Skilled visas · 189 · 190 · 491 · MARN 1576536
Skilled visa consultation (189, 190 and 491)
Points-tested skilled visas reward planning: the right occupation, a skills assessment that matches it, English at the right band and points you can prove. In a skilled visa consultation, Keshab Chapagain, a registered migration agent since 2015 (MARN 1576536) with more than 10 years and hundreds of cases, works through your numbers and the realistic route: 189, 190, 491 or something else.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed November 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Consultation
- A$330 · 30 min · or A$550 · 60 min
- Credited
- In full if you engage us
- Pass mark
- 65 points
- Visa charge (main applicant)
- 189 A$6,135 · 190/491 A$6,140
The migration agent that other migration agents learn from. WIDEN is an OMARA-approved CPD provider — our training is rated ★4.8 by 40+ registered migration agents.
About the CPD →Who this is for
- Graduates on a 485 or finishing a student visa, planning the skilled route.
- Skilled workers overseas (engineers, IT professionals, accountants, nurses, trades) assessing whether to apply.
- People with an Expression of Interest lodged and no invitation, deciding whether to change strategy.
- Anyone who has just been invited and wants the application checked before the 60 days run out.
- Applicants close to 45 (see turning 45).
What the consultation covers
- Your points, proven. Each claim (age, English, skilled employment, qualifications, Australian study, partner, regional study, professional year, NAATI) against the evidence you would need to prove it at the time of invitation.
- Occupation and assessment. Whether your occupation is on the list for the visa you want, and whether your skills assessment (or the one you plan) matches it, including how employment is counted.
- 189, 190 or 491. Where your points sit, which states nominate your occupation and on what terms (see the state nomination tracker), and what a regional move would mean.
- Timing. English test validity, assessment expiry, your age, your current visa's end date and what to do first.
- Alternatives. Where the points route is unrealistic, the employer-sponsored or other routes worth weighing.
You get a short written summary afterwards. It is advice on the documents and facts you give us, not a forecast of invitation rounds.
What to bring
- Your passport and current visa details.
- Your skills assessment outcome (or what you plan to apply for) and your qualifications.
- English test results with the date of the test.
- An employment history with dates, hours and duties, and your result from the points calculator.
- Your Expression of Interest, if you have lodged one.
Who advises you
Keshab Chapagain, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 1576536), registered since 2015, more than 10 years in practice and hundreds of cases. He came to Australia as an international student himself; consultations can be in English, Nepali or Hindi. About Keshab.
Price and booking
A$330 inc. GST for 30 minutes, or A$550 for 60 minutes if you want two or more pathways compared in depth or have family members to include. The fee is credited in full toward your professional fee if you engage the practice. Book a skilled visa consultation →
In other currencies: A$330 is about US$225, €205 or £170; A$550 is about US$380, €340 or £285 (approximate, November 2026).
Not sure which visa fits you?
Answer three questions. An automated guide points you to the route that usually applies. General information only.
Book 30 minutes with Keshab.
Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536), reads your situation with you and tells you which route fits, what it costs and what happens next.
Video consultation. A$330 inc. GST for 30 minutes, credited in full if you go ahead. Advice on your own case is given in the consultation, and you leave it with a clear plan in writing.
What you get
- 30 minutes (A$330) or 60 minutes (A$550) by video with a registered migration agent, Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536.
- A written summary of your options and next steps after the session.
- What to bring: Passport, current visa, CV, qualifications, English result, and a skills assessment or job offer if you have one.
- Prefer no call? The written pathway check is done in writing, A$550.
We had a very positive experience working with Keshab. He provided a detailed and well-structured migration strategy report, answered all our questions thoroughly, and clarified our options and next steps. We really appreciated his professionalism, responsiveness, and practical advice. Highly recommended!
I contacted Keshab Chapagain during an extremely stressful and time-sensitive Australian visa situation. He was patient, kind and very thorough in reviewing my circumstances and explaining what could realistically be done.
Read more
Keshab was also very honest that, given the timing, retaining him could not make the Australian government process my application any faster. Even so, the advice he provided was extremely valuable. After our consultation, he provided me with a detailed written guide outlining the steps I could take myself, how to respond to the issues in my application, what supporting documentation to obtain, and how to present the additional information clearly to Home Affairs. I followed that guidance and felt confident that I had done everything available to me. He was understanding and empathetic throughout the consultation without giving me unrealistic expectations. Although my visa ultimately was not processed in time for my trip, that was entirely a matter of government processing time and not a reflection of the assistance I received from Keshab. I greatly appreciated his professionalism, patience, thoroughness and straightforward advice, and I would recommend him to anyone needing guidance with an Australian immigration or visa matter.
I had a positive experience with him. He was professional, knowledgeable, and explained everything clearly in a way that was easy to understand. He took the time to answer my questions and provided practical advice based on my situation. I felt well informed and supported throughout the consultation.
Book a skilled visa consultation — A$330 inc. GST, credited In writing, no call — A$550
Need 60 minutes, or bringing a partner, employer or documents to go through? Extended consultation, A$550 inc. GST.
MARN 1576536 · practising since 2015 · contact details
Questions we get asked first
What is the pass mark for a skilled visa?
The points test pass mark for the 189, 190 and 491 is 65 points. Reaching 65 makes you eligible to lodge an Expression of Interest; it does not mean you will be invited. Invitations go to the highest-ranked candidates in each occupation, and in many occupations that is well above 65.
Should I wait for a 189 or take a 190 or 491?
It depends on your occupation, your points with and without the nomination points, whether a state actually nominates your occupation, your age, and whether moving to a regional area suits you. This is the most common question in a skilled visa consultation, and the answer is specific to your numbers.
How much does a skilled visa cost?
From 1 July 2026 the visa application charge for the main applicant is A$6,135 for the 189 and A$6,140 for the 190 and the 491, with extra charges for each family member. A skills assessment, English test, health checks and police certificates are extra.
I am close to 45. Is it too late?
You must be under 45 when you are invited to apply. If your birthday is close, timing becomes the main issue, and other routes (for example employer sponsorship with an exemption, or visas without the age limit) may need to be weighed. See our guide on turning 45.
Can you get me an invitation?
No one can. Invitations are issued by the Department (189) or by states and territories (190, 491) under their own rules. What a consultation can do is check that every point you claim is provable, that your occupation and assessment line up, and that your Expression of Interest is accurate, so an invitation is not wasted.
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