JonOgre

**This is an automated response regarding ENS 186/RSMS 187 applications. Please do not respond to this email** Email Updated on 20 April 2016 IMPORTANT INFORMATION We are currently allocating ENS and RSMS applications lodged mid-September 2015. ***************************

Yes, it seems, from looking at both the 186 and 187 threads, and the spreadsheets, that the 186 visas are at least one month ahead of the 187s, on average. The 187s are supposedly the highest priority visa, but there seems to be a different, unpublished directive at DIBP. Someone in the migration industry posted that they are processing 186s faster because of the high number of transition applicants, but it seems that even the direct entry 186s are benefiting, while all 187 applicants are being left behind. We are prepared to be patient, but it helps if one can manage one's expectations. This is difficult when neither the published service standards nor the priorities are adhered to. The ways of DIBP are mysterious indeed!

Hang in there. I'm approaching the 7-month mark soon with no sign of CO. Nothing we can do other than avoid negative energy and live our lives for now.

Thanks, done @Nishant Pasrija.

Done, @Vishal Jasani.

Hi @Nishant Pasrija. How many people in your application? Direct entry or transition? What is your nominated occupation?

I read once that they do process applications by occupation, because certain COs develop expertise in evaluating certain jobs. There is no priority, however: it's just that some jobs have more applicants than others. I saw a document that listed "cook" as the most popular occupation for skilled migration to Australia. That is possibly why you seem to be waiting longer than applicants in other professions/ trades.. Keep the faith, all.

Great news! Congratulations and all the best!

Congratulations, and all the best! We have a similar timeline--I hope to hear soon too.

According to DIBP, the processing time for BVB is now about 2 weeks.

No worries; PR will be processed whether you are on- or off-shore. Make sure you are contactable by email in case CO needs clarification and/or docs.

Hi @ostrich and welcome. You can click on the link in my signature to go to the spreadsheet, find the correct month tab, and fill in the details as per the column headers. If you have any difficulty with this, please provide some additional info on this thread: Direct Entry/ Transition Stream; High-risk/ Low-risk country; nominated occupation; number of people in your application. The current waiting time for approval is 6 - 8 months.

At long, long last! Huge congratulations, and all the best!

Please see "Definition - low/high risk" at the bottom of this page: https://www.border.gov.au/Lega/Lega/8#d

@mukhkhokhar1988: Direct entry or transition? How many people in your application? High-risk or low risk country? Or you can click on the link to the spreadsheet in my signature to add your details.

Nice one! Huge congratulations and all the best for the future!

Quite right. There was a time where applicants could benefit from prioritised "decision-ready" applications through MAs. Since 2012, however, this is no longer the case, and all applications, whether or not through MAs, join the queue in order of submission. If your employer knows what they're doing, and if you can carefully follow the directions and lists published by DIBP for applicants, you can easily do without an agent. As I have a large employer (a university) that regularly employs people from overseas, I personally saw no need to use an agent. But I could still be proven wrong...

As I understand it, the visa applies to the location of the nominated position, rather than to where the employer is headquartered. You should be fine if your contract states specifically that you will be working exclusively in Toowoomba. The local RCB should be able to advise your employer, though.

@edwin80: It seems that your best course (for both you and your wife) is to cruise the Australian job boards for positions in your respective fields. Visa sponsorship/ nomination is something you'd have to negotiate with your prospective employer at the interview stage; the employer would then make an offer (or not) based on this. This is the route I took -- not easy, but also not impossible. Keep the faith and look to the long term.

That is the source of the information, but it's better not to send too many emails to DIBP, as this just slows processing down. Please check for the latest update on the spreadsheet (click on the link on my signature).

@akumar: Added. Please click the link in my signature below to check your details on the April tab. Please fee free to make any corrections/ updates yourself.

Heartiest congratulations to Marc: Applied visa 27 September; granted today (spreadsheet).

Direct Entry or Transition Stream, agent or no agent, there is no published or apparent difference between processing speeds. Being from a low risk country, you may have a slight edge, but there is no consistent patten to this if you look at previous grants. At the moment, 187 visas are being processed in about 7 months on average, regardless of stream etc., although there are some outliers either way.

@Mann dharna: preferably, you can click on the link in my signature below to access the spreadsheet yourself. From here, find the correct month tab (at the bottom) for your visa application, and enter the details. This might all best be done from a desktop/ laptop computer, if you have access to one, because it's awkward on an iPhone. If you have problems doing this yourself, please post the following details to this thread: number of people in your application; high-risk or low-risk country; nominated occupation; stream (direct entry/ transition); date of application for nomination (and approval, if applicable); date of application for visa.

Welcome @pat26. Please also provide details of stream (direct entry/ transition), country (HR/ LR) and number of people in your application. Alternatively, you can click on the link to the spreadsheet and add your details yourself. Thanks.