Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189 – Learn How It Works!

189 visa Australia is for all New Zealand citizens and skilled workers to live and work in Australia. They will also get the chance to receive a PR or permanent residency. Overseas skilled workers who carry occupations under the Australian Skilled Occupation List are eligible for this visa. To become eligible, all applicants have to go through the skill test.

 Apart from that, the 189 visa Australia is ideal for all those workers who are not sponsored by the territory or state, a family member, or an employer. 

Visa Subclass 189: The Streams

The 189 visa Australia has two streams available for all the applicants. These streams are: 

1. Points Tested Stream

This stream allows all the invited skilled workers to work and live permanently in Australia. Applicants are free to reside anywhere in the country. When you apply for this 189 visa Australia, you have to be:

• Invited to apply for the 189 visa Australia. 
• You have to be below the age of 45 to get invited. 
• You don’t require a nominator or a sponsor.

The cost for this 189 skilled visa is AUD4115, and the 189 visa processing time takes 21 months for 75% of the applications and 33 months for 90% of them. 

2. New Zealand Stream

This stream will allow all the eligible citizens of New Zealand to work and live in Australia permanently. The citizen has to demonstrate their commitment and contribution to Australia to become qualified for this visa. Other things which all the New Zealand citizens must do are:

• They have to carry a Subclass 444 or New Zealand Special Category 189 skilled visa.
• They need to reside on Australian soil for 5 years. 
• They should be residing in Australia before February 16th, 2016.

The price for the visa is AUD4115 for the primary application. The visa application charge is required to be paid in two parts, which are: 

• 20% during the time of visa lodgement.
• 80% before the visa is granted. 

The 189 visa processing time takes 18 months for 75% of the applications and 24 months for 90%.

How to Obtain the Visa Subclass 189?

When you have decided to opt for the Skilled Independent visa 189, there are several steps you have to follow. These steps are: 

Step 1: Checking the occupation on the Skilled Occupation Lists 

All the applicants need to check out their respective occupations on Australia’s Skilled Occupation Lists. It’s mainly because the visa is only available to those who fill a position on that particular list.

Step 2: You Have to Meet All the Aptness Necessities 

When you want to apply for this visa, you first have to fulfill all the following requirements: 

• You need to be under the age of 50.
• Have basic English skills. 
• Meet all the health necessities. 
• Meet all the character requirements. 
• You must not have any debts to the Government of Australia. 
• You should be willing to sign the AVS or Australian Values Statement.

Step 3: Complete the Skills Valuation

All applicants have to complete the skills assessments and achieve an acceptable score that will make them eligible for the visa subclass 189. Applicants who want more information on how to acquire proper skills examinations or assessments, please look at the Department of Home Affairs or DHA website.

Step 4: You Must Submit an EOI Through the SkillSelect

Under this step, you have to submit an EOI or Expression of Interest through the SkillSelect. This program will ask you several questions related to your relevant work history, skills, and background. 

The Australian authorities will take a look at your EOI. It will also be available for all the employers in the country who might to looking for someone to work for their firm or business. 

Applicants who get a sponsor or nomination and their EOI meets all the requirements for the Skilled Independent visa 189 will receive an invite to apply for the visa subclass 189.

Step 5: Get the ITA or Invitation to Apply

After you receive an official invitation from DHA, your Skilled Independent visa 189 application is around 90% through the process. You are also invited to accept your position within the skilled migration program. 

Here, at this stage, all applicants have to: 

• Pay up the visa fees. [The main and all the secondary applicants]
• They must provide all the documents that validate their Express of Interest claims. 
• Applicants have to show their police clearance records from their respective countries. This applicant has to be over 16 years of age and has lived for 12 months for the past decade.
• Medical checks for all the applicants in the application. 
• Any kind of document is required by the Department of Home Affairs on a case-by-case basis.

Once you submit all the documents, the application will proceed further for Skilled Independent visa 189 approval. When all the checks are clear, the visa will be granted, and the DHA will contact the Adelaide Migration Agent or you with the visa grant letter.

Step 6: The Visa Grant 

The DHA will provide you with a visa approval letter when your visa is approved. The letter contains information about the visa 189 grant, conditions, validity period, and other things. 

Remember one thing, each of your family members will receive their letter, and all of them will get the same visa type. You also have to complete an initial entry within a given date. This is to activate the visa, but only after you leave again because the initial travel authority is 5 years.

What are the Benefits of opting for a Subclass 189?

You will receive many benefits when you opt for the Subclass 189 visa, and these benefits are: 

• You will get the chance to live and work in Australia permanently.
• You will also get the chance to study in the country. 
• Get to enrol in Medicare. This is a state-run healthcare program in Australia. 
• Get the chance to apply for PR or permanent residency. 
• You can also sponsor all your relatives or family members for permanent residence. 
• Get to travel in and out of the country whenever you want.

How Will the Immigration Agents Help?

If you have decided to apply for the Skilled Independent 189 Subclass Visa, you might not know how to apply or where to begin the visa 189 processes. This is where the migration agent in Adelaide comes in. They will offer you their assistance and guidance to help you with the entire visa application process. Apart from that, the agents will:

• Provide information about subclass 189 and how beneficial visa 189 is for you. 
• They will explain the entire visa process and the type of documents required. 
• They will verify all the documents and provide you with some information about each of the streams of 189 visa. 
• The agents will also take the responsibility to contact the Department of Home Affairs or DHA to discuss your case. 
• They will also prepare and submit the visa 189 application on your behalf.

Final Thoughts 

The visa subclass 189 is ideal for all skilled workers across the globe, and it’s also ideal for all New Zealand citizens who wish to live and work in Australia permanently. To apply for the visa, you must speak with your immigration agent to help you with the visa application process. Taking the help of a professional and skilled immigration agent Adelaide will prevent you from making unwanted errors or mistakes during the visa process.