Electrical Engineer in WA - should I move to 482 now, wait until my 485 is closer to expiry, or focus on 186 DE?
Hi everyone,
I’d really appreciate some honest feedback from people who have been through something similar.
I’m an Electrical Engineer. I completed my skills assessment and submitted an EOI while living in Victoria for around two years. At the time I had 75 points:
- 30 age (I was 28)
- 20 English
- 15 qualifications
- 10 single (planning to get married so I will lose points unless i can get skills assessment )
- 0 work experience
I never received an invitation. I’m not completely sure why, but my assumption is that the state was prioritising occupations/experience that were more in demand at the time and I am okay with that.
My English test has now expired, so I would need to sit it again if I continue with the points test pathway.
I’m currently in Rural WA on a 485 visa with about 1 year and 2 months left. I now have a job as an Electrical Engineer and have 1 year and 1 month of relevant experience. My employer is willing to sponsor me for a 482 whenever needed.
I’m trying to decide between:
- Applying for a 482 soon and eventually using the TRT pathway for PR.
- Staying on my 485 for now, then applying for a 482 closer to its expiry, using that time to build more experience until I have 3 years of experience and aiming for the 186 Direct Entry pathway.
I know migration rules and employer circumstances can change, so I don’t want to leave things too late. At the same time, I’m unsure whether applying for the 482 immediately is the best move when I still have time left on my 485.
If you were in this position, what would you prioritize? Especially interested in experiences from engineers in WA, people who went through 482 to 186 TRT, or anyone who chose DE instead.
Not looking for formal migration advice,just real experiences and perspectives before I speak with a registered migration agent.