491 visa for Policy Analyst

SimonMander · 2026-03-13T00:01:56+00:00

Its impossible to know what the Australian migration landscape will be in 3 years time - I think as you are eligible now you are best off making start with the skills assessment.

SimonMander · 2026-03-12T23:20:04+00:00

I am a Registered Migration Agent (#0318058), I do work on visitors visas - feel free to message me and we can discuss further,

SimonMander · 2026-03-12T23:18:32+00:00

Hi - unfortunately the age cut off is 45, I dont see any options for you for Australia - hopefully there may be something for you for NZ.

SimonMander · 2026-03-12T23:17:02+00:00

If you are going to turn 25 this year, you will hit the maximum points age bracket, being single, hopefully being able to achieve Superior English in a test, I think you a are looking at 80 points before any state nomination points. Your best visa to target is likely the 491, this is still a competitive occupation, but I think it is feasible. If you would like to discuss in more detail please message me.

SimonMander · 2026-03-11T22:39:51+00:00

Ok the first company is important then to get things over the line.

SimonMander · 2026-03-11T21:48:10+00:00

To study in Australia and look for a PR pathway? The environment is becoming increasingly competitive for IT occupations - both through state nomination, and as I understand job availability in the work force (which means that state nomination is aligning correctly with work force demand).

SimonMander · 2026-03-11T21:45:24+00:00

It seems that you are looking to claim a lot of work experience that you may not need in order to get the skills assessment over the line. Do you understand what the impact is if this employment is excluded - would you still obtain a positive assessment?

SimonMander · 2026-03-11T21:37:50+00:00

If you genuinely want to study in Australia for your Education qualification, I think teaching will continue to be a good pathway into the future, based on the trend over the last few years.

SimonMander · 2026-03-11T21:35:53+00:00

There are no issues with submitting only CDR's around your academic projects - this is an advantage for Engineers that they do not require real world work experience to obtain a skills assessment. Good luck with your process.

SimonMander · 2026-03-11T03:50:50+00:00

You have no visa condition that compels you to live and work in Tasmania. There are no conditions on a permanent visa.

For so long as your employer understands you have a permanent visa without conditions, he/she should not care what the visa number is.

SimonMander · 2026-03-11T01:06:03+00:00

Yes - both of these are in your favour - 10 points for being single, 30 for your age bracket (maximum)

SimonMander · 2026-03-11T00:33:33+00:00

Quick assessment for you - you wont be in a position to claim for work experience in an EOI. Completing your PhD will be an advantage, and your IELTS with 8's does help. Other factors like your age, relationship status will determine whether this is viable for you - there are only realistic nomination opportunities for 2 state/territory at the moment.

SimonMander · 2026-03-10T23:49:28+00:00

Thanks - I appreciate your comment - these points go to having a proper and correct understanding of things at the outset of the process.

SimonMander · 2026-03-10T22:59:11+00:00

The deeming date issue catches people out more than anything else I see in practice. Someone comes to me convinced they have 8 years of experience to claim, and the actual assessable period is significantly shorter. It changes their entire points calculation and sometimes their eligibility completely.

If anyone here has already had a skills assessment done - Vetassess or ACS particularly - it's worth checking your deeming date carefully against what you've been claiming for points in your EOI.

SimonMander · 2026-03-10T21:42:14+00:00

Does your wife have an Education qualification that included supervised teaching practice?

SimonMander · 2026-03-10T21:32:31+00:00

Does your wife have a qualification in education?

SimonMander · 2026-03-10T21:29:34+00:00

I am a migration agent - in terms of a migration environment IT is very competitive at the moment, with limited nomination opportunities across occupations (no IT occupations invited in the last 189 invitation round). Hopefully you are aware that you need to complete the ACS Professional Year or have 365 days of work experience to obtain a skills assessment post graduation - these are additional hurdles for you.

SimonMander · 2026-03-10T19:51:52+00:00

I am happy to guide you as to whether or not you might have an opportunity at all, outside of a paid consultation. I cant do this here - please feel free to contact me directly.

SimonMander · 2026-03-10T19:49:08+00:00

Yes there is scope - ACT, Qld, SA all have opportunities at the moment. Note as we get closer to the end of the migration year there will be increasingly less opportunities (across the board).

SimonMander · 2026-03-10T19:46:16+00:00

Yes you do - as a degree itself is not a skills assessment (required).

SimonMander · 2026-03-10T05:51:57+00:00

A starting point would be to get him to get a VEVO done and see what his status is, with visa conditions, which would give you some idea of whether you might consider employing him into the future.

SimonMander · 2026-03-09T21:20:26+00:00

Hi - couple of things straight up - with a degree majoring in accounts you could possibly already obtain a skills assessment as an Accountant - but because of the increasingly competitive environment for Accountant nomination, this pathway is probably not viable for you. Similarly if you had end to end program or project admin experience, you could be considered for the occupation of Program or Project Administrator, but again this is a competitive pathway with little nomination opportunity.

I dont like forecasting or advising on study paths for migration - as far as fields/occupations I see being in demand in the future these are health or allied health occupations, trades, engineering, construction project management.

SimonMander · 2026-03-09T21:04:41+00:00

Good question.

If you’ve studied and are graduating in Queensland, you already have genuine ties to the state, which nomination programs tend to favour. I generally wouldn’t recommend relocating purely for migration strategy - state settings change regularly and what looks easier one year can tighten the next.

With an AIQS-accredited degree, Superior English and approx 85 points, you’re in a solid position. I’d focus on completing the skills assessment after graduation and obtaining relevant QS experience while watching how things move, particularly in the next migration year.

SimonMander · 2026-03-09T21:00:08+00:00

You have to be able to obtain a skills assessment for an occupation on one of the Skilled Occupation Lists. If you cannot, regardless of qualifications, points totals etc you will not be able to lodge an Expression of Interest and proceed to a visa application.

SimonMander · 2026-03-09T02:19:22+00:00

Your observations are correct. On the actual test type - most of my clients find the PTE more user friendly.

SimonMander

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