Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

The Skilled-Independent Visa (subclass 189) is a skilled Australian visa for the skilled workers who are not sponsored by the employer, by the state or the territory or the member of a family. 

The subclass visa 189 holders can permanently work as well as live in Australia. The application must include individual family members. For being eligible for a visa, you are required to score a minimum of 65 points on the Points Test. 

What is the skilled independent subclass 189 visa?

With this skilled independent subclass 189 visa, you can live as well as work in Australia. Many skilled workers listed on the skilled independent visa (subclass 189) occupation list can be eligible for the visa category. This subclass 189 visa demands that the candidates complete the skills test and must be supported by the employer or the family member, or approved by the State government.

Skilled independent visa (subclass 189) – How can one apply?

For becoming eligible, a valid application for the Subclass Visa 189, you must first receive a positive evaluation of the skills and then submit the EOI i.e., Expression of Interest via SkillSelect. 

Step 1: Check whether your occupation is on the skilled independent visa (subclass 189) occupation list

This visa is made available to people those fill the positions on the skilled independent visa (subclass 189) occupation list

Step 2: See to that you meet all the eligibility criteria

To apply for the subclass visa 189, you need to meet the below standards:

• You should be less than 50 years
• Have proper English speaking skills
• You need to meet all the health as well as the character requirements
• You should not hold the outstanding debts to the Government of Australia
• Must willingly sign the values statement of Australia

Step 3: Complete the Skills Assessment

You should complete the Skills Assessment and also obtain the acceptable score for becoming eligible for a skilled independent visa (subclass 189). 

Step 4: Submit the EOI i.e., Expression of Interest visa SkillSelect

You are required to submit the EOI via SkillSelect. This SkillSelect program would ask you lots of questions related to your background, relevant work history, and skills. The authorities would see the Expression of Interest in Australia. It must be available to the employers in Australia who are looking for someone having good skill sets for hire. Whenever you obtain the nomination or the sponsor and the expression of interest meet all the requirements of the subclass visa 189, you would be invited to apply for 189 visas.

Step 5: Find the sponsor

For a skilled independent visa (subclass 189), you must be sponsored by the employer or the family member or must be nominated by the territory government or the state. When you find the perfect sponsor, they will send you the invitation to an application letter for a subclass 189 visa. 

If you don’t have the eligible employer or the relative for sponsoring you, then you can find the employer via a SkillSelect program. This SkillSelect program does match with the skilled workers along with employers who are looking for abroad working people. The territory or the state government might even nominate you via this program.

Step 6: Complete all the required paperwork through the sponsor

When you find the sponsor, you should be nominated through them for the visa. One can also apply for the visa at the same time when the sponsors apply. The employer can also complete the nomination application in online mode visa DHA.

Step 7: You need to apply for Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) –Work Visa

Once you find the potential employer and get the nomination, one can also apply for a subclass 189 visa in an online mode via DHA.

 8: You need to wait for the decision

It takes some time for DHA to decide on the visa application. 

Step 9: You will receive the visa and then start working

When your application is accepted, you would be obtaining your visa, and then you can start working in Australia.

Skilled independent visa (subclass 189) Process in Australia

Subclass Visa 189 depends on the three-stage application process.

• Stage 1- The first stage in the application process includes the completion of skills assessment with the relevant Government body. Skills assessment allows the Home affairs department to judge if you hold the necessary level of skills which you have chosen in the occupation for practicing in Australia.

• Stage 2- Whenever you receive a positive skills assessment, you are required to submit the EOI visa SkillSelect.

• Stage 3- Whenever you are issued the ITA i.e., the Invitation to Apply, one can continue with the Home Affairs department of application where one can submit the final and completed application to get it approved by the Home Affairs department so that your subclass 189 visa gets granted.

The Skilled Visa Conditions in Australia

A qualified applicant will be granted a multiple entry visa for living and working in Australia for five years. You only have to live 2 of the five years in Australia to get the visa reissued for another five years. Additionally, you can stay in Australia for four consecutive years and be eligible for citizenship.

Nevertheless, when you choose not to obtain citizenship, you should apply for the Resident Return Visa for traveling to and from Australia before the initial one expires. To apply for this, you must prove that you have been legally residing in Australia for two years or that you have significant personal, cultural, or business ties with Australia.

Complete the online assessment to decide whether you can qualify as the highly skilled migrant to the Australian Qualified-Independent Visa.

Benefits of the subclass visa 189

The subclass 189 visa offers various benefits of the permanent residency in Australia for yourself and your family. They are: 

• One can live as well as work in Australia permanently
• You get the opportunity of studying in Australia
• You can also enroll in the medicare or the healthcare program run in Australia
• The chance for applying for citizenship in Australia
• You can even sponsor all the relatives and your family members for Permanent residency
• You can travel in and around Australia

Visa Process in a Nutshell

For applying for this visa, you should:

• be less than 45 years in an age whenever you being invited to apply.
• Nominate the occupation which matches all your qualifications and skills and is on relevant MLTSSL.
• have all the skills assessed by proper assessing authority suitable for the nominated occupation
• be competent in English
• score minimum 65 points in the Points Test
• meet all the character and the health needs

I hope this helps.