In the last few weeks, states and territories have opened for this financial year’s selection of applicants for Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) nomination. This article intends to provide answers to some of the commonly asked questions about state sponsorship application.
Why do I need to apply for state sponsorship?
It is a mandatory requirement to get an approved state sponsorship before applying for Permanent Residency (PR) visas under the General Skilled Migration (GSM) specifically for applicants whose nominated occupation is on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) or Regional Occupation List (ROL), and are seeking to apply for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and/or Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Getting a state sponsorship grant for 190 visa gives the visa applicant additional 5 migration points, and 15 points for those who are granted a state sponsorship for the 491 visa.
Note that applicants for the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) do not need to apply for state sponsorship. However, if they choose to also apply for the 190 visa, they should also get a state sponsorship.
Which is the best state to apply for?
Every state has its own nomination eligibility criteria. In order to decide which state is best for you, you first need to check if you can satisfy the criteria of the state/s you are after and if your nominated occupation or the industry you are in is prioritised by your chosen states. Once you have short-listed the states that you are eligible for and the ones that can prioritise your application, you should then do your research on the available jobs in those states, living costs, available schools (if you have children), and your other areas of interest. These information can help you decide which state is best for you.
How can I apply for state sponsorship?
Each state has its own application process. All states will require you to have an active Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect and that the state you are applying for should be clearly stated in your EOI application. Some states can invite you just basing on your EOI application but some states will require an additional step (applying for Registration of Interest – ROI) before you can be considered in their queue for selection.
States that require applicants to submit an ROI include VIC, ACT, SA (for onshore applications) and TAS.
Do I need to be in Australia when applying for state sponsorship?
Most states accept overseas applications with different eligibility criteria compared to applicants who are in Australia. Most states have a residency requirement for applicants onshore which does not apply to overseas applicants. This means that overseas applicants have more freedom to choose which states they want to apply for provided that they satisfy the criteria for those states.
In Victoria, if you are applying offshore, your salary will not be given weight in the selection process as this only applies to applicants who are here in Victoria and who are currently employed.
How long will it take before I can get invited to apply for state sponsorship?
It can be difficult to ascertain your chance of getting an invitation and the timeframe within which you can get invited. Most states do not provide a report on which occupations they have invited and the duration between the time the application was lodged and the date when the invitation was given.
State sponsorship application is a competitive selection process. It can take weeks or months or years before you can get invited and not all applicants can get an invitation.
It is best to seek advice or assistance from an Immigration Lawyer or a Registered Migration Agent if you are planning to apply for state sponsorship in support of your 190 and/or 491 visa application.