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Aerial Survey Technician 491.
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Hi mate and thanks for checking in. I got a little excited when I saw your post (I thought this is it!) and I completely understand how disheartening the silence can feel, especially after all the work you’ve put in.
But from what you’ve described, I want to reassure you that your application is still very much in play.
You’re still within a normal response window. NSW received a massive volume of applications at the end of the last program year, and delays beyond the six-week estimate have been reported across the board. You’re not alone in this.
About contacting NSW:
You’ve already sent a proactive follow-up on 8 July, and they would have received your supporting documents. Since you’ve had no contact since then, and it’s now been more than four weeks since that request for further information, it would be reasonable to send a short and polite follow-up, just to confirm your documents were received and to check on your application’s progress.
You don’t need to send anything long or detailed. Something as simple as:
“Hi, I am writing to follow up on my NSW 491 nomination application submitted on [insert date]. I responded to your request for further information on 1 July and submitted additional documents on 8 July. I just wanted to confirm that my documents were received and to check if there are any updates on the status of my application. Please let me know if anything further is required from my side.”
Sending that won’t hurt your application and may prompt a review if your file has been waiting in the queue.
Hang in there, mate! Many people receive their nomination later than expected, especially during periods of high volume. Your application sounds solid, and you’ve taken all the right steps.
Let me know how they respond or if you have any other questions.
Warm regards,
Mark
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Thank you for your recent application for NSW nomination for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 491). After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that we are unable to approve your application at this time.
Reason for Refusal
The reason we refused your application is that you were unable to demonstrate 3 years offshore skilled employment which is a requirement.
Next steps
if you wish to be considered for NSW nomination again in the future, you must submit a new and correct EOI in SkillSelect. Noting that any future invitations are not guaranteed.=======
I am completely at a loss right now.
I have over 5 years of experience.
Vetassess assessed me with 2.88 years post date deemed skilled- employment
I provided significant further evidence for self employment of another 6month period.
Total experience in the position was 5 years and about 3months.
Vetassess post date deemed skilled experience – 2.88 years.
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I guess I can only resubmit a new eoi.
Might submit to vetassess again with self employment history and hope they deem me to have full 3.3years and then pray I get a new invite.
What a joke.
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Hi mate,
I’m really sorry to hear this. 😞 I can only imagine how disappointing and disheartening that outcome must feel after everything you’ve put into this process. You’ve worked incredibly hard to build your case and present the truth of your experience, and it’s frustrating when that effort isn’t acknowledged the way it should be.
From what you’ve described, it appears the core issue was that NSW relied strictly on the VETASSESS post-skilled date figure of 2.88 years and did not take into account the additional 6 months of self-employment evidence you submitted. This likely happened because it hadn’t been formally assessed by VETASSESS.
Here’s what you can do next:
1. Consider a New Skills Assessment Including Self-Employment
Yes, lodging a new VETASSESS assessment with your self-employment evidence is a valid step. If that assessment brings your post-skilled experience to at least 3 years, then you will have a stronger and more officially assessed basis for claiming those 5 points. It may also prevent this type of refusal from happening again, as your evidence would be certified by the relevant skills authority.2. Prepare a Fresh EOI
If you decide to go the re-assessment route, wait for the new VETASSESS outcome and then lodge a new EOI using the updated figure. Make sure your new EOI reflects only the experience recognised post-skilled date. This time, your self-employment period may push you over the threshold with confidence.It Sucks, but it’s not the ned of the journey.
Unfortunately, these kinds of rejections happen, and you’re far from the only one to have gone through it. It’s often not about your actual experience, but how closely your evidence aligns with the formal requirements of both the assessing body and the state authority. You’ve clearly done the work. It’s now about matching the right paperwork to the right format.
I know this setback is a pain in the arse, but it doesn’t mean your case is weak or that you’re not eligible. It simply means it wasn’t packaged in a way that met NSW’s specific requirements this time around. You can absolutely come back stronger, and I’m here to help guide you through that if you decide to go ahead.
Stay strong, mate. You’ve done far more than most, and this journey isn’t over.
Warm regards,
Mark -
Ya. But the chances of a new invitation to apply for nomination are next to zero.
Go through all the expense, effort, waiting for a new skills assessment and my chance of getting an invitation are slim to none. That was the chance. In another 2 years my age points drop. Not to mention my work experience expires as they only consider 10 years of experience.
They make it impossible for people to immigrate legally officially and no wonder people go in illegally.
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Hi Brian,
I completely hear you and you are absolutely right to feel frustrated. You did everything you could with the information and resources you had, and the outcome feels deeply unfair.
It is also true that the skilled migration system is competitive, and it can feel like the goalposts are constantly shifting. When you are this close and miss out over a technicality like a deemed skilled date, it is incredibly disheartening. You are not alone in feeling like the system puts up more roadblocks than support for people genuinely trying to follow the rules.
That said, please don’t lose sight of one very important thing. Your profile is strong. You already secured one invitation, and while it didn’t lead to a nomination this time, it shows that your EOI was competitive.
A new skills assessment that recognises your full post-skilled experience could put you right back in the running. Yes, there is cost and uncertainty involved, and the process is not fair in many ways, but a revised EOI based on a stronger foundation may still give you another shot.
You are also correct that age points will shift in the coming years, and it is wise to weigh that into your planning. Whether you decide to go ahead with a re-assessment or look at other pathways, such as employer sponsorship or study, you do still have options, even if they don’t feel ideal right now.
For now, take a breather. Let some of the frustration settle. You have done an exceptional job navigating a difficult system, and that in itself is something to be proud of.
Happy to help where I can, whenever you are ready to take the path that feels right.
All the best mate
Mark
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Ya I think im too old to study now too. From what I hear they are extremely strict on mature age students
Not to mention the international student fees are insanely high.
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Fair enough mate. Well perhaps take a short break and then revisit your options. Your EOI is clearly sound and if you can tick the 3 year box I can’t see a reason what else you might need to do.
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I emailed them direct to ask for clarification and received a formal response.
They only recognised my experience post deemed skilled date, and only if it was assessed by vetassess. They did not include any of the self employed history that I included (which all fell after my “deemed skilled date”)
Only experience assessed positively by vetassess was taken into account. Nothing else. Not even the 2 months I continued to work but did not submit to vetassess. So to explain I submitted up until april for one position, and then continued to work there another 2 months after the vetassess application. Those 2 months, in the same position, were not counted by NSW as they were not sent off to vetassess when I did my skills assessment application.
Seems really unfair.
If they had counted everything I submitted, I would have had over 3 years post skilled date. Instead I fell short just under 3months.
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Yeh. It’s pretty ridiculous mate. It’s disappointing they have followed this hard and fast rule as well. 🤷🏻♂️ Any further thoughts regarding your next steps?
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Only real option i have is to do a new skills assessment with all of my experience and self employed history.
I will have to pay the 900 odd dollar fee again. Since I have already had priority processing for the first time I doubt I can get it again, so likely only 900, and then I wait the few months for my assessment outcome.
Then resubmit an EOI.
I think its an absolute joke they didnt consider it but there’s nothing i can do. Just pay the fees again.
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Well, I wish you all the best, mate. Please keep in touch – I’d love to hear a positive outcome after all the hard yards you’ve put in! 🙏🙂
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