SkillSelect Update for May and June 2020
Immigration has just released SkillSelect data for the May and June 2020 rounds, showing a total 850 invitations issued across the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent and Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Family Sponsored) visa types.
Of these, 720 invitations went to 189 visa applicants, with a minimum points score of 85 in this visa subclass. The lowest points score for the 491 visa dropped to 70 points.
Pro-rata occupations:
Due to high levels of demand, certain occupations are issued invitations on a pro-rata basis. Places are first allocated to 189 EOIs, with remaining places issued to the 491 Family Sponsored EOIs.
Across the two rounds, only 'Other Engineering Professional' occupations received invitations, and only in the June round, as follows:
| Occupation ID | Description | Minimum Points Score | Latest date of EOI |
| 2339 | Other Engineering Professionals | 95 (SC189) | 03/2020 |
| 2339 | Other Engineering Professionals | 95 (SC491) | 12/2019 |
Where did the invitations go?
Unsurprisingly, almost 96% of invitations went to Medical and Scientific occupations, with the top three being:
- Registered Nurses - 488 invitations
- Other Medical Practitioners - 126 invitations
- General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers - 99 invitations
Medical Laboratory Scientists, Chemists, Life Scientists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, and Psychologists also received 15 to 25 invitations each.
Acacia's Advice
With the ongoing pandemic situation and delay on releasing the budget for this financial year, the Immigration invitation rounds are likely to be unpredictable and increasingly focused on immediate skill needs. As Australia's borders are still closed, offshore processing has slowed dramatically so migrants will need to be patient during this time. Onshore applicants should consider any temporary visa options to extend their stay while waiting for invitations and state nomination programs to recommence.
