AIS Immigration Solutions

13/10/2026

📢 Victoria Skilled Migration Update – 2026–27

Victoria has introduced a new Victorian Points Test (VPT) for subclass 190 and 491 nomination.

ROIs will be ranked using factors such as:

✅ Age
✅ English
✅ Skilled work experience
✅ Qualifications
✅ Occupation skill level
✅ Partner skills
✅ Victorian skilled earnings

There is no set pass mark. Applicants will be ranked against others in the pool and the highest-ranking candidates may be invited.

Victoria has also identified priority areas including healthcare, education, social assistance and construction.

The 2026–27 program is expected to open soon.

If you are considering Victorian nomination, now is a good time to review your EOI and likely VPT score.

Source: Victorian Government – Live in Melbourne

09/10/2026

Update regarding next 189 invitation round - 15 October 2026

01/10/2026

New student visa rules take effect today, 2 October 2026.

The changes affect applying for another student visa in Australia, including family members and transferring between education providers.

Here are the main points:

▪️ Current student visa holders will generally need to apply offshore for another student visa unless they meet an exception.

▪️ Some students can still apply in Australia—for example, those who need extra time to finish their course, eligible students moving to a higher qualification, and doctoral students. Each exception has specific requirements.

▪️ If you need to extend your visa to finish your current course, you may still be able to apply onshore if you will complete it within 12 months of the end date on its CoE and meet the other conditions.

▪️ There are also new restrictions on applications for partners and children, with exceptions and transitional arrangements for certain families already in Australia.

▪️ Holders of several other visas, including visitor, working holiday, training, 482 and 485 visas, must apply offshore for a student visa.

▪️ For most students changing providers, a release will generally be needed until they have completed 12 months of their principal course. This applies until 30 June 2027, with the six-month period returning from 1 July 2027. Other transfer exceptions remain available.

These visa changes apply to applications lodged from today. If you are planning to extend your studies or start another course, check your eligibility before committing to enrolment.

You can read the instruments here:

[Student Visa Reform Regulations](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01347/asmade)

[Exceptions and family arrangements — LIN 26/087](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01349/asmade)

[Offshore application requirements — LIN 26/102](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01348/asmade)

[Student transfer rules](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01351/asmade)

30/09/2026

189 Invitation Round - new date

17/09/2026

📢 NEW AUSTRALIAN MIGRATION REFORMS ANNOUNCED

On 17 September 2026, the Australian Government announced the next stage of its migration reforms.

The announced measures include:

✅ Priority processing for skilled visa applicants in healthcare, construction, education, law enforcement, defence, resources, agriculture, aquaculture and fishing

✅ Measures to stop student visa hopping and restrict secondary applicants on most student visas

✅ A “No Further Stay” condition on all visitor visas, so visitor visas are used for genuine temporary visits rather than extending a person’s stay in Australia

✅ Stronger compliance action to ensure people without valid visas leave Australia

✅ Action against migration agents who knowingly support visa applications without merit

✅ Updated visa refusal and cancellation priorities relating to criminal behaviour, domestic and family violence, crimes against children and the promotion of hatred

✅ A ballot system for second and third Working Holiday visas, together with a regional work requirement

✅ Working Holiday visa processing times to be stabilised at three months

⚠️ The Government has announced these measures, but the official release does not yet provide commencement dates or detailed transitional arrangements.

AIS Migration will provide further information once the changes, implementation dates and eligibility requirements are formally confirmed.

09/09/2026

🚨 SUBCLASS 189 INVITATION ROUND – COMING SOON! 🇦🇺

Are you waiting for a Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) invitation?

The next SkillSelect invitation round is expected by 30 September 2026, so now is the time to make sure your EOI is up to date and your points are correctly claimed.

📌 What happened in the last round?

On 4 June 2026, the Department issued 10,000 invitations for the Subclass 189 visa.

Some of the occupation groups that featured strongly included:

🔨 Trades
• Carpenter – 65 points
• Electrician (General) – 65 points
• Plumber (General) – 65 points
• Bricklayer – 65 points
• Wall and Floor Tiler – 65 points

🏥 Health
• Registered Nurses – from 75 points
• General Practitioner – 75 points
• Physiotherapist – 75 points
• Occupational Therapist – 75 points
• Midwife – 75 points

📚 Education & Community
• Secondary School Teacher – 75 points
• Special Needs Teacher – 75 points
• Social Worker – 75 points

👷 Other occupations, including engineering, construction, science and professional occupations, also received invitations, with required points varying considerably between occupations.

⚠️ Remember: Previous invitation scores do not guarantee an invitation in the next round. Invitation outcomes depend on your occupation, points score, EOI date and the Department’s priorities for the particular round.

✅ Waiting for a 189 invitation?
✅ Not sure whether your EOI points are correct?
✅ Could you increase your points before the next round?

Contact AIS Immigration Solutions to discuss your skilled migration options.

📞 Contact our team today.

31/07/2026

🚨 **MAJOR CHANGE TO SKILLED VISA PROCESSING PRIORITIES**

Effective **25 July 2026**, Ministerial Direction 119 replaced Ministerial Direction 105 and introduced new processing priorities for many Australian skilled visas.

Under Direction 119, applications are prioritised according to the applicant’s **location at the time of application** and their **nominated occupation**:

1️⃣ Onshore applicants in law enforcement or defence occupations
2️⃣ Offshore applicants in law enforcement or defence occupations
3️⃣ Onshore applicants in construction, healthcare or teaching occupations
4️⃣ All other onshore applicants
5️⃣ All other offshore applicants

**What has changed?**

✅ Construction occupations have been added as a priority sector.
✅ The Skills in Demand subclass 482 visa is now included.
✅ Onshore applicants generally receive priority over other applicants within the new framework.
✅ Regional employer-sponsored applications are no longer separately given the highest priority merely because the position is regional.
✅ The new priorities apply to both new applications and applications already lodged but not yet decided.

Direction 119 covers key skilled visas, including subclasses **186, 189, 190, 191, 482, 491 and 494**.

Please remember that this Direction changes the **order in which applications are processed**. It does not change visa eligibility requirements or guarantee faster processing.

Source: Australian Department of Home Affairs and section 499 of the Migration Act 1958.

23/07/2026

📢 Information Update

VFS Global has resumed operations for Indian Passport and Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) applications in Australia.

Applications are now being accepted.

For more information or to begin your application, visit the official VFS Global website:

[object Object] | VFS India

01/07/2026

Visa fees increased - check before you lodge!

Get your application prepared properly before paying the new fees.

🚨 Australian visa fees have increased!

From 1 July 2026, many popular Australian visa application fees have changed.

Some main applicant fees now include:

✅ Student visa 500 — from AUD2,500
✅ Temporary Graduate visa 485 — from AUD5,750
✅ Skills in Demand visa 482 — from AUD4,015
✅ Skilled Independent visa 189 — from AUD6,135
✅ Skilled Nominated 190 / Regional 491 — from AUD6,140
✅ Partner visa — from AUD11,710

Planning to lodge soon? Make sure you check the correct fee, eligibility requirements and documents before applying.

11/06/2026

🚨 Subclass 189 Invitation Round
Unofficial occupations reportedly invited – June 2026

Have you recently received a Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa invitation?

An unofficial, crowdsourced list suggests that invitations may have been issued to applicants in a range of occupations, including:

👩‍⚕️ Health Professionals
Registered Nurses, Midwives, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Psychologists, General Practitioners, Medical Laboratory Scientists

👷 Trades & Construction
Electricians, Carpenters, Bricklayers, Wall and Floor Tilers, Glaziers, Welders, Metal Fabricators, Construction Project Managers

👩‍🏫 Education & Community Services
Secondary School Teachers, Early Childhood Teachers, Social Workers

⚙️ Engineering & Professional Occupations
Engineering Managers, Mining Engineers, Petroleum Engineers, Telecommunications Engineers, Architects, Solicitors, Management Consultants, Environmental Consultants, Agricultural Scientists, Statisticians

📌 Please note: This list is unofficial and based on reports shared by applicants and migration communities. It has not yet been confirmed by the Department of Home Affairs.

✅ Received an invitation?
Now is the time to make sure your visa application, points claims and documents are correct before lodgement.

❌ Did not receive an invitation?
We can review your EOI and discuss other options, including 190, 491 or employer-sponsored visas.

📩 Message AIS Migration Solutions today to book a consultation.