Skilled Migration Update

The Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) - first provisional stream completely closes down this Friday, 15th November and will be replaced by the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). While the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs officially commences this visa on Saturday 16th November 2019, the NSW State Government has delayed commencement of nominations until new points arrangements with the 491 visa have been clarified and a new nomination process has been developed, with aim of achieving better outcomes that the 489 visa. Unfortunately, we have not been able to get a start date for the 491 visa program but our colleagues in Sydney have advised that it will not begin until early 2020, hopefully January.

We are proud of our outcomes from the 489 visa, the difference it has made to our region and the support we have provided to skilled migrants coming here. Anyone who has not seen our case study videos is encouraged to check them out here.

The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) involves a regional employer nominating a skilled migrant for the Direct Entry PR Visa subclass 187. We at RDANI have performed the Regional Certifying Body role in that process for many years. In this, we have assessed the employer and provided local-level advice to the Australian Government. The RSMS is being shut down. This Friday is the last day that RSMS employer nomination applications and 187 visa applications can be submitted to the Department of Home Affairs. That deadline does not apply to RCBs and we will continue to accept applications from employers and their Registered Migration Agents, however RCB advice that is older than three months past the date that the Department of Home Affairs receives an application is not generally considered to be validly current.

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) commences this Saturday (16th November 2019), replacing the RSMS. Employer sponsorships will still need to get RCB advice and local advice or recommendation will continue to be a required consideration in the Department of Home Affairs decision in each case.