Thread by @ChinweikeE

Another Visa Sub-classes have been introduced to replace the 489, to commence from November 2019. This change is to encourage more migrants to move to the regions.

People who already hold a 489 or have applied for a 489 are going to be unaffected by the changes.

The changes include
- 5 yr provisional visas instead of the current 4 yrs (491/494) become eligible for the PR after 3 years
Singles get 10 points or couples with defacto Australian citizens or PR partners get 10 points

- Married applicant’s partner points for partner skills increased to 10 points from 5 points
- Married /Defacto couples get extra 5 points for partner’s ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
- STEM ( Science - Technology- Engineering - Mathematics) students - extra 5 points

State nomination for 489 - to 491 increased from 10 to 15 points. What this means is that instead of the 10 points which state nomination automatically gives you it now increases to 15. So if you can get 65 points on your own you'll be entering the pool with 80 points total.

Apart from the ones I previously mentioned, there are no other fees. Unless you want to meet an agent, but I just gave you all that an agent would have given you, and even more. If you can get all the things I listed right then you're good. No hidden charges!!

...Which is what makes it different and easier than that of Canada. You don't require any proof of funds, although some states may ask but it's not mandatory.
Although for those with family it may differ, but must not necessarily be cash.

...if you have documents of property or investment in maybe stock or bonds they may be presented in cases where they're required. Each state has their peculiar requirements, so visit their website and check things out.

And finally for couples, to increase your points the secondary applicant (your spouse) can do English test and skills assessment. If he/she can get a good score in the test and also gets positive assessment you can claim SPOUSE POINTS, which is about 10 points....

....added to your own points as the primary applicant.
If you have the money and your partner can do well in English proficiency test and skills assessment, he/she can do it and then you claim your 10 spouse points.

Other than that you can just get your 60-65 points in addition to the state or regional nomination points, and enter the pool, hoping to get nomination anytime.

Australia does not have Express Entry like Canada, however u can fast track ur process by doing express/priority assessment which costs about $200 AUD more. ur assessment comes out in 2 weeks or less.
Wht guarantees hw fast u get an ITA is the he many points u enter the pool with

Things that can cause delay/denial:

Slow transcript processing and forwarding to the assessment body.

Unavailable documents to substantiate your claims.

Open source info about you (from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn)

If you have work experiences or job positions in your LinkedIn or Facebook profile that's not in the documents you submitted you might have some explanations to make, or a post you made about sexual discrimination. So once you're about to Lodge your ITA purge your accounts.

Best of Luck!!!