Skilled Independent Visa Australia

Australia is an exciting country, with each state offering an incredibly diverse range of experiences to Indian students and professionals. Migrants from all over the world come to Australia for its exceptional living standards and plentiful job possibilities. While getting into Australia might be difficult, the Skilled Independent visa, popularly known as 189 Visa Australia, is a fantastic option for skilled individuals who want to stay and work in the nation permanently. 

Also Read: Australia Student Visa (Subclass 500)

Skilled Independent Visa (189 Visa Australia)

The Skilled Independent visa, also known as visa subclass 189, is designed to attract invited workers with special skills required by the Australian society. If you meet the requirements, you can live, work, and study permanently anywhere in Australia. The points-based subclass 189 visa is based on specific employment abilities. If the visa is granted, invited residents benefit from many of the same rights as Australian citizens.

189 Visa Australia – Why Must You Consider It?

• There is no upper age limit for candidates.
• You do not require a work sponsorship from an Australian employer.
• The visa is not based on points.
• You don’t need to be a native English speaker. You can take an English proficiency test like IELTS 
• You can directly apply from India.
• It enables you to remain in Australia indefinitely.
• You are free to live and work anywhere in Australia.
• You can enroll in Australia’s government-run healthcare system.
• Your children can attend public school for free.

Also Read: Why Study in Australia? 

189 Visa Australia – Visa Benefits and Inclusion of Family Members

Several benefits and responsibilities come with the Skilled Independent visa. This visa allows you to live, work, and study in Australia, as well as enrol in the Medicare public health care system. Medicare and associated programs are designed to provide low-cost or no-cost health care to those who are eligible. In addition, if you get a Skilled Independent subclass 189 visa, you can sponsor your family to come to Australia, travel to and from Australia for five years, and become an Australian citizen if you fulfil the eligibility requirements. However, as a newcomer to Australia with a visa, you may have to wait to get some Australian government payments and benefits.

The popular family component of the Skilled Independent visa permits members of the family unit to be included in the application. Suppose you have a spouse or de facto partner, a dependent child or stepchild, or a dependent grandchild or step-grandchild of a dependent child or stepchild. In that case, they are regarded as members of your family unit under Australian law.

You can include eligible family members in your visa application at the time of submission or later if a decision has not yet been reached. All members of the family must fulfil Australian health and character standards. If you don’t mention a partner or dependent kid in your application, you must explain why.

Also Read: Sample SOP for Australian Student Visa 

Duration of 189 Visa Australia

The Skilled Independent visa is a permanent resident visa that allows you to stay in the country indefinitely. While the visa’s travel component expires after 5 years, you can obtain a Resident Return Visa (subclass 155 or 157) to re-enter Australia. The subclass 189 visa can be acquired both within Australia and for entry into the country. The day you get a Skilled Independent visa, you become a lawful permanent resident.

Visa Cost

A subclass 189 visa costs AUD 4,045 [INR 2.3 lakhs]. This payment only covers the main applicant; any family member indicated on the application will require extra cost. The website of the Department of Home Affairs has a Visa Pricing Estimator. The current fee for a family member over the age of 18 is AUD 2,020 [INR 1 lakh], while the fee for applicants under 18 is AUD 1,015 [INR 60K].

In addition, any candidate above the age of 18 who has less than effective English language abilities may be charged an additional fee. This cost is paid in two installments and is only relevant if the visa is granted. The second installment fee is AUD 4,885 [INR 2.6 lakhs] for all family members above 18. Additional fees for health exams, police certifications, and biometrics may be required in addition to these known expenses.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications for Skilled Independent Subclass 189 are only accepted by invitation. Below are the eligibility criteria:

• You must hold an Australian SOL and prior experience in the specified role (Skilled Occupation List)
• Have skills assessed by an approved assessing authority
• You must be over the age of 18 and under the age of 50 at the time the invitation is issued
• Basic conditions for skilled migration, such as health, character, and English language competence, must be met
• A minimum of 65 points on the points table is required

189 Visa Australia – How to Apply?

Below are the step-by-step instructions on how to apply for 189 Visa:

Step 1: Check the Skilled Occupation Lists to see whether your profession is listed. Only those who can fill a position on this list are eligible for this visa.

Step 2: Double-check that you fulfill all of the eligibility criteria. (We have discussed the eligibility criteria above for your reference).

Step 3: Take a skills evaluation. To be eligible for the Subclass 189 visa, you must take a Skills Assessment and receive an acceptable score. Your score must fulfill the requirements outlined in your invitation letter. The DHA website has instructions on how to acquire a valid Skills Assessment.

Step 4: After that, you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). You will be asked a series of questions about your background, talents, and relevant job experience. Australian authorities will see your EOI and make it available to Australian companies to recruit someone with your skillset.

You will be asked to apply for the 189 visas if you get a nomination or sponsor and your EOI satisfies the visa’s conditions.

Step 5: Find a sponsor or get a nomination from the government. It would help if you were sponsored by an employer or family member, or nominated by a state or territory government, to apply for the Skilled Independent Work Visa (subclass 189). Once you’ve found a good sponsor, they’ll give you a letter inviting you to apply for the visa.

Step 6: Apply for a Skilled Independent Work Visa (subclass 189) and wait for the response.

You may apply for the 189 visas online through the DHA once you’ve secured employment and received a nomination. The DHA may take many months to decide on your visa request. In 2016, the 189 visas took three months to process.

189 Visa Australia – Visa Processing Time

Due to its distinctive circumstances, processing timeframes might vary significantly, and each application is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The length of time it takes is determined by the completeness of the application and accompanying papers, requests for more documents or information, and the time it takes to execute any necessary checks.

If you need to provide additional information on health, character or national security to the external authorities, you can take extra time. The number of available slots in the migration program will also impact the total processing time for permanent migration visa applications. Therefore, it’s critical to know the processing times and potential delays while applying for a Skilled Independent subclass 189 visa.

Are you planning to start a career in Australia? A skilled independent visa for Australia can help you a lot. To learn more,connect with us at Leverage Edu and book your FREE counselling session with us. We will help you throughout your visa process. 

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