Waiting Too Long for an EOI Invite? How the Applicant Secured a 189 Visa Instead

Our client, Ms C, held a Bachelor of Nursing and was living and working in South Australia. Initially, she aimed for a 190 State Nomination visa, but soon ran into major hurdles:

• Did not meet SA 190 nomination requirements – the criteria were too strict for her profile.

• No invitation despite waiting – months passed without progress, stalling her migration plan.

• Time pressure mounting – if she kept waiting, she risked missing her best window to migrate.

Source: Internet

Faced with these challenges, continuing to wait for state nomination carried high risk. To avoid missing out, Riverwood Migration Lawyers stepped in and redesigned her strategy:

1.Strategic shift – moving away from 190

We advised Ms C to stop waiting on South Australia’s 190 pathway and instead pursue the 189 Skilled Independent visa. This bypassed state restrictions and opened up wider invitation opportunities.

2.Points calculation and EOI preparation

Our team carefully reviewed her qualifications, work experience and English results, and supported her with a full skills assessment. This ensured her EOI score sat at 75 points – exactly the threshold needed for that invitation round.

3.Fast action to lock in eligibility

When Ms C received her 189 invitation on 7 November 2024, we immediately prepared the full application and lodged it by 13 December 2024, well within the validity period. Employment evidence and academic documents were strategically strengthened to support the case.

On 28 July 2025, Ms C was granted her Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa. From EOI submission to visa grant, the process took just 7 months.

What started as a stalled 190 attempt was successfully turned around through timely planning and expert guidance – ultimately leading to her Australian permanent residency.

Migration isn’t a one-way street. If one pathway isn’t working, knowing when and how to pivot can make all the difference. With the right planning, you can avoid costly delays and secure your future in Australia.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at Riverwood Migration (Email: [email protected]), or book a consultation. We are committed to providing transparent and professional migration services to help you secure your visa and achieve your goal of moving to Australia.