EOI Process and Information

So when you have both ACS (or assessment from other assessing authority) and IELTS with you - you can Lodge EOI through this page - by clicking on 'Submit EOI' button on the right, like given in the image on right.

First the good news - EOI is free of any fees :-) and you do NOT need to upload any documents to submit EOI. But make sure you fill in right details, as points will be calculated based on that and you would have to provide documents while lodging visa (if invited) - failing which your application will be rejected and fees may not be refunded!
While submitting EOI - you need to mention your Skill Assessment reference number and IELTS TRF number. You also need to fill in details of spouse's IELTS TRF and Skill Assessment reference number if you are claiming spouse points.

Now fill up EOI - it's the your usual information that they ask and you fill in. While filling out EOI - you can opt for one or both of 189 and 190 in EOI - but you can not receive invite for both 189 and 190.

If you receive one invite then your EOI will be in suspended state - in this state you can not receive another invitation.

189 invites comes through rounds that happen generally on 1st and 3rd Monday (0000 hours) of each month, these invites are based on points that you have claimed - applicant with highest points are invited first. And if points are same then in order of effective EOI submission date. According to the trend anyone with >=65 points receives invites definitely. And if you have 60 points - you may or may not receive invite depending on number of invites and number of applicants - but this is just what's the trend at time of writing this information (2013 start).

If you are opting 190 in your EOI - then generally you need to first submit your EOI then apply for respective State Sponsorship (SS) - as you may need to fill EOI number while filling the sponsorship form - so that they are linked. You would receive automatic 190 invite when SS is approved (this is how 190 invites are different than 189 invites). You should first check which state you want to opt - as they have different criteria/fees/policy/job-market. Each state has list of occupation codes that they are open to invite at a particular time - its important that you check their current list on their site. Also - some state would not invite you if you have opted multiple states to sponsor you. That is why its essential that you first research that which state will suit you and go for it. Two reason why you might have to go for 190:

• You don't have enough points for a general skilled visa; SS provides 5 extra points OR 
• Your skill may only be on the CSOL. Check requirements on Australia PR Eligibility Criteria

Various states that you can opt for:

ACT: Home - Canberra - Create your future

NSW: Live & work in NSW - NSW Trade & Investment: Business in NSW

NT: Business and Skilled Migration

QLD: Skilled migration to Queensland, Australia

SA: https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/snol

TASMANIA: Migrating to Tasmania | Skilled migration

VICTORIA: Skilled Migrants - Live in Victoria

WA: http://www.migration.wa.gov.au/Pages...Australia.aspx

Also, once invited through 190 - benefit is that CO allocation and visa grant is quicker than 189 as 190 has more priority. But downside is that you have a moral binding to live and work in state that sponsored you for first 2 years of your stay in Australia.

Both invite process works separately but when invite from either 189 or 190 is received then you would not receive another invite until your first invite expires (after 2 months) and you have still not applied for Visa.

Ceiling: Also check the ceiling and current invite count for your occupation code that has set for a certain year on this skill-select link. Generally report  is populated with a bit old data - but you can get the idea and they also publish which all occupation code's ceiling is reached. If ceiling has reached then invite will cease for this particular year (DIAC year is as per Australian Financial year: July to June). This affects bot 189 and 190 invites!

Note - You are supposed to submit single EOI - but there is no where mentioned that do not submit multiple EOIs. Few people I know have called up DIAC who were stuck with one EOI due to some complexity, they confirmed that you can lodge multiple EOIs; but before doing that - confirm with DIAC as it may be allowed only in some scenarios - or otherwise you might risk rejection on both EOIs !

Editing your EOI: You can edit your submitted EOI before getting an invite - and edit details - but if you alter details that change your points then your effective date of submission of EOI would change to date when you made these changes, if no such change is made which changed the points then effective date would be equal to EOI submission date only. This change in date might effect you as EOI invites is first come first serve if points matches. So if number of applicants whose points match > invites-left-to-be-sent-out; then invites are sent out on basis of effective date of submission of EOI.

I can not stress on this more that you HAVE to fill in correct details because if not done so - this will get your visa rejected later when you lodge and fail to produce evidence of claimed points with possibility of no return of Visa charges.

Post a comment below stating how did you like information here; also feel free to post any question or suggestion on any more information you want to be posted.

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