Questions regarding visa 491 (Skilled Regional) & other general migration questions

EricTC · April 2022

Hi po. Right now, I am inclined on pursuing a visa 491 (Skilled Regional) since I already got a pre-invite. Moreover, I would like to ask some questions:

Upon arrival in Australia, what will happen to your PAGIBIG, PhilHealth & SSS contribution? Basta hindi na lang po ba kayo nagbayad o may gagawin pang process to note na magma-migrate na?
What are the needed documents na kailangan ipresent sa Philippine airport?
What are the needes documents to bring in Australia, also what are the documents needed when looking for work?
For visa 491 (Skilled Regional) holder, ok lang ba kumuha ng work na di aligned sa assessed skill mo once nasa Australia na? Will it affect your future application for PR visa?
How to apply for a PR visa if you are holding a visa 491 (Skilled regional)?
For visa 491 (Skilled regional) holder, wherein one can only live, work & study in one specific region, is it OK to have an outsourced job outside of your region? Like a full time outsourced job, doing it on a work from home setup.

maguero · April 2022

@EricTC

I'm on a 489 visa but can answer some of your questions since they're the same for both visas.

1) I just stopped paying after I left my job in the Philippines. There is no need to inform them that you're leaving. Once you get your PR, you can go back to SSS & withdraw your funds. Sadly, we can't withdraw any of our contributions to Pag-ibig & PhilHealth.

3) There is something called a 100 point check in Australia to verify your identity for certain transactions. You can Google this & make sure you have hard & soft copies of the IDs to make things easier for you when you get here. If you aren't going to get a local driver's license right away, I suggest you get a Proof of Age card from your state just so you have an Australian issued ID with your picture & address. The date when your picture was taken will also be on the card so you can use this as one of your proofs of residency in a regional area when you finally apply for PR. The Medicare card doesn't include a picture or address. In terms of job hunting, some employers will ask for your visa details so just keep a hard copy of your visa grant handy for easy reference. Some employers will ask you to send them a copy of your visa details via VEVO, which you can quickly do online.

4) You can get any legitimate job. For 489 visa the requirement was just to have full time work for 1 year. However, for 491 the requirement is to have an income of $54k per year for 3 years, so just make sure you meet that requirement.

5) Once you meet the requirements for a 191 PR visa just lodge an application in IMMI. For 489 the pathway is the 887 PR visa. I lodged my application the day after I complied with the 489 visa requirements. You don't have wait for an invitation or a prompt to lodge the PR application.

EricTC · April 2022

Wow. Thank you po sa detailed response. May ffup question lang po ako, in general madali lang po ba makakuha ng $54k-per-year job or challenging po? Thank you.

maguero · April 2022

If you are able to get a full time job in your profession, you will likely earn more than $54k because that's just a little over minimum wage.

EricTC · April 2022

@maguero said:
If you are able to get a full time job in your profession, you will likely earn more than $54k because that's just a little over minimum wage.

Noted po. Thank you.

tigerlance · April 2022

@maguero said:
@EricTC

I'm on a 489 visa but can answer some of your questions since they're the same for both visas.

1) I just stopped paying after I left my job in the Philippines. There is no need to inform them that you're leaving. Once you get your PR, you can go back to SSS & withdraw your funds. Sadly, we can't withdraw any of our contributions to Pag-ibig & PhilHealth.

3) There is something called a 100 point check in Australia to verify your identity for certain transactions. You can Google this & make sure you have hard & soft copies of the IDs to make things easier for you when you get here. If you aren't going to get a local driver's license right away, I suggest you get a Proof of Age card from your state just so you have an Australian issued ID with your picture & address. The date when your picture was taken will also be on the card so you can use this as one of your proofs of residency in a regional area when you finally apply for PR. The Medicare card doesn't include a picture or address. In terms of job hunting, some employers will ask for your visa details so just keep a hard copy of your visa grant handy for easy reference. Some employers will ask you to send them a copy of your visa details via VEVO, which you can quickly do online.

4) You can get any legitimate job. For 489 visa the requirement was just to have full time work for 1 year. However, for 491 the requirement is to have an income of $54k per year for 3 years, so just make sure you meet that requirement.

5) Once you meet the requirements for a 191 PR visa just lodge an application in IMMI. For 489 the pathway is the 887 PR visa. I lodged my application the day after I complied with the 489 visa requirements. You don't have wait for an invitation or a prompt to lodge the PR application.

Yung Pag-ibig pwede po siya iwithdraw pag nakuha mo na yung PR. Pero yung SSS, pagdating mo na 60, saka kalang makakuha ng pension or lump sum.

Unsullied_06 · April 2022

Hello good day po. Question lang po regarding Visa 491, since closed na yung March window para sa FY 2021-22, ang ginawa ko nakadraft lang muna yung EOI ko sa SkillSelect for 491. Tama po ba ko ng pagkakaintindi na required hintayin magbukas yung next submission window para sa ROI submission? Kasi iniisip ko walang sense kahit gumawa na 491 EOI ng wala ka naman corresponding ROI tama po ba yun? Lumabas na po kasi kahapon positive EA assessment ko kaya yung EOI for Visa 189 at 190 nasubmit ko na. Eh gusto ko na din po ayusin yung sa 491 sana since realistically speaking dun mas may chance mainvite nowadays. Patulong po sa may alam please. Salamat.

Unsullied_06 · April 2022

Hello good day po. Question lang po regarding Visa 491, since closed na yung March window para sa FY 2021-22, ang ginawa ko nakadraft lang muna yung EOI ko sa SkillSelect for 491. Tama po ba ko ng pagkakaintindi na required hintayin magbukas yung next submission window para sa ROI submission? Kasi iniisip ko walang sense kahit gumawa na 491 EOI ng wala ka naman corresponding ROI tama po ba yun? Lumabas na po kasi kahapon positive EA assessment ko kaya yung EOI for Visa 189 at 190 nasubmit ko na. Eh gusto ko na din po ayusin yung sa 491 sana since realistically speaking dun mas may chance mainvite nowadays. Patulong po sa may alam please. Salamat.

tigerlance · April 2022

@Unsullied_06 said:
Hello good day po. Question lang po regarding Visa 491, since closed na yung March window para sa FY 2021-22, ang ginawa ko nakadraft lang muna yung EOI ko sa SkillSelect for 491. Tama po ba ko ng pagkakaintindi na required hintayin magbukas yung next submission window para sa ROI submission? Kasi iniisip ko walang sense kahit gumawa na 491 EOI ng wala ka naman corresponding ROI tama po ba yun? Lumabas na po kasi kahapon positive EA assessment ko kaya yung EOI for Visa 189 at 190 nasubmit ko na. Eh gusto ko na din po ayusin yung sa 491 sana since realistically speaking dun mas may chance mainvite nowadays. Patulong po sa may alam please. Salamat.

Unless, di ka pa confident sa points mo kasi magdadagdag ka pa ng work experience, NAATI certification, and PTE Superior. Pwede naman kasi magsubmit ng EOI agad then update update kung may idadagdag ng points. Then pag may open sa regional na pasok ka sa criteria (if onshore offshore, job experience reqment, PTE superior reqment, job offer requirement). Apply ka na agad pagclock strikes 12am AU time.
Kasi siyempre ang pipiliin nila, mataas na points, pasok sa criteria, pasok sa occupation, and kung anong oras nagsubmit.

Unsullied_06 · April 2022

@tigerlance said:

@Unsullied_06 said:
Hello good day po. Question lang po regarding Visa 491, since closed na yung March window para sa FY 2021-22, ang ginawa ko nakadraft lang muna yung EOI ko sa SkillSelect for 491. Tama po ba ko ng pagkakaintindi na required hintayin magbukas yung next submission window para sa ROI submission? Kasi iniisip ko walang sense kahit gumawa na 491 EOI ng wala ka naman corresponding ROI tama po ba yun? Lumabas na po kasi kahapon positive EA assessment ko kaya yung EOI for Visa 189 at 190 nasubmit ko na. Eh gusto ko na din po ayusin yung sa 491 sana since realistically speaking dun mas may chance mainvite nowadays. Patulong po sa may alam please. Salamat.

Unless, di ka pa confident sa points mo kasi magdadagdag ka pa ng work experience, NAATI certification, and PTE Superior. Pwede naman kasi magsubmit ng EOI agad then update update kung may idadagdag ng points. Then pag may open sa regional na pasok ka sa criteria (if onshore offshore, job experience reqment, PTE superior reqment, job offer requirement). Apply ka na agad pagclock strikes 12am AU time.
Kasi siyempre ang pipiliin nila, mataas na points, pasok sa criteria, pasok sa occupation, and kung anong oras nagsubmit.

Thank you po Sir @tigerlance. Balak ko nga po magretake ng PTE sa May o June to aim for superior. Pero yung NAATI pag-iipunan ko pa po at mahal din talaga. Regarding work experience, nagresign po ako to focus dito pero since tapos ko na isubmit yung EOI ko sa 189 at 190 eh balak ko bumalik na po muna sa local job while waiting.

EricTC · April 2022

@Unsullied_06 said:
Hello good day po. Question lang po regarding Visa 491, since closed na yung March window para sa FY 2021-22, ang ginawa ko nakadraft lang muna yung EOI ko sa SkillSelect for 491. Tama po ba ko ng pagkakaintindi na required hintayin magbukas yung next submission window para sa ROI submission? Kasi iniisip ko walang sense kahit gumawa na 491 EOI ng wala ka naman corresponding ROI tama po ba yun? Lumabas na po kasi kahapon positive EA assessment ko kaya yung EOI for Visa 189 at 190 nasubmit ko na. Eh gusto ko na din po ayusin yung sa 491 sana since realistically speaking dun mas may chance mainvite nowadays. Patulong po sa may alam please. Salamat.

Yes you need to wait for the next submission window. Wayback January 2022, I submitted ROI for Sydney RDA pero di ako na invite. March 2022 came, I submitted to a different region which is Northern Rivers and luckily got invited. Try lang ng try and pray.

margotrobbins · April 2022

Pwede po ba makahingi ng link kung saan makikita yung sched of submission window for regional? Thanks!

@EricTC said:

@Unsullied_06 said:
Hello good day po. Question lang po regarding Visa 491, since closed na yung March window para sa FY 2021-22, ang ginawa ko nakadraft lang muna yung EOI ko sa SkillSelect for 491. Tama po ba ko ng pagkakaintindi na required hintayin magbukas yung next submission window para sa ROI submission? Kasi iniisip ko walang sense kahit gumawa na 491 EOI ng wala ka naman corresponding ROI tama po ba yun? Lumabas na po kasi kahapon positive EA assessment ko kaya yung EOI for Visa 189 at 190 nasubmit ko na. Eh gusto ko na din po ayusin yung sa 491 sana since realistically speaking dun mas may chance mainvite nowadays. Patulong po sa may alam please. Salamat.

Yes you need to wait for the next submission window. Wayback January 2022, I submitted ROI for Sydney RDA pero di ako na invite. March 2022 came, I submitted to a different region which is Northern Rivers and luckily got invited. Try lang ng try and pray.

Unsullied_06 · April 2022

@EricTC said:

@Unsullied_06 said:
Hello good day po. Question lang po regarding Visa 491, since closed na yung March window para sa FY 2021-22, ang ginawa ko nakadraft lang muna yung EOI ko sa SkillSelect for 491. Tama po ba ko ng pagkakaintindi na required hintayin magbukas yung next submission window para sa ROI submission? Kasi iniisip ko walang sense kahit gumawa na 491 EOI ng wala ka naman corresponding ROI tama po ba yun? Lumabas na po kasi kahapon positive EA assessment ko kaya yung EOI for Visa 189 at 190 nasubmit ko na. Eh gusto ko na din po ayusin yung sa 491 sana since realistically speaking dun mas may chance mainvite nowadays. Patulong po sa may alam please. Salamat.

Yes you need to wait for the next submission window. Wayback January 2022, I submitted ROI for Sydney RDA pero di ako na invite. March 2022 came, I submitted to a different region which is Northern Rivers and luckily got invited. Try lang ng try and pray.

Thank you Sir @EricTC.

margotrobbins · April 2022

and saan po makikita if pasok sa occupation list ng certain region ang skills mo?

@margotrobbins said:
Pwede po ba makahingi ng link kung saan makikita yung sched of submission window for regional? Thanks!

@EricTC said:

@Unsullied_06 said:
Hello good day po. Question lang po regarding Visa 491, since closed na yung March window para sa FY 2021-22, ang ginawa ko nakadraft lang muna yung EOI ko sa SkillSelect for 491. Tama po ba ko ng pagkakaintindi na required hintayin magbukas yung next submission window para sa ROI submission? Kasi iniisip ko walang sense kahit gumawa na 491 EOI ng wala ka naman corresponding ROI tama po ba yun? Lumabas na po kasi kahapon positive EA assessment ko kaya yung EOI for Visa 189 at 190 nasubmit ko na. Eh gusto ko na din po ayusin yung sa 491 sana since realistically speaking dun mas may chance mainvite nowadays. Patulong po sa may alam please. Salamat.

Yes you need to wait for the next submission window. Wayback January 2022, I submitted ROI for Sydney RDA pero di ako na invite. March 2022 came, I submitted to a different region which is Northern Rivers and luckily got invited. Try lang ng try and pray.

Unsullied_06 · April 2022

@margotrobbins said:
Pwede po ba makahingi ng link kung saan makikita yung sched of submission window for regional? Thanks!

@EricTC said:

@Unsullied_06 said:
Hello good day po. Question lang po regarding Visa 491, since closed na yung March window para sa FY 2021-22, ang ginawa ko nakadraft lang muna yung EOI ko sa SkillSelect for 491. Tama po ba ko ng pagkakaintindi na required hintayin magbukas yung next submission window para sa ROI submission? Kasi iniisip ko walang sense kahit gumawa na 491 EOI ng wala ka naman corresponding ROI tama po ba yun? Lumabas na po kasi kahapon positive EA assessment ko kaya yung EOI for Visa 189 at 190 nasubmit ko na. Eh gusto ko na din po ayusin yung sa 491 sana since realistically speaking dun mas may chance mainvite nowadays. Patulong po sa may alam please. Salamat.

Yes you need to wait for the next submission window. Wayback January 2022, I submitted ROI for Sydney RDA pero di ako na invite. March 2022 came, I submitted to a different region which is Northern Rivers and luckily got invited. Try lang ng try and pray.

Ma'am @margotrobbins dito ko po nakita under 'Submission Windows'.

Unsullied_06 · April 2022

@margotrobbins said:
and saan po makikita if pasok sa occupation list ng certain region ang skills mo?

@margotrobbins said:
Pwede po ba makahingi ng link kung saan makikita yung sched of submission window for regional? Thanks!

@EricTC said:

@Unsullied_06 said:
Hello good day po. Question lang po regarding Visa 491, since closed na yung March window para sa FY 2021-22, ang ginawa ko nakadraft lang muna yung EOI ko sa SkillSelect for 491. Tama po ba ko ng pagkakaintindi na required hintayin magbukas yung next submission window para sa ROI submission? Kasi iniisip ko walang sense kahit gumawa na 491 EOI ng wala ka naman corresponding ROI tama po ba yun? Lumabas na po kasi kahapon positive EA assessment ko kaya yung EOI for Visa 189 at 190 nasubmit ko na. Eh gusto ko na din po ayusin yung sa 491 sana since realistically speaking dun mas may chance mainvite nowadays. Patulong po sa may alam please. Salamat.

Yes you need to wait for the next submission window. Wayback January 2022, I submitted ROI for Sydney RDA pero di ako na invite. March 2022 came, I submitted to a different region which is Northern Rivers and luckily got invited. Try lang ng try and pray.

Kailangan niyo po ivisit lahat yung pages per state para makita niyo kung pasok kayo sa list kasi magkakaiba po yun

EricTC · April 2022

@margotrobbins said:
Pwede po ba makahingi ng link kung saan makikita yung sched of submission window for regional? Thanks!

@EricTC said:

@Unsullied_06 said:
Hello good day po. Question lang po regarding Visa 491, since closed na yung March window para sa FY 2021-22, ang ginawa ko nakadraft lang muna yung EOI ko sa SkillSelect for 491. Tama po ba ko ng pagkakaintindi na required hintayin magbukas yung next submission window para sa ROI submission? Kasi iniisip ko walang sense kahit gumawa na 491 EOI ng wala ka naman corresponding ROI tama po ba yun? Lumabas na po kasi kahapon positive EA assessment ko kaya yung EOI for Visa 189 at 190 nasubmit ko na. Eh gusto ko na din po ayusin yung sa 491 sana since realistically speaking dun mas may chance mainvite nowadays. Patulong po sa may alam please. Salamat.

Yes you need to wait for the next submission window. Wayback January 2022, I submitted ROI for Sydney RDA pero di ako na invite. March 2022 came, I submitted to a different region which is Northern Rivers and luckily got invited. Try lang ng try and pray.

Hi. You can view the occupation list for NSW here:

https://www.nsw.gov.au/topics/visas-and-migration/skilled-visas/nsw-skilled-occupation-lists

patl · April 2022

Totoo po ba na may mga strategies ang mga MARA registered agents para makakuha agad ng invite? Any recommendations/feedbacks?

tigerlance · April 2022

@patl said:
Totoo po ba na may mga strategies ang mga MARA registered agents para makakuha agad ng invite? Any recommendations/feedbacks?

Sa tingin ko naman depende parin sa iyo yung completeness ang application mo and kung may baging rules updated sila. Syempre pag DIY dapat lagi ka updated sa mga bagong rules. Doon lamanag ang MARA agents kasi yun ang trabaho nila

RheaMARN1171933 · April 2022

@patl said:
Totoo po ba na may mga strategies ang mga MARA registered agents para makakuha agad ng invite? Any recommendations/feedbacks?

More educated/professional strategies not so much as “strategy”….you have to understand the differences between using an agent/DIY/seeking advice from non professional. The insights you get from an agent outweighs any information you get from your research and non-professionals. After all, to qualify as an agent, you need to do a post grad in immigration law and they have internal knowledge not known to an individual so agents will definitely know better than anyone/any source you get your info from. With own research and advice from non professionals, it’s still subject to many interpretations so you won’t get any peace of mind with your application unlike if you know that you’re being guided by a professional. I’m not saying this because I’m an agent, I’m saying this from my personal experience when I was like everyone here in the forum on Australian migration journey - many moons ago.

TINKALAW · April 2022

Hi. Good morning po. Sa mga SC 491 visa holders at nakarating na sa AU tatanong ko lang po sana about sa subclass 491 state nominated, kung sa Illawarra NSW RDA ka nakareceived ng pre invite, dun ka lang ba allowed mag stay at mag work or pwede ka mag stay sa ibang regional area within NSW which is the state na nagbigay ng nomination?

Thank you po in advance♥️

batocabe1003 · April 2022

@tigerlance said:

@Unsullied_06 said:
Hello good day po. Question lang po regarding Visa 491, since closed na yung March window para sa FY 2021-22, ang ginawa ko nakadraft lang muna yung EOI ko sa SkillSelect for 491. Tama po ba ko ng pagkakaintindi na required hintayin magbukas yung next submission window para sa ROI submission? Kasi iniisip ko walang sense kahit gumawa na 491 EOI ng wala ka naman corresponding ROI tama po ba yun? Lumabas na po kasi kahapon positive EA assessment ko kaya yung EOI for Visa 189 at 190 nasubmit ko na. Eh gusto ko na din po ayusin yung sa 491 sana since realistically speaking dun mas may chance mainvite nowadays. Patulong po sa may alam please. Salamat.

Unless, di ka pa confident sa points mo kasi magdadagdag ka pa ng work experience, NAATI certification, and PTE Superior. Pwede naman kasi magsubmit ng EOI agad then update update kung may idadagdag ng points. Then pag may open sa regional na pasok ka sa criteria (if onshore offshore, job experience reqment, PTE superior reqment, job offer requirement). Apply ka na agad pagclock strikes 12am AU time.
Kasi siyempre ang pipiliin nila, mataas na points, pasok sa criteria, pasok sa occupation, and kung anong oras nagsubmit.

@tigerlance , question, tama ba ang pagkaka-understand ko na "No need ng ROI kapag 190 visa ang ini-aapply mo? EOI lang ang ginawa ko kapag 190 visa eh, tama ba?

batocabe1003 · April 2022

@tigerlance @EricTC,

pwede pong magtanung?

no need ng ROI kapag visa 190? tama po ba?
pang visa 491 lang po yung EOI and ROI, tama po ba?

OmadOzira · April 2022

@RheaMARN1171933 agree with you. Bago ako nag GO for process pinag aralan ko muna ang hirap makakuha ng detailed and exact information sa mga co-engineers. It is helpful YES pero every month may update sa process so hindi din nalalaman agad kaya I have decided to hire Migration Agent kasi mas expert sila sa lahat ng proseso. So far my Agent is very good naman legit and hassle free on my part basta ma provide ko yung documents na kaylangan isubmit. Para sa mga nag di-DIY ok din naman to save money pero kaylangan talagang pagaralan maigi yung immigration process para hindi maligaw sa mga kaylangang gawin.

EricTC · April 2022

@batocabe1003 said:
@tigerlance @EricTC,

pwede pong magtanung?

no need ng ROI kapag visa 190? tama po ba?

pang visa 491 lang po yung EOI and ROI, tama po ba?

Yes
Yes

EricTC · May 2022

May add'l query po ako, for those visa 491 (Skilled) holder, paano or saan po kayo nakahanap ng accommodation and employer? For regional areas, parang mas challenging po kasi maghanap.

Also, before flying to Aus, nakahanap na po ba kayo ng employer & accommodation or mismong sa Aus na po kayo naghanap? Thank you!

pancakedays · May 2022

Hello, I just have clarification in terms of requirements. To prove your employment history, is COE (withe salary, job description tenure period) enough? And do I need to have it certified/apostille?

Thank you

tigerlance · May 2022

@pancakedays said:
Hello, I just have clarification in terms of requirements. To prove your employment history, is COE (withe salary, job description tenure period) enough? And do I need to have it certified/apostille?

Thank you

No need for apostille certifcation.
As long as you are compliant with the requirement employment history with respect to your occupation (related assessing authority). There is no problem.

Example: Engineers Australia, ACS...

EricTC · May 2022

Question lang po, if maguupgrade na ng visa after 3 years from 491 to visa 191 (PR), need pa ba uli ng English exam & other assessments? Thank you.

MLBS · May 2022

@EricTC said:
Question lang po, if maguupgrade na ng visa after 3 years from 491 to visa 191 (PR), need pa ba uli ng English exam & other assessments? Thank you.

no need for these. bayad nalang ng visa lodging fee