It has been just under a month since I lodged my ROI for the NIV pathway on 18 August. No news yet – which, from everything I’ve seen, is not unusual. Anecdotally, some applicants in certain priority sectors have heard back in 6–8 weeks, though most of those appear to have lodged very soon after NSW first opened its ROI process. That suggests I may still be only halfway through the realistic waiting period.
One thought that has struck me during this pause is how difficult it is to know, at the time, which parts of your record to emphasise. Looking back, there are whole dimensions I might have developed further (or at all!) – systemic resilience, patient outcomes, and public service – all of which are easy to understate when you are focused on technical and financial detail. With hindsight, those are exactly the things that carry weight in an innovative investor’s contribution.
Another point that perhaps deserved more emphasis is external validation. International strategic investors have approached, and I have been directly involved in handling those discussions. Ensuring that negotiations protect and reflect the value created is critical – and that kind of recognition underlines that what is being built is not only innovative, but globally relevant.
For now, it remains a waiting game. I’ll share more as soon as there is concrete progress.
Practical, not promotional — *definitely not immigration advice*