Request for information email recieved - GSM 175 - May 2009

[Lilly13]

Hi, I have recieved an email requesting for further information:

Request for information or documents

 

This letter refers to your application for a Skilled - (VE 175) Independent visa, which was lodged .... and the department is writing to you at this time to ensure all required documentation has been provided and is current.

 

As you may be aware priority processing arrangements apply to all applications for General Skilled Migration (GSM) and determine the order in which the department considers applications. Priority processing arrangements are set through a direction issued by the Minister.

 

Under the current ministerial direction your application is in Priority Group 5 and; subject to any changes in the priority processing direction; it is anticipated that your application will be allocated to a case officer within the next twelve (12) months.

 

Has anyone received this email and is it likely that I will be allocated a case officer within the next 12 months?

 

What's the process after being allocated a case officer, how long do things take?

 

My reason for asking is that I'm not sure if I'm ready to move yet as we had completely given up hope and have just purchased a new home taking on a huge mortgage. We are settled in our jobs and to be honest quite happy with life as it is. over the past few years I've also spent quite a bit setting up a new business which is starting to pick up now and I could potentially do very well in. I really dread the thought of having to start all over again but my husband would be very happy to go as his family is in Aus. Having no savings at all at the moment I really don't know if being allocated a case officer within the next 12 months would be a good thing. If this news had come a year or so earlier I would have been over the moon but with life as it is now and our financial situation this couldn't have come at a worse time!

 

Any help and advice would be much appreciated.

 

Lilly

[lebourvellec]

Since you have waited this long and application has been paid etc once you receive a CO they will request medicals and police checks. You will have 12 months to validate visa from earliest date of medicals or police checks (can be done by short holiday) and 5 years to make move from date of grant of the visa. So from this moment in time you could have up to 6 years to make the move. You might feel differently in years to come, best to keep options open. As you likely would not qualify for visa now with all the changes there have been in last 4 years - and the costs are huge now. Price for main and secondary applicant would be almost 3 times what you paid back in 2009.