Skilled Work Visa Australia 2022 – Skilled Migration Visa Australia
The Australian government has recently announced a significant increase in their Skilled Work Visa intake. Previous invitation rounds have suffered, undergoing a decline due to the pandemic which saw the intake of individuals across all visa classes drop significantly.
Australia travel bans have since been lifted, meaning the government is now looking to bring in more applicants to fill the placement gaps left by the previous two years of lockdowns. Especially in key areas within TAFE fields. They are also hoping to invite more prospective applicants to work in more rural areas, which are still experiencing labour shortage issues.
Skilled Work Visa Australia – Invitation Rounds August and October 2022
On the 22nd of August 2022 invitation round, the Australian government has issued 12,200 invitations for Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa lodged through the online system SkillSelect. There have also been an additional 466 invitations that have emerged for subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional Visa that have also been submitted through SkillSelect.
Another invitation round occurred last week in October 2022 with 11,714 invitations for subclass 189 skilled independent visa and 818 invitations for the subclass 491 skilled work regional family sponsored. Both rounds were not scheduled.
In the August 2022 round there was a significant focus on Scientists, Teachers, Allied Health professionals, Engineers, and TAFE professions. ICT occupations, accounting and finance did not receive a lot of interest. People were invited from both onshore and offshore with low scores down to 65 in some cases. Unfortunately, many people were unprepared with expired skills assessments, expired English tests and will be unable to apply for a visa.
The offshore only invitations were dominated by technical and trades occupations such as bricklayer; cabinetmaker; carpenter; carpenter and joiner; chef; civil engineering technician; construction project manager; drainer; electrician; fitter; gas fitter; lift mechanic; metal fabricator; motor mechanic; painting trades worker; panel beater; plumber; radio communications technician; solid plasterer; telecommunications technologist; wall and floor tiler; and welder.
The health industry occupations where both onshore and offshore EOIs were invited included audiologist; chiropractor; clinical psychologist; radiologist; emergency medicine specialist; general practitioner; intensive care specialist; radiographer; oncologist; radiation therapist; midwife; neurosurgeon; nuclear medical technologist; obstetrician; occupational therapist; optometrist; orthotist; osteopath; paediatrician; physiotherapist; plastic surgeon; podiatrist; psychiatrist; registered nurse (various types); social worker; sonographer; specialist physician; speech pathologist; veterinarian; and zoologist.
The testing requirements have been relaxed for this August intake on skilled work visas Australia. Originally, the invitation rounds required between 85 and 90 to pass the points test. However, during the 22nd of August 2022 round the mark for pass for both the subclass 189 skilled independent visa and subclass 491 skilled work visa regional family sponsored was lowered instead to 65.
What this means is that those with less work experience and English language skills may be able to submit expression of interests and potentially successful visas within these subclasses.
Below you will find the lowest points score for the first invitation round of skilled visa 189, August 2022:
65 points, Electrician General
65 points, Registered nurse nec (onshore)
65 points, General Mechanic
65 points, Chef (offshore)
65 points, Aged Care RN
65 points, University Lecturer (onshore)
65 points, Secondary school teacher
The full details of the 22 August 2022 invitation round and 6 October 2022 invitation round can be found here
Given the size of the expressions of interest pool, it is unlikely there is going to be a significantly large pool of applicants for the rest of the 2022-2023 financial year for the skilled work visa intake. If there is any need for additional applicants in later intakes, they will be on a smaller scale and be at the behest of certain states and territories instead of a concentrated effort by the Department of Home Affairs.
It is expected that all state/territory governments will significantly accelerate state nominations over the next few months. Those currently offshore and invited to apply for a skilled visa to Australia will begin to arrive from early 2023.
VISA LOUNGE is a boutique Australian migration firm, providing the highest standard of service, advice and assistance on visa and migration matters. We excel in migration planning and strategy. We work with both corporate and private clients advising employers and individuals, located in Australia or anywhere in the world.
Contact us today for a one to one consultation (also offered via zoom worldwide).
