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Hi Friends, I have my 457 in queue from Dec 2017, my employer wants me in Australia by February 2018 due to the criticality of the project. Does anyone have idea on requesting priority processing? What needs to be included to get the priority request approved. Thanks for reading through, response is much appreciated.

Hi all, Just wondering if anyone on here has had their 457 visa priority processed recently and if so how long it took to be granted from the time the priority processing request was accepted? My partner has been sponsored by the business he works for and we submitted our 457 application back in the middle of May 17. We put in for a priority request just over a week ago due to circumstances that have made our application more urgent, we had the priority processing approved, but still haven't had the visa granted. Just looking for other people's experiences/ timelines. TIA ?

Hello, I’ve only just come across this forum today. I’ve spent the best part of the day browsing and reading information to get some advice on our situation. My boyfriend and I have been together just over 3 years, and lived together over a year. I am Australian, and he is Canadian. We live in the UK where (I have lived there approx 16 years now). Around January of this year, we had made the decision we want to move to Australia. We want a family, a house, sunshine. A good quality of life and to be near my family. We had not yet submitted our application, but had started gathering the paperwork and filling in the forms. In early May, I go a call from my mother to tell me she has MDS. It’s a blood cancer that can develop into leukaemia. There is no cure. There is possible treatment but it will likely make her very sick. Both my parents are elderly, my father is disabled and in a wheelchair. My mother is his primary carer. She has been given a prognosis of 12-18 months. I am currently in Australia helping her come to terms with it and trying to get as much information from her doctor (fortnightly) appointments as we can. My return flight to London is booked this friday and I am terrified of leaving. I am needed here now. There is so much going on with both my parents and their conditions, I really want to be home to support them emotionally and help where I can. We have gathered most of the information we need to submit the visa, but I am now torn. I recently learned about a bridging visa which would allow my partner to come immediately and stay until our application is (fingers crossed) granted. If there’s one person I need close to me right now with all that is going on it is him. So my questions: Has anyone had any success with compassionate reasons on prioritising the application? I have read I can submit a letter, which I will do. Is a on-shore application / bridging visa a good option for us? I see the wait times can be longer, but if it means he can come and be here with me at this time, we would consider this. We were applying for the off-shore partner visa. Does applying on-shore complicate anything? Does it change the application we have already started. I would really appreciate any advice. Thank you so much!

According to the website link below - from DIAC themselves - there are some 176 Visa's that are considered priority 4. Does anyone know why some are priority 3 and others 4 - does it have to do with the occupation? http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/estimated-allocation-times.htm

Hi guys,we lodged our RSMS 119 application via agent on 08/09 ,2 months later nothing..:chatterbox:so our agent asked my husband`s employer for letter of priority,she said it MIGHT help.. has anyone ever heard about this? did it work?? thanks Katerina :smile:

Hello everyone. My first time posting here. Just had a question about priority processing for an off-list application for WA. I called up skilled migration WA and they indicated that if I am successful with the sponsorship then it will receive priority group 3 processing by DIAC. Can anyone confirm this? Thanks

I have a question regarding an application, has my priority group been changed from 3 to 4 with the July 2011 changes? I have learned after a phone call that a case officer was allocated Aug 2011, does this make any difference? Lodged online Oct 2010 - Systems Analyst ANZSCO Code 261112 - 176 family sponsored

Hey guys! We visited tasmania last year and absolutely loved it. However, we have children who are teenagers and would be attending secondary school/college. How's the education system in tassie? Are there any good state colleges or should we think of moving to melbourne instead? Please share any of your experiances or opinions you may have, thank you!

Hi, We've just had email confirmation that our state sponsorship application has been successful.....great news!! Just a bit baffled by one point. It says that we are going to be put into priority group 2. Everything I have read since the 1st July is that State sponsorship is priority group 3 and only ENS is priority group 2. I am going to email them, but has anyone else had a similar "issue". It's just with the potentially quicker processing time, is going to effect our saving plans. Thanks Dale --- I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=44.836447,1.148301

Does anyone know the numbers of pending GSM applications DIAC has pending by priority group? For instance, there are X number waiting for visa grant in Cat 3, X number waiting in cat 4 and so on...

Does anyone know if it's possible to find out which priority category your application has been given? If I can confirm this I can be sure of the timescales for the processing of my application. I applied 18/03/2011 and the E-Visa online system just says 'processing commenced'. I don't know the expected timescales as I'm unsure of the priority my application has been given. Thanks

We cannot see any progress in New Priority Processing Cat 04(Old cat03). Still it has sucked on 10 July 2010. Priority Group 4 Skilled – Independent (Migrant) subclass 175 VE 175 (e-lodged):10 July 2010 VE 175 (paper): 10 July 2010 Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) subclass 176 VE 176 (e-lodged): 10 July 2010 VE 176 (paper): 10 July 2010 Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 475 VF 475 (e-lodged): 10 July 2010 VF 475 (paper): 10 July 2010 Has DIAC Stopped processing New Priority Group 4 Applications??. Really worrying..................:cry::cry::cry:

Hi All Suddenly today I am very confused! We have submitted our 176 visa app online and as we understood it we would be priority 2 as we have been sponsored by VIC! But today we received an email from DIAC to say we are now in priority 5!! The email reads: Priority processing arrangements A new Ministerial Direction came into effect on 1 July 2011 establishing new priority processing arrangements for Skilled Migration applications. This Direction determines the order in which the department considers applications. Applications accorded a higher priority under these arrangements are assessed ahead of lower priority applications, irrespective of when the application is lodged. In line with these arrangements GSM has commenced assessing skilled migration applications which fall within its processing responsibility in the current order: Priority 1: Applications from people who have applied for a Skilled - Regional (subclass 887 visa) Priority 2: No GSM applications are included within this group Priority 3: Applications from people who are nominated by a state or territory government agency for an occupation specified on that agency’s state migration plan Priority 4: Applications from people who have nominated an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) - Schedule 1 in effect from 1 July 2011 (http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/_pdf/sol-schedule1.pdf) Priority 5: All other applications Your application is now grouped in priority 5. The department does not anticipate that the creation of an additional priority group, as per this Direction, will impact negatively on the processing of applications which were previously in priority group 4 and are now in priority group 5. This is because recent reforms have impacted on the volume of applicants waiting for a skilled migration outcome. Well my understanding of this email is that we should be priority 3 so i am now very concerned! I am really hoping this is an error but now need to contact DIAC to confirm Has anyone else out there had a similar email? If anyone can shed any light be much appreciated as we are now panicking if we are in 5 we do not stand a chance!!!

Hi we have submitted our application and had our medicals 15th June .... finalised 28th June will we still be processed under previous timelines or the new one's? Thanks

Dear ALL, Today called immi , checked with staff, those priority 4 to priority 3 will be done with effect today..extra info he said , those can expect case-officer soon... i asked soon is when ? he laughed and replied may be 3months.. Good luck and Good hope for everyone.. Today marks my 1001days of waiting TRA- May 2007, Application - oct 2008, Subclass 175 / fitter/ waiting for Co..

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, has set new priority processing arrangements for certain skilled migration visas. From 1 July 2011, processing priorities (with highest priority listed first) are: 1). applications from people who are employer sponsored under the RSMS program or who have applied for a Skilled – Regional (subclass 887) visa 2). applications from people who are applying under the ENS program 3). applications from people who are nominated by a state or territory government agency for an occupation specified on that agency's state migration plan 4). applications from people who have nominated an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) 5). all other applications.

Apologies if I am the only one who hadn't seen this before, thought it may be useful to some of you who know your category but can't understand why others in the same boat are being processed at different speeds. http://www.dtwd.wa.gov.au/dtwd/detcms/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=10697943

Hi, i have recently got successful assessment from ACS under priority 3 as system analyst. Previously i was on priority 4 and applied my case on 18th may 2010. for moving from priority 4 to 3, do i have to submit the letter from ACS and inform diac that i fall in priority 3 please move my application to priority 3 or is there any other procedure exist. just wondering if someone can advice me on this, thanks in advance.

Hi Guys, I just want to share with you all the PDF file which I have received from DIAC this morning. I have no idea why DIAC send me an email as I already got my visa grant last March 2011. :biggrin: BR, taz Important Information for Priority 3 clients[1].pdf Important Information for Priority 3 clients[1].pdf

Hello all, I am desparately waiting for my CO as my application was missed (but thats a whole nother story, that is hopefully beginning to sort itself out.) But do you think priority processing will change in july. I am so worried ill get a CO and then lose it before i get my grant. What do people think?

some good news for cat 4.:jiggy: 23rd May 2011 Iscah News EXTRA We just had attended a presentation by DIAC in Perth and the following interesting titbits were discussed. Company visas A discussion paper will be out in June 2011 for a possible June 2012 implementation. It will hopefully lead to simpler second stage (ENS and RSMS) processing. New 1st July 2011 Skilled Points Test - Passmark still expected to be 65 points - Some of the work experience may be gained in a longer period (up to 10 years now although the slides don’t seem to reflect what is currently on DIACs website) - The IELTS regime of having to have results at the time of decision (rather than application) will likely remain the status quo. - Skills assessing bodies will be responsible for assessing whether a person’s work was at the required level DIAC require (this is a very big change). - DIAC expect to finalise all Priority 2, all Priority 3, and some (around 10,000) Priority 4 cases in the 2011/2012 program year. These priority 4 cases will start with the oldest first, which are likely to be pre September 2007 onshore skilled visas - The 485 visa is likely to remain in its current format - Any fraudulent document or deliberately misleading information presented with an application can lead to a 3 year ban on any other visa, including for family members. More information as we get it Cheers and enjoy the week Steven Iscah Migration www.iscah.com MARN 9687267

Does anyone know if you can get Australian National Police Checks priority processed? My boyfriend and I have nearly had our visa granted but just found out he needs australian police clearance now. We want to go to Australia at the end of the month as I start work next month.. is there any way of getting it processed as quickly as possible? Also, how do you pay for it if you are overseas?

\i have not seen this posted on the board yet, this should be sticky for abit, Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship GSM Adelaide - Level 3 55 Currie Street Adelaide SA 5000 GPO Box 1638 ADELAIDE SA 5001 • Telephone: 1300 364 613 • Fax: 08 7421 7615 • www.immi.gov.au GSM Brisbane - 299 Adelaide Street Brisbane QLD 4000 GPO Box 9984 BRISBANE QLD 4001 • Telephone: 1300 364 613 • Fax: 07 3136 7473 • www.immi.gov.au Important information for certain Priority Group 3 applicants who received a letter from DIAC in March 2011 advising that their application is expected to be allocated within three months We have recently sent email letters to certain Priority Group 3 applicants who have lodged a General Skilled Migration (GSM) application under subclasses 175, 176, 475, 885, 886 and 487. As indicated above, these emails were sent only to applicants whose applications: a) are expected to be allocated to a case officer within three months of the date of these letters; and b) can proceed with health and character requirements without firstly being assessed by a case officer. If you have received this letter and have queries about these instructions, the following Questions and Answers may be of interest. Similarly, if you have not received this letter and your application is in Priority Group 3, these Questions and Answers will explain why and when you may expect to be contacted about your application. General Questions about these letters Q1: Who has this letter been sent to? This letter has been sent to a selection of eVisa Priority 3 applicants whose application is expected to be allocated a case officer for assessment within three months of the date of this letter. The applications within this group are ones which can proceed with health and character requirements without the application first being assessed by a case officer. If you have not received this letter it is because your application is one which is unable to proceed without first being assessed by a case officer, or it is one which is not expected to be assessed in coming months. The timeframe for allocation of your case to a case officer will not be affected by this. Applications will continue to be allocated for assessment in accordance with the priority processing arrangements and within date of lodgement order. Information on current allocation dates can be obtained by sending a blank email to gsm.processing@immi.gov.au. - 2 - Q2: What are the specific requirements of this letter? If you have received a letter addressed to you which confirms that your application is in Priority Group 3 and is expected to be allocated to a case officer for assessment within three months of the date of that letter, you and any family members included in your application should now follow the instructions of that letter. That is, all family members included in your application should now: 1. Undertake your health and character clearances if you have not already done so. 2. Complete Form 80: Personal particulars for character assessment 3. Update the Department on any change to your circumstances since lodgement of your application (if any). 4. Provide any documents relevant to your application that you have not already provided. Q3: Should I proceed with these clearances now? Yes, if you have received this letter. This is because the department expects to be able to be able to allocate your application to a case officer for assessment within three months of the date of this letter. By initiating these health and character clearances now and providing Form 80 and any other documents relevant to your application, you are likely to enable your application to be assessed in a quicker timeframe once it is allocated to a case officer. It is also possible that a decision may be able to be made when your application is first assessed without the need for your case officer to contact you about any outstanding requirements. Q4: Who should undertake these clearances? This letter refers to yourself and all members of your family unit listed in your application, irrespective of whether or not they are migrating with you. Members of your family unit include the following persons (as applicable): • a spouse, • dependent children, • children born after your application was lodged, and • a dependent widowed parent. If you have received this letter, all members of your family unit included in your application should now attend to the requirements listed. - 3 - Q5. I have received both a Personalised Letter (emailed on either 18th or 21st March 2011) advising me to undertake health and character clearances, and accessed the Invitation to undertake Health and Character attached to the auto-reply at gsm.processing@immi.gov.au – which one should I follow? If you have received a letter personally addressed to you which confirms that your application is in Priority Group 3 and is expected to be allocated to a case officer for assessment within three months of the date of that letter, you and any family members included in your application should now follow the instructions of that letter as listed as Q2. eVisa application and access Q6: I have forgotten my eVisa password and can not attach documents to the webbrowser, what should I do? If you have forgotten your eVisa password and are unable to attach information requested in this letter to your eVisa application via the web-browser (http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/general-skilled-migration-attachments.htm) you will need to forward any clearances, forms or requested documentation by email to gsm.documents@immi.gov.au. When doing so please ensure that you include your Client File Number and the Letter Reference Number. Health clearance results will be sent to the department by the clinic you visit. Please note that eVisa passwords are unable to be re-set. Q7: I can’t get into my eVisa application to download the medical forms, what should I do? To log into your eVisa application you will need to enter the Transaction Reference Number (TRN) listed at the top of the letter, your name, date of birth and passport number. If some any reason you are unable to download these forms, you will need to wait until your application has been allocated to a case officer for assessment (within three months of the date of this letter) before attending to this requirement. A case officer will assist you at this point in time. You may however, proceed with other requirements of this letter. - 4 - Health and Character clearances Q8: How should I apply for my health and character clearances? Health Clearances: Background information on the health requirement and health clearance process is available at: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/health-requirements/. To obtain the forms required for a health examination, you will need to visit https://www.ecom.immi.gov.au/inquiry/query/query.do?action=eVisa. From here youwill need to log into your eVisa application. The Health forms (160EH and 26EH) are available to be downloaded from the Document Checklist link. Character Clearances: Background information on the character requirement and instructions on how to initiate a character clearance is available at: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/character-requirements/ For the Australian Government to determine whether you are of good character, police certificates are required for each country you have lived in for 12 months or more over the last ten (10) years since turning 16 years of age. This includes Australia if you have resided in Australia for 12 months or more during this period. Each applicant included in the application aged 16 years or over will need to initiate these clearances irrespective of whether they are migrating with you. Q9: I am unable to obtain the results of my health clearance from the doctor, what should I do? If you have undertaken a health examination with an approved panel doctor (outside of Australia) or Medibank Health Solutions (in Australia), there is nothing further you need to do in relation to obtaining a health clearance. The results of your examination will be forwarded by the doctor to the department. You will be contacted if there are any further requirements once your case has been allocated to a case officer for assessment. As mentioned in this letter allocation of your case is likely to occur within three months of the date of this letter. Q10. I require a letter from DIAC listing all applicant names to obtain character clearances, how should I proceed? The department is aware that in some countries such a letter from the department is required before an applicant can undertake character clearances. If this is the case for you or any members of your family unit, please note that this letter may be used for this purpose. You may also use the Acknowledgement Letter sent to you when your application was lodged. You should present a copy of this Acknowledgement Letter and the letter provided by email in March when applying for a character clearance. - 5 - Alternatively, specific information as required for a clearance can be provided to you when your application has been allocated to a case officer for assessment. Q11: I am not sure if one of my clearances is still valid? If you have any queries about these instructions or the validity of a clearance you have already obtained, you will need to wait until you have been allocated a case officer and raise these queries at that time. This is because a case officer will need to assess your application in its entirety before determining whether any new clearances will be required. As mentioned in this letter, the department expects to allocate your application to a case officer within three months from the date of this letter. Hence, the validity of a particular clearance already obtained will be clarified within a relatively short timeframe. Form 80 Q12. Form 80: Should I download this form from my eVisa application or the DIAC website? A new Form 80: Personal particulars for character assessment should be completed for all applicants including dependents aged 16 years or over irrespective of whether they are migrating or not, and irrespective of whether this form(s) was provided when lodging your application. This up-to-date information will assist with the processing of an application once it is allocated. Form 80 should be downloaded from department’s website at: http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/80.pdf and not via your eVisa application.This form can be electronically completed and submitted to the department. Once complete you can attach this form online or email it to gsm.documents@immi.gov.au. If emailing to the department please ensure that you include your Client File Number and the Letter Reference Number within the subject line of the email. Providing clearances, forms or relevant documentation to the Department Q13: How should I provide the documentation requested in this letter? eVisa applicants should attach any clearances, forms or relevant documentation to the web-browser. For information on how to attach documents to the web-browser see: http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/general-skilled-migration-attachments.htm. If you are unable to attach documents to the web-browser, or you do not have your current eVisa password, these documents should be emailed to gsm.documents@immi.gov.au. Please ensure that you include your Client File Number and the Letter Reference Number within the subject line of the email. As mentioned above, health clearance results will be sent to the department by the clinic you visit. - 6 - What next? Q14: I have now provided all of my clearances, a new Form 80 and updated any changes in circumstances (as requested in this letter), when will my application be allocated to a case officer? If you have received this letter it is because the department expects to be able to allocate your application for assessment by a case officer within three months of the date of this letter. Applications will continue to be allocated in accordance with the priority processing arrangements as specified at http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/updated-priorityprocessing-arrangements.htm and after that, in date of lodgement order. Please note that this three month timeframe relates only to the initial assessment of your application. The length of time taken to process an application will be determined by any other outstanding requirements and your action to any request. You may wish to obtain an update on which GSM applications are currently being allocated to case officers for assessment. To do so, please send a blank email to gsm.processing@immi.gov.au. This auto-response is updated fortnightly and will provide you with an indication of when your application is nearing allocation. Once your application is allocated to a case officer, we request you allow a further six weeks for your application to be assessed. Q15. Is there anything else I can do? If you have received this letter and all members of your family unit included in your application have completed all of the requirements specified, there is nothing further you need to do until you are contacted by a case officer. At this point in time your case officer will advise you of any further requirements, or a decision, once they have assessed your application. Further questions Q16. I have further questions about these instructions, what can I do? If you have any queries about these instructions, you will need to wait until you have been allocated a case officer and raise these at that time. This is because a case officer will need to assess your application in its entirety and this can only be done once the application has been allocated. You may choose not to proceed with the requirements specified in this letter as this is not a formal request under the Migration Act. Please note that by not proceeding with these requirements the allocation of your application to a case officer will not be delayed but the time taken to finalise your application once it has been assessed by a case officer may be longer. Applications will continue to be allocated in accordance with the priority processing arrangements as specified at http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/updated-priorityprocessing-arrangements.htm and after that, in date of lodgement order. You may however, proceed with any elements of this letter for which you do not have questions. By doing this you may still allow your application to be processed in a quicker timeframe once allocated to a case officer for assessment. - 7 - Advice to applicants who have not received a letter Q17: When will other Priority Group 3 or 4 applicants be contacted? Applications are being allocated to a case officer for assessment in accordance with the priority processing arrangements set by the Minister for GSM applications. Under these arrangements the highest GSM priority is given to Priority Group 2 - applications from people who are nominated by a state or territory government agency with a nominated occupation that is specified on that state or territory’s state migration plan. Processing of Priority Group 2 applications is such they are now being allocated to a case officer to be assessed within a fortnight of receipt of their State/ Territory nomination form (Form 1100). Subsequently, processing has recommenced on Priority Group 3 applications in date of lodgement order within this priority grouping. Information on current processing dates for GSM applications can be obtained by sending a blank email to gsm.processing@immi.gov.au. You may wish to email this address periodically to determine whether the department is close to allocating applications commenced on the date of lodgement of your application. Further emails are expected to be sent to other Priority Group 3 and 4 applicants in coming months to advise of other applications nearing allocation to a case officer, and with updates on GSM application processing.

Hi I have applied for visa 487 onshore my occupation is motor mechanic I have aPplied on 5th November 2010 for visa 487 I have been sponsored by new south wales at the time of application my occupation was on their demand list but their SMP was not active and when they activated their SMP my occupation is not their I don't know which priority group I fall in to ? And how lOng it will take to get my visa approval please helpe out. Kind Regards thank you

Greetings everyone, Its my first post here, so pls excuse my writing. I have applied for 885 on 28th june 2010 and I am under priority 4 now. I have applied for new ICT Business Analyst - ANZSCO 261111 on 15th of feb in order to bring my file to p-3. Still waiting for outcome from the ACS. According to 18 march 2011 processing status the processing 2/09/2010 files for p-3 and visa 885(e-lodged). 1. May be after a month I will get my ACS skill assessment, Will I be able to my file to priority 3 as the time for that has already passed? 2. I am currently working as database support officer since last one year in Melbourne, Can that be helpful to move my file to p-3? 3. What should I do? Thanks in advance for you support Cheers Jatin