More changes to priority processing of Australian visas.
The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship have today announced new priority processing arrangements for some skilled migration visas.
From the 14th of July priority processing will be given to (in order of highest priority):
- Employer sponsored applications under the ENS and RSMS.
- State or territory nominated applications with an occupation on that state’s migration plan.
- Applications with an occupation on the new Skilled Occupation List.
- All other applications in order of when they are received.
The new priority processing arrangements only affect certain visas:
- Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)
- Certain General Skilled Migration Visas (GSM) listed at the bottom of this article.
Those visas exempt from the new processing changes are:
- Skilled – Recognised Graduate subclass (476)
- Skilled – Graduate subclass (485)
- Skilled – Designated Area – Sponsored (Residence) subclass (883)
- Skilled – Regional subclass (887)
The changes will affect all existing visas that are already going through processing as well as all new Australian visa applications and the changes do take into account changes made to the SOL and the revocation of the MODL and CSL.
The DIAC say that the processing changes will enable them to more closely match skills needed in the workplace to skilled migrants emigrating to Australia.
The State Migration Plans are yet to be announced, with the state of Victoria admitting that no SMP will be in place before September 2010. The DIAC stated that it expected all of the State Migration Plans to come into effect during the second half of this year.
Furthermore those with occupations on the SOL Schedule 3 – including accountants – will be listed in priority group 3. Applicants who do not have an occupation on the SOL – Schedule 3 and who do not have employer or state nominations or sponsorship will be processed under priority group 4.
Those applicants who wish to change their occupations or sponsorships cannot do so unless they lodge a new application, complete with the payment of a Visa Application Charge.
The DIAC warn those with applications being processed under priority group 4 that they face a long wait for their visa applications to be finalised. They advise that applicants either await the outcome of their applications; re-apply under employer or state nomination or sponsorship or withdraw their application. Those people who decide to withdraw their visa applications will not be entitled to a refund. This also applies to those applicants who are already living and working in Australia. More detailed information about the changes can be found on the DIAC website.
If you are affected by any of the above and want to discuss it further or get some support, then join our friendly community who are more than happy to talk, advise, support and listen.
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Affected GSM visas
- Skilled – Independent subclass 175
- Skilled – Independent subclass 176
- Skilled – Regional Sponsored subclass 475
- Skilled – Regional Sponsored subclass 487
- Skilled – Independent Regional subclass 495
- Skilled – Designated Area-sponsored (Provisional) subclass 496
- Graduate – Skilled subclass 497
- Skilled – Onshore Independent New Zealand Citizen subclass 861
- Skilled – Onshore Australian-sponsored New Zealand Citizen subclass 862
- Skilled – Onshore Designated Area-sponsored New Zealand Citizen subclass 863
- Skilled – Independent Overseas Student subclass 880
- Skilled – Australian-sponsored subclass 881
- Skilled – Designated Area-sponsored Overseas Student subclass 882
- Skilled – Independent subclass 885
- Skilled – Sponsored subclass 886.
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One Response to “DIAC Announce Priority Processing Changes to Visas”
Comment by Samk6 — July 1, 2011 @ 2:42 am
I have applied regional sponsor 475(Sponsor by Blood relative) DIAC informed me that i am in Cat 03. my occupation is @ SOL. But according to my new Priority processing what will be my new priority category? Plz advice me…….