Awaiting residency visa, what are my options when my 2nd year visa expires???

**davy1** · 30-03-2009, 11:08 PM

Hi there, my 2nd year holiday visa expires in July, I applied for the Skilled Migration Visa in January, at the time my skill, a plumber was on the critical skills list but it is no longer on that list. I have heard that it may take up to another year to come through.
Anyone know what my options are? Is it possible to obtain a bridging visa or can I leave Australia & come back in on a holiday visa?? Is anyone in this situation? Please advise.

**Gollywobbler** · 30-03-2009, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by davy1

Hi there, my 2nd year holiday visa expires in July, I applied for the Skilled Migration Visa in January, at the time my skill, a plumber was on the critical skills list but it is no longer on that list. I have heard that it may take up to another year to come through.
Anyone know what my options are? Is it possible to obtain a bridging visa or can I leave Australia & come back in on a holiday visa?? Is anyone in this situation? Please advise.

Hi Davy

Welcome to Poms in Oz.

Whiich subclass of visa did you apply for? Was it the skilled independent subclass 175 visa?

Ideally you need to secure State Sponsorship and switch to the State nominated 176 visa. You do not have to pay DIAC anything extra to make this switch and you do not have to submit a new visa application.

Nearly all the States are offering sc 176 sponsorship to General Plumbers (apart from NSW which does not sponsor any trades skills occupations for the sc 176.) The link to all the State/Territory websites is here:

State & Territory Migration Sites - australia.gov.au

Once you secure State Sponsorship your visa application will be fast tracked:

http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/migrat...pc-update.html

Best wishes

Gill

**Alan Collett** · 30-03-2009, 11:35 PM

As Gill says, State Sponsorship is the way to go as it could facilitate visa grant before your WHM visa expires. You will have to head offshore for visa grant, but I dare say you know this already.

Alternatively, as a fallback you could consider lodging an onshore subclass 487 visa application if you can identify a State or Territory Government that will sponsor your occupation for that subclass.

See here for more details:
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487)

A quick review of my reference material shows that all apart from the ACT are sponsoring for this visa subclass.

The reason why you might consider this visa is because it is an onshore visa application, so would provide a Bridging Visa entitlement which would avoid the need for you having to depart Australia after your WHM visa expires.

Note though that the subclass 487 visa is a provisional or temporary visa, so would require a further permanent residency application in due course, probably under subclass 887: Skilled – Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887)

In case of need: Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia - Contact and Feedback

Best regards.

**Gollywobbler** · 30-03-2009, 11:45 PM

Hi Alan

Just a query, please.

If Davy gets State Sponsorship and applies for a sc 487, could he just leave an sc 175 application running in the background or would he be forced into the onshore alternatives only?

Many thanks

Gill

**Alan Collett** · 30-03-2009, 11:57 PM

Hi Gill.

My immediate reaction is that the 175 application could be left "in play".

Best regards.

**Cath76** · 31-03-2009, 12:05 AM

Gill & Alan,

I called immigration yesterday (onshore) to ask a question about my 886 visa and they told me that due to the new announcement by the minister, they are only looking at applications on the CSL...also this was the case for State Sponsorship...only State Sponsored applications which are on the CSL.
I was surprised and advised them that their emails hadn't stated this information but thanked him all the same for his help. Is it possible that the gentleman on the phone was confused or have you heard anything about this?
He said my application won't even get looked at until after 1st July.

Cath

**Alan Collett** · 31-03-2009, 12:10 AM

That doesn't sound correct to me, Cath.

State and Territory Sponsored skilled visas sit alone on the priority processing list - so far as I know there is no requirement that the occupation is also on the CSL.

I'd consider making an enquiry through the online enquiry form so you get something in writing:
General Skilled Migration Post-Lodgement Enquiry Form

Best regards,

**Cath76** · 31-03-2009, 12:13 AM

Thanks Alan,

Yes it didn't sound right to me either and I kept asking him to clarify it but he insisted that is what they are doing with SS.

I will make an enquiry and see what comes back.

Thanks for your help.

Cath

Originally Posted by Alan Collett

That doesn't sound correct to me, Cath.

State and Territory Sponsored skilled visas sit alone on the priority processing list - so far as I know there is no requirement that the occupation is also on the CSL.

I'd consider making an enquiry through the online enquiry form so you get something in writing:
General Skilled Migration Post-Lodgement Enquiry Form

Best regards,

**Alan Collett** · 31-03-2009, 12:25 AM

Cath,

Please let me know what comes back - I am happy to take this issue to Central Office if is appears there is a misunderstanding on the part of the Department as to the processing of onshore skilled applications.

Best regards.

**Cath76** · 31-03-2009, 12:31 AM

I will do...I just lodged the enquiry.

He also told me there was no difference in the processing time of onshore and offshore applications, they go by date of lodgement! Is that true? I thought onshore was much faster.

Originally Posted by Alan Collett

Cath,

Please let me know what comes back - I am happy to take this issue to Central Office if is appears there is a misunderstanding on the part of the Department as to the processing of onshore skilled applications.

Best regards.