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Any idea why we are not seeing any 494 visas being granted or even processed? What could be causing the delay?

Currently on employer sponsored 494 visa with my partner as defacto. Arrived in australia in 2018 and have held working holiday, TSS and now 494 since august 2020. In November 2022 the new PR pathway subclass 191 will begin accepting applicants. Our migration agent advises that to be eligible you need to have held the 494 for 3 full “financial” years to prove income requirements. Is this correct? I cannot find any advice on the government or other immigration advice websites to suggest anything other than calendar years from date of award… help! Thanks in advance. “Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional): To meet the requirements of the permanent visa (from November 2022) applicants must: hold a regional provisional visa subclass 491 or 494 visa when they apply for the Subclass 191 visa, and have held that visa for at least three years; have earned the minimum income for at least three years as the holder of a regional provisional visa; and have complied with the conditions of the regional provisional visa.”

Hiya! Hoping someone can give me a little more clarity .. I am a qualified Beauty Therapist of 17 years (with management experience) and I am doing a teaching course at present. I am hoping to make the move to Oz next year ( seeing as this year is a write off travel wise) and I have looked on the skills shortage list and Beauty Salon Manager is on the 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional provisional visa. When it says sponsored, does it mean that before I apply for the visa I have to have sponsorship in place? Or is is something that can be sorted once I've sent my EOI? Also how do people go about finding sponsorship? I lived in Brisbane for a year on a WHV and worked in a salon, and I know that salons in the chain are within the regional postcode lists, but I am just confused with how you get the process started. Also is it worthwhile starting it now or wait until later in the year? Any help would be amazing!