Thank you for your enquiry about General Skilled Migration (GSM).
A reference number has been allocated to this enquiry and can
be found in the subject line of this email. Please be assured
that we respond to all enquiries as soon as possible. We will
aim to reply to your enquiry within 5 working days.
ORDER OF PROCESSING GSM APPLICATIONS
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans,
has set new priority processing arrangements for certain Skilled
Migration visas. These arrangements are designed to better address
the needs of industry by targeting skills in critical need across
a number of sectors. The new priority processing Direction will
commence on 23 September 2009.
The new Direction will apply to applications in the pipeline
that have not been finalised and to applications lodged with
the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on or after 23
September 2009.
APPLICATION ON THE CSL
If your nominated occupation is on the CSL and you have applied
for an onshore or offshore GSM visa it is estimated that your
application will be finalised within 12 months from your lodgement
date.
APPLICATIONS NOT ON CSL
If your nominated occupation is not on the Critical Skills List
(CSL) and you have applied for an offshore GSM visa or intend
to apply for an offshore GSM visa later in 2009, it is unlikely
that your visa will be finalised before the end of 2012.
If your nominated occupation is not on the CSL and you applied
for an onshore GSM visa or intend to apply for an onshore GSM
visa later in 2009, it is unlikely that your visa will be finalised
before the end of 2011.
OPTIONS IF YOUR APPLICATION IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PRIORITY PROCESSING
Should you be able to secure employment in Australia, you may
wish to consider an employer-sponsored visa. An eligible Australian
employer could sponsor you and guarantee to employ you for a
period of time under the Temporary Business (subclass 457) visa,
the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme or the Employer Nomination
Scheme.
**Applicants who have applied for Skilled ?Independent Subclasses
175 and 885 and Skilled- Sponsored Subclasses 176 and 886 may
be eligible for a fee waiver if they are able to obtain Employer
Nomination. For more information please contact your nearest
Centre of Excellence http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/centres-of-excellence/
VISA SUBCLASSES EXEMPT FROM PRIORITY PROCESSING CHANGES
Skilled ? Recognised Graduate visa subclass 476, Skilled-Designated
Area Sponsored visa subclass 883 and Skilled Regional Residence
visa 887 are exempt from the priority processing changes. Applications
under these subclasses will continue to be processed in the order
in which they were received by the department.
ALLOCATION DATES
The Brisbane and Adelaide Skilled Processing Centres are unable
to provide indicative timeframes for allocation or processing
of individual applications, however we are able to provide allocation
dates for applications that meet the higher priority processing
order.
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, has set
new priority processing arrangements for certain Skilled Migration visas.
These arrangements are designed to better address the needs of industry by
targeting skills in critical need across a number of sectors. The current
priority processing Direction commenced on 23 September 2009.
The Direction applies to applications in the pipeline that have not been
finalised, and to applications lodged with the Department of Immigration
and Citizenship, on or after 23 September 2009.
Priority Application Processing Information
As a result of the priority processing direction explained above only
applications from the following priority groups will be allocated to case
officers.
The Direction gives the following processing priority to Subclass 485 visa
applicants (with highest priority listed first):
1) applications from persons who have completed an Australian Doctor of
Philosophy (PHD) at an Australian educational institution in
Australia;
2) applications from persons who have nominated an occupation on the
Critical Skills List (CSL);
3) applications from persons who have completed an Australian Bachelor
degree and Australian Masters degree at an Australian
educational institution in Australia;
4) applications from persons who have completed an Australian Bachelor
degree and Australian Honours degree (at least upper
second class level) at an Australian educational
institution in Australia;
5) applications from persons who have completed an Australian Bachelor
degree or Australian Masters degree at an Australian
educational institution in Australia;
6) all other valid applications are to be processed in the order in
which they are received.
Other Subclasses 885, 886 and 487affected?
Under the section 499 Ministerial Direction, the following processing
priorities (with highest priority listed first) apply:
(a) 1. applications from persons who are employer sponsored under the
ENS and the RSMS;
(b) 2. applications from persons who are nominated by a
State/Territory government and whose nominated occupation is listed on the
Critical
Skills List (CSL);
(c) 3. applications from persons who are sponsored by family and whose
nominated occupation is listed on the CSL;
(d) 4. applications from persons who are neither nominated nor
sponsored but whose nominated occupation is listed on the CSL;
(e) 5. applications from persons who are nominated by a
State/Territory government whose nominated occupation is not listed on the
CSL;
(f) 6. (i) applications from persons whose occupations are listed on
the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL); and
(g) (ii) applications from persons who are sponsored by
family and whose nominated occupation is not listed on the CSL;
(h) 7. all other applications are to be processed in the order in
which they are received.
*If your application is not currently a priority under the Direction, you
should expect significant delays before your application is allocated to a
case officer. To find out the expected timeframe for processing your
application, please refer to the department’s website at http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/whats-new.htm.
You will be contacted once your application is allocated to a case officer.
The order in which your application will be assigned to a case officer will
depend on its priority under the Minister’s Processing Priorities. Please
do not contact the Department to request your application be exempt from
the Priority Processing Direction. Case officers must adhere to the
Minister’s Direction.
Allocation Dates as of 23rd September 2009
VC- 485 (Group 1 and 2 - PhD qualifications and CSL Only)
Applications lodged up to 01st September 2009
VB - 886 (CSL Only)
Applications lodged up to 01st August 2009
VB - 885 (CSL Only)
Applications lodged up to 01st May 2009
State/Territory Sponsored (VB-886 & VC-487)
Applications lodged up to 01st September 2009
VB - 887
Applications lodged up to 01st September 2009
* Please note that whilst your case may have been allocated to a case
officer, assessment may not commence for up to 10 working days.
OTHER PROCESSING NEWS
MEDICAL RESULTS
Please do not post your HSA onshore medical results to us. Do not open the
sealed envelope, or forward the results to the Department, unless your case
officer specifically requests you to do so.
ADELAIDE PROCESSING
Information regarding General Skilled Migration visa applications processed
in Adelaide can be obtained by sending a blank email to the following email
address: [email protected]