realistic chance of getting under the health costing threshold. Thanks for the help.

Thank you for the advice. It does seem to be a complex topic, however my understanding is that if the MOC cost assessment exceeds the threshold then it is unlikely to be overturned in a visa category without a health waiver option (e.g. 491). Please correct if I’m wrong. The cost of special needs provision is hugely variable and virtually impossible to pin down accurately via remote assessment, but the estimate I mentioned was from a source experienced in disability costing in migration cases. If it were possible to get the actual MOC costing in advance then that would be one thing, but paying all the visa costs upfront and taking the risk of exceeding the threshold and then facing a costly appeal is one hell of a gamble. It would be helpful if they published guidance on how educational support is costed, to at least give an order of magnitude compared to the threshold, but it’s all rather opaque. It does all feel somewhat discriminatory and unnecessary, but obviously it is Australia’s choice and no one is forcing me to apply to move my family there. Regardless of all that, I appreciate the advice and I hope others are faring better.

I have had preliminary advice from a migration lawyer that we would likely exceed the $51,000 threshold, even with low level support. I find this very surprising but I respect their expertise.

Ah, okay. Disappointing but thanks anyway.

Thanks. The high points requirement for 189 is one thing, but first I would need to know if it's even worth trying in my situation. I will contact George Lombard if I need more detailed advice.

Hello. I hope someone can help with this question on visa applicants with disabilities. I had been planning to apply for a 491 visa with nomination from South Australia. However, one my children has a moderate learning disability and this almost certainly means he will need a health waiver to avoid being denied a visa on the grounds of the cost of special education support. I recently learned that the 491 visa does not accept health waivers, which is hugely disappointing news as this was my best shot at getting enough points for a realistic chance of success. Does anyone know if the 189 visa accepts health waivers? This would be a long shot as I would have fewer points, but better than nothing. The official guidance says "some skilled" visas accept health waivers but doesn't specify which. Thanks in advance for any help with this.

Ah, I see, thanks. That is what I had guessed but reassuring to know that I haven't missed something obvious. I fully appreciate that they are under no obligation to do anything at all, and I have to wait a few months before doing the step before that (submitting an EOI) anyway, but I will continue to keep my fingers crossed!

Hi all. Very new to all this but I've recently had a positive skills assessment and now thinking of applying for nomination from SA. However the application process seems to be two-stage for offshore applicants - first you submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) application, then (if invited) you apply for the actual nomination. There is some guidance on the timescale for the second stage but not the first. Anyone have any experience or information on this? Thanks.