Australia | State Sponsorship

Skilled Migration: The Ideal Path to Australia
Skilled migration has long been considered a low-cost route to move to Australia. However, with competition for the 189 Independent Skilled Visa becoming increasingly fierce, invitation scores for most occupations have surged to 95 points or higher. For applicants with insufficient EOI (Expression of Interest) points, successfully applying for an 189 visa is almost akin to winning the lottery.
That said, certain applicants with exceptional qualifications—such as those working in industries under the Global Talent Independent (GTI) program or critical sectors like healthcare—tend to have a significantly higher chance of success.
Case Study: From Nurse to Immigration Success
Ms. C, under 32 years of age, graduated from the Hospital Authority’s School of Nursing with a Higher Diploma in Nursing (HD Nursing). She subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSc Nursing) from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and has six years of experience as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the emergency department. Although she held a stable nursing position in Hong Kong, she sought to immigrate without pursuing further studies and approached Oceanus Strategic for professional advice.
Registered nurses are classified as a critical occupation on Australia’s skilled migration list, making them eligible for the 189 Independent Skilled Visa. However, Ms. C’s EOI score was only 65 due to her IELTS results meeting the basic requirement but not exceeding it. This score was insufficient to secure an invitation under the general skilled migration criteria.
To increase her chances of success, we recommended applying for the 190 State-Sponsored Visa for Queensland. Like the 189 visa, the 190 visa grants permanent residency in Australia but requires state government sponsorship and a commitment to reside in the sponsoring state for at least two years. Additionally, the 190 visa provides an extra 5 points for the EOI, which can be crucial for applicants with borderline scores.
Following our advice, Ms. C promptly prepared her skills assessment documents and submitted her EOI. Within less than a month, she successfully secured Queensland state sponsorship. Five months after lodging her visa application, she received her invitation to move to Brisbane. We also assisted her in purchasing her first home in the area.
The Role of Professional Consultants
Skilled migration success depends not only on an applicant’s qualifications and policy timing but also on the expertise of professional migration consultants. A well-informed consultant can provide critical advice and significantly boost an applicant’s chances of success.
The advisory team at Oceanus Strategic has over a decade of experience in migration and business consulting. We welcome you to contact us for a personalized migration plan tailored to your circumstances.