u/Lanky_Culture_2553

I’m a Financial Investment Advisor (ANZSCO 222311).

Did my skills assessment through VETASSESS which came back on 15 Sept 2023.

Then lodged my EOI a couple weeks later on 28 Sept with 95 points for the 491. All onshore.

Got the NSW nomination on 21 May 2024,

Lodged the visa application on 28 June 2024,
and the grant just came through on 6 May 2026.

So from lodging the application to the grant was about 23 months. Months of nothing, no updates, no way to guess when it’d land. If you’re stuck in that part right now, just know it does eventually come through even when it feels like your file’s been forgotten.

Happy to answer anything about VETASSESS for 222311 or the NSW process if it helps anyone.

Thanks to everyone here who posts their timelines, it genuinely made the wait easier.

Finally got the email I’ve been refreshing my inbox for! Posting my full timeline to give back to this community, which honestly kept me sane through the wait.

The details:

•	Occupation: Financial Investment Advisor (ANZSCO 222311)    
•	Skills assessment (VETASSESS): 15 September 2023    
•	EOI lodged: 28 September 2023    
•	Points claimed for 491: 95 points    
•	NSW 491 nomination: 21 May 2024    
•	Visa application lodged: 28 June 2024     

• Medicals requested on 02 March 2026
• VISA GRANTED: 6 May 2026 ✅

A few reflections:

From visa lodgement to grant was roughly 23 months - a long haul and was really hard mentally with radio silence for long periods, no real way to predict timing. If you’re in that waiting window right now: hang in there, the grants do come.

Happy to answer any questions about the VETASSESS process for 222311, the NSW nomination pathway, or anything in the timeline. This sub was a huge resource for me, so glad to pay it forward.

Finally got the email I’ve been refreshing my inbox for! Posting my full timeline to give back to this community, which honestly kept me sane through the wait.

The details:

•	Occupation: Financial Investment Advisor (ANZSCO 222311)  
•	Skills assessment (VETASSESS): 15 September 2023  
•	EOI lodged: 28 September 2023  
•	Points claimed for 491: 95 points  
•	NSW 491 nomination: 21 May 2024  
•	Visa application lodged: 28 June 2024   

• Medicals requested on 02 March 2026
• VISA GRANTED: 6 May 2026 ✅

A few reflections:

From visa lodgement to grant was roughly 23 months - a long haul and was really hard mentally with radio silence for long periods, no real way to predict timing. If you’re in that waiting window right now: hang in there, the grants do come.

Happy to answer any questions about the VETASSESS process for 222311, the NSW nomination pathway, or anything in the timeline. This sub was a huge resource for me, so glad to pay it forward.

Hi everyone, hoping to get some guidance from anyone who has gone through the 491 subsequent entrant pathway recently.
Timeline:
My subclass 491 visa was granted on 06/05/2026
My girlfriend was granted a Visitor Visa (600) on 02/03/2026 without a “No Further Stay” condition
She plans to enter Australia later this year and we are now planning to get married and eventually apply for a 491 subsequent entrant visa onshore
A few questions I’d really appreciate help with:
1️⃣ For a 491 subsequent entrant applicant, when does the 3-year period for eligibility towards the 191 visa begin?
Is it linked to the primary 491 holder’s grant date, or does the subsequent entrant need to complete their own 3 years from the date their 491 is granted?
2️⃣ If my girlfriend applies for the 491 subsequent entrant visa while onshore in Australia, will she receive work rights on the bridging visa automatically?
If not, how do people normally apply for work rights while on a bridging visa, and is there a waiting period before this can be requested?
3️⃣ Is it generally considered better/easier to apply for the 491 subsequent entrant visa onshore rather than offshore?
4️⃣ Once we get married, do I need to notify Home Affairs / update my ImmiAccount within 14 days regarding my relationship status change while holding the 491?
5️⃣ My girlfriend originally applied for her tourist visa as a genuine tourism trip around Australia, with plans to also spend time with me during the visit. The visa was granted without an NFS condition.
Since our circumstances have now changed and we intend to marry, has anyone had issues at the airport / immigration regarding genuine temporary stay concerns when entering Australia after marriage plans developed?
Would really appreciate hearing from anyone with firsthand experience, especially around onshore subsequent entrant applications and bridging visa work rights.
Thanks in advance!