ARS

Thats true...it has been an anxious long wait for all of us Cat 5's especially 176FS. Hope the wait ends soon in April as Gagan has mentioned

Hi Abhey is this onshore or offshore ?? I am going through an agent so I am unable to contact DIBP directly to get info on my application.

Hi Gagan...I am 176FS Feb 2008. but my online status has not changed at all. I have not even got a CO allocated . So some more info on your friend will be appreciated. What occupation is he/she in ? Thanks a lot !

TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU !! A Very good point...wish it could be conveyed to the relevant people who is in control of this big mess !

Hi GAGAN, Would you know if it will be before the Christmas Holidays ? Thanks

Hi VANDDIR1 I am 176 Feb 2008 and not received anything either. I believe they are filtering the applicants who are already residents so that they can communicate with the rest. At least I hope it is so .

I know someone who is 496 Aug 2007 that has been allocated a CO....So be positive ! My friend (176FS) who received the letter from the department applied in 2008 August

Did you get a CO allocated for your case ? 496 should start soon.

One of my friends who applied as 176FS in 2008 has received a letter from the department asking if she would would like to withdraw her application as she is already a resident through her husband. looks like they are looking into 176FS and we should hear some news soon ......hopefully the news would be good news ! Anyone has anymore updates on 176FS...please inform us .

Australia's unemployment rate climbs to 5.8 per cent to its highest level in four years !! http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-12/jobless-rate-up/4953338 Not good news for immigration . Same happen with Canada. and now the occupation demand list to Canada is limited to 25 occupations due to high unemployment rate in the country.

Thanks for all the feedback and support ! :cute:

May I ask who your sponsor in Australia is ? is it a close immediate relative ?

This is the reply I received today from GSM...very discouraging and disappointing :nah: Applicationsfor GSM continue to be processed in line with the Migration Program planninglevels as well as the Priority Processing direction set by the former Minister.The priorityprocessing arrangements and Migration Program planning levels have beendesigned to ensure the Australian economy gets the skills it needs now. Consideringthe limited number of visa places currently available in the SRS category andprocessing priorities it is unlikely that your application will be progressedin the 2013-14 program year. Theoverall number of Priority Group 5 applications processed in the 2013–14program year will ultimately depend on the number of higher priorityapplications received, and other factors, including the size of the MigrationProgram and its composition, and any variation of the Processing Direction. This will mean processing timesmay be longer and that once the remaining places are used, the departmentcannot grant any application until the following program year. GAGAN4321 - Any inside info updates regarding 176FS ...would really appreciate at this time specially .

Hi Gagan, Yes your predictions and info has been quite true so far. So hopefully 176FS will start by end 2013 and not get dragged to the following year to begin :biggrin:

SENT MY EMAIL TO Tony Burke MP, Hope we get some kind of response Thanks Bull