SkillSelect Update December 2016
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By Mark Webster
Wednesday, 04 January 2017 |
Invitations Issued for Skilled Independent Subclass 189 Visas
The minimum score required for applicants to receive an invitation for a Skilled Independent Subclass 189 Visa remains at 60 points for occupations which are not "pro-rata".
The 21 December round saw a increase to 1859 invitations - this was up from only 606 for the 7 December round. The current planning level is 1600 invitations for 189 applicants per round - so there is a lot of ground to make up for low numbers in the rounds for the last 2 months.
Pro Rata Occupations
There are 8 Pro Rata Occupations - where more eligible EOIs are being lodged than there are places for the occuaption. Waiting times and/or points scores for these will be higher than normal.Registered Nurses
For the 23 November 2016 round, Nurses were included as a "pro rata" occupation. Immigration has clarified that this was done in error and that Registered Nurses are not pro rata at this stage.Accountants
Waiting times continue to increase steadily, suggesting that the minimum points for a 189 invitation will stay at 70 for the time being.
Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers
Waiting time for auditors has stabilised at 10 weeks, which is now less than for accountants at 14 weeks. We expect the minimum score for an invitation to remain at 70 points.
ICT Business and System Analysts
No invitations were issued for ICT specialisations on 7 December. On 21 December 180 invitations were issued for ICT Business Analysts which is 3 times the usual number of 60. Minimum score remains at 65 points, and this looks likely to remain the case.
Software and Applications Programmers
450 invitations were issued on 21 December for Software and Applications Programmers which is double the usual amount. Waiting times have been increasing steadily but are still only 4 weeks, so we expect the minimum score to stay at 65 points for a 189 invitation for this occupation.
Computer Network Professionals
Minimum score for this occupation is 65 points, and waiting time is now over 5 weeks.
Electronics Engineer
Only a low number of invitations are issued for this occupation each round (29), and the minimum score for invitation is 65. At this score, the waiting time is minimal suggesting that the required points may reduce back to 60 for this occupation - depending on EOI application numbers.
Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers
This occupation is the one closest to being filled, and the required points for an invitation increased to 70 in November. This is now back down to 65 points, and you can expect to wait 8 weeks for an invitation at this score. Only 17 invitations are issued each round for this occupation, so there may be some volatility in the results going forward.
Other Engineering Professionals
No invitations were issued for this occupation on 7 December, and double the usual number on 21 December (56). Minimum score for an invitation is 65 points, and you would expect to wait 6 weeks for an invitation with this score.
Subclass 489 - Family Sponsored
Minimum score for an invitation for a family sponsored 489 visa remains at 60 points. The planning level appears to be 100 invitations per round for this visa category, but far fewer invitations are being issued than this. On 9 November, only 15 invitations were issued for 489 applicants. Whilst this is now back up to 38 for the 21 December round, it appears that insufficient eligible applicants are available to fill the 489 quota.
