Australian Immigration Daily News

Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional Provisional Visa (NSW State Sponsored Stream) opens on Monday 15^th June and will close at 5pm 23 June 2020.  The goal is to have these applications assessed by the end of financial year, being Tuesday 30^th June 2020.  The visa was initially introduced as part of the wider regional reforms with the aim to provide:

• Priority processing of regional applications
• Incentives for migrants to stay in regional areas longer term as they build ties through workforce and community participation
• Can apply for permanent residence without a second nomination stage, if eligible, through the subclass 191 visa (commences 16 November 2022)
• Lower cost to employers with only one SAF levy stage for the subclass 494 nomination (compared to the two stages for the current subclass 482 to ENS subclass 186 permanent resident pathway)
• More points available to subclass 491 visa applicants
• Broader range of occupations available than non-regional pathways
• Expanded and consistent classification of regional areas
• The minimum taxable income for the subclass 494 and 191 visa will be set at the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) unless concessions are agreed (such as in relation to a DAMA). TSMIT is currently $53,900.

NSW State nomination criteria includes:

1. having an occupation on the NSW Stream 1 Regional Skilled Occupation List, and;

2. have been living in a designated regional area in NSW for at least the last 12 months, and;

3. have been working in a designated regional area in NSW for at least the last 12 months, and;

4. have been working in your nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation, for at least the last 12 months.

If you do not meet all of these requirements, you are not able to apply for NSW nomination.