Skillselect ENS 186 Timeline

[Montys Beard]

21 minutes ago, Siddu said:

Congrats mate 

Wow. That's super fast! Congrats man.

It's amazing how some people get accpeted in four months and others haven't heard a peep in 15 months? Is there an actual process the CO's go through, or something that bumps you up quicker? Or is it all just pot luck? I'm at 5 months today and keeping everything crossed...

[Praveen Reddy]

Is there any DE applicant from July 2016 or before still waiting without any update.


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[04April2017DE]

19 minutes ago, Montys Beard said:

Wow. That's super fast! Congrats man.

It's amazing how some people get accpeted in four months and others haven't heard a peep in 15 months? Is there an actual process the CO's go through, or something that bumps you up quicker? Or is it all just pot luck? I'm at 5 months today and keeping everything crossed...

Thanks mate.

Having read others' approval news in the past and with hindsight of my own journey as of today,  personally I think it is likely DIBP uses a risk based approach for processing.  The length of the process depends on a variety of factors such as risk and quality of the nominator, applicants' personal circumstances and etc. My application would probably have been deemed as one of the "decision ready" ones since both applications were submitted back in April 2017.   

[Montys Beard]

Just now, 04April2017DE said:

Thanks mate.

Having read others' approval news in the past and with hindsight of my own journey as of today,  personally I think it is likely DIBP uses a risk based approach for processing.  The length of the process depends on a variety of factors such as risk and quality of the nominator, applicants' personal circumstances and etc. My application would probably have been deemed as one of the "decision ready" ones since both applications were submitted back in April 2017.   

That was my thinking too. 

My application went in on March 13th. Similar to yourself, we went in decision ready and (IMO) we're quite low risk. Congratulations again, that's the quickest decision I've seen! Enjoy the freedom.

[jess6]

33 minutes ago, Montys Beard said:

Wow. That's super fast! Congrats man.

It's amazing how some people get accpeted in four months and others haven't heard a peep in 15 months? Is there an actual process the CO's go through, or something that bumps you up quicker? Or is it all just pot luck? I'm at 5 months today and keeping everything crossed...

Yes there is an escalation process, just ask your MA. This process is only for very special cases (research etc.)

4 minutes ago, 04April2017DE said:

Thanks mate.

Having read others' approval news in the past and with hindsight of my own journey as of today,  personally I think it is likely DIBP uses a risk based approach for processing.  The length of the process depends on a variety of factors such as risk and quality of the nominator, applicants' personal circumstances and etc. My application would probably have been deemed as one of the "decision ready" ones since both applications were submitted back in April 2017.   

Not sure of this. My case - and other people cases I know personally go against this theory.

[jess6]

Here is what I learnt during that process based on my observations, personal experiences and friends or acquaintances experiences:

1- Is this possible to expedite the application?
Only for very few cases mostly related to vital occupations for Australia (ask your MA)

2 - Is a file taking longer because it is more complex?
If your file is not open, I do not think there is any way to know if it is complex or not.

My file was decision ready, sponsored by a huge and very respected company, with a very respected migration agency, onshore application from LR country, with high level of English, positive skills assessment, no risk whatsoever (health or criminal) and Australian citizen Fiancé.
Still it took almost 13 months to be allocated. Why? Probably because Direct Entry - Marketing Specialist.
Once open and reviewed by the CO, the file went from "Received" to "Finalised" pretty quickly without any additional documents requested.

3- Is there an occupation prioritisation system?
Some time ago, someone mentioned a prioritisation system based on economic needs in Australia. This theory is the most believable so far to me, and it also fits with the government official declarations (Jobs need to go to Australians first - which makes sense).

As an example, I have seen several other Direct Entry - Marketing specialists in this situation before me. Great easy files but still waited forever.
Also it could explain why approvals get slower after a rush of applications. The system would need to re-prioritise everything and look if any new applicant as a vital occupation for Australia.

4- Are Direct Entry applications a flag?
The government is currently looking into removing the possibility for applicants to acquire PR without having lived in Australia, check here.
Direct Entry do seem like a flag if the occupation is not vital and even more if the applicant is offshore.

5- Are HR countries a flag?
It looks like for some countries, additional background checks are required once the file is open. However it does not seem to impact the speed of the allocation from what I have observed.

6 - Other factors to take into account?
If your file is open and it takes a long time to get an answer from the CO after having provided the docs: maybe your CO is on annual or sick leave, or needed to prioritize other files before yours. Don't forget that CO are people.
I have heard rumours of people getting files allocated quicker because they "know people". It is a little surprising to me but who knows.

7 - I have been waiting forever what can I do?
- First, if your file is not open, be realistic about the current situation. Jobs have been cut at the Department of Immigration, the government wants to protect Australian Jobs and the amount of people entering the country permanently. It looks like there are quite a few files taking 18 months or more.

Avoid starting complaining if you have waited less than the official maximum timelines because, let's be honest, from the department or your MA perspective, your requests will not look good, and they will make them lose their time. Set the right expectations, otherwise you might get quite anxious if you get stuck in the matrix.

- Second, if your file is open, ask yourself is there is a genuine reason why your file would take longer: Is there any flag on your nomination or application?
Once open, the file will be analysed, and yes, your employer is very important, your background, your health, your level of english etc.

- If you have been waiting for a very long time, beyond max timelines, you can try the following:

- Contact your MA and ask for regular status updates (mail, phone) - get to know the system too: https://www.mia.org.au/
- Contact the department by email and on the phone (take what they say with a grain of salt though) - follow their news: https://www.border.gov.au/about/news-media/whats-new
- Give feedback about the service if you feel like it: https://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/provide-feedback
- Give feedback about the future of the process if you feel like it: https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/visa-reform/policy-consultation-paper
- Contact your local MP if you are onshore and explain your story if you feel like it
- I do not know exactly how that works but I thought I'd share this too : https://www.igis.gov.au/complaints/immigration-matters

In any case, be polite and respectful, do not forget that it is about allowing you to live permanently in Australia: this is a big deal. So don't be a fool and stop feeling entitled to be treated better than other people. Your LR status, UK or European passport won't give your any additional rights.

However, this is true that the timelines should be reasonable so if you have been waiting for a long time, it is not inappropriate to ask for explanations.

If things get really too difficult, you may want to further read about past difficult PR immigration stories and what actions these people have taken:

http://insidestory.org.au/living-at-the-wrong-end-of-the-queue/

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-19/skilled-migrants-waiting-years-for-permanent-residency/6481916

[04April2017DE]

I agree with the potential theory of occupation prioritisation. I.e. Applications with occupations of Australian shortage may get looked at earlier than others. But how does it makes sense on with "Jobs need to go to Australians first"? E.g. if you applied onshore under DE or TRT as a marketing specialist, wouldn't you have grabbed this 'Australian' marketing job already? Even with offshore, doesn't it mean that the job is offered to a foreign already? So regardless the job is filled by a non-Australian. To me this process does not ensure Australian get the job first!

So from DIBP perspective, what is the point of making marketing specialist applicants' process longer? The occupation may not sound skilled enough to certain group of people, and Australia may not has a shortage of such occupation anymore. But the jobs are already taken by non-Australians. Most applicants ain't quit the jobs till they got PR. 

The new policy of charging thousands of dollars to nominator if they sponsor foreigners would actually help reduce the competitiveness of skilled foreign applicant. Therefore Australians are more likely to be hired for the same job!

[jess6]

1 hour ago, 04April2017DE said:

I agree with the potential theory of occupation prioritisation. I.e. Applications with occupations of Australian shortage may get looked at earlier than others. But how does it makes sense on with "Jobs need to go to Australians first"? E.g. if you applied onshore under DE or TRT as a marketing specialist, wouldn't you have grabbed this 'Australian' marketing job already? Even with offshore, doesn't it mean that the job is offered to a foreign already? So regardless the job is filled by a non-Australian. To me this process does not ensure Australian get the job first!

I do not disagree. Foreigers can still get sponsored for temporary visas so technically, this does not necessarily encourage companies to hire more Australians. It actually probably create less job security. However, the idea is still to try to favour Australians which is fair.

FYI - Transition visas usually get approved faster than Direct Entry ones.

If you make people wait longer, you avoid pumping too many additional people with a common occupation in the country economy. Do not forget that permanent residents have access to most of citizen benefits (i.e. MEdicare, CenterLink etc.)

The deparment sees: Marketing Specialist - we already have lots of them. Direct Entry: why add an additional permanent resident with that occupation straight away. In the allocation process, I do not think they see if you are onshore of not.

1 hour ago, 04April2017DE said:

So from DIBP perspective, what is the point of making marketing specialist applicants' process longer? The occupation may not sound skilled enough to certain group of people, and Australia may not has a shortage of such occupation anymore. But the jobs are already taken by non-Australians. Most applicants ain't quit the jobs till they got PR.

If you prioritise occupations, you automatically de-prioritize others, hence the longer wait.

The Marketing Specialist occupation is highly skilled. FYI - I own two master degrees and have almost 10 years work experience.

1 hour ago, 04April2017DE said:

The new policy of charging thousands of dollars to nominator if they sponsor foreigners would actually help reduce the competitiveness of skilled foreign applicant. Therefore Australians are more likely to be hired for the same job!

In my case, I definitely did not take the job of an Australian and my employer would have happily paid more money for my sponsor. My skillset is quite specialised in the marketing field. But the department only realises this once they open the file. Until then, you are stuck in the queue because of the name of the occupation.

[MaggieMay24]

On 8/14/2017 at 16:08, JDSS said:

Hi All,

I applied for my PR under ENS 186 in the month of May'17 and its been 3 months I haven't heard anything from immi dept. Also I have created a immi account, it doesnt show any tracking of my application. When do I get a notification? How long is the general processing time?

Since i applied in May'17, I was not required to do ILTES, I had to prove I have studied in a English medium institute for 5 consecutive years. From July'17 its a must all ENS 186 applicant should complete the ILTES and score average 6 in all the parameters. Do I have to complete the ILTES as they haven't pick up my application yet?

Thanks

JDSS

If you have imported your application into your ImmiAccount, you should see it there although the status may simply say Received.  The status may never change until they finalise your application, so it's not really much of a tracking tool.  Applications are currently taking anywhere from 9-15 months on average so you still have quite a wait ahead of you.

Regarding the IELTS, since your application was lodged before July 1st, you don't need to complete an IELTS.... http://newsroom.border.gov.au/releases/clarifying-changes-to-employer-sponsored-permanent-visas

[JonnyP]

On 02/07/2017 at 10:37, Jimmysydney said:

Dear All,

I am confused about the requirement of “3 years relevant work experience” in ENS 186 Direct Entry stream.

I have been assessed as positive by VETASSESS under the occupation I have nominated. Although I have many years relevant work experience, the “Number of years assessed positively”  is only 2.4 years. I had lodged my 186 Direct Entry visa application before someone told me that I did not satisfy the 3 years skilled employment requirement. Then I asked VETASSESS for a re-assessment and got a new outcome with 5 years assessed positively.

My question is: 

Do I have to withdraw my lodged 186 DE visa application then lodge a new one? (because ‘A skills assessment provided after you have applied for your visa cannot be accepted.’), or I just need to upload my new assessment outcome to my lodged application. 

I don’t want to waste the application fee, but I want to make sure that I qualify the work experience requirement.

 Appreciate your time reading and your valuable advice.

Hi Jimmysydney,

I know this is quite old message but I was just wondering how did you go with this situation?

I sent you a PM, please get back to me. Thanks.

[jess6]

3 hours ago, JonnyP said:

Hi Jimmysydney,

I know this is quite old message but I was just wondering how did you go with this situation?

I sent you a PM, please get back to me. Thanks.

I would refer to an agent for this question.

My understanding is: You need a positive Vetassess assessment for the 186 DE visa. After that, the CO is the person who looks at your CV and decides if your experience is relevant.

The part with the number of years assessed positively is not for the 186 visa but for the independant visa (189? 190?). So you could get zero years in this section and still get the visa if the CO thinks that your experience is actually relevant.

The above feedback was from my agent - she is taking care of one of my colleague PR.

But again, for peace of mind, I'd recommend you get in touch with an agent and ask for their advice.

[Yvi]

Is this just my feeling or all visa applied in 2016 are on hold? Nothing is happening in the new financial year... 

[Praveen Reddy]

Is this just my feeling or all visa applied in 2016 are on hold? Nothing is happening in the new financial year... 

Same feeling mate. Able to see only one or two approvals throughout the week [emoji45]


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[paramsahota]

I m waiting from nov 2015......now on bridging visa....no case officer allocated yet......nothing happened to my file nearly 2 years very soon

[Yvi]

29 minutes ago, paramsahota said:

I m waiting from nov 2015......now on bridging visa....no case officer allocated yet......nothing happened to my file nearly 2 years very soon

Do you have MA? This is not a reasonable timeframe. I would contact an MA and request an update in your case. This is scary for everyone else waiting here, as this can happen to all of us, who knows. Uncertainty is the worst!!!

[paramsahota]

Yes i have MA but doing nothing just send reminder to immi for update but nothing special from immi ....immi  said if they need something than we contact u otherwise wait 

[Praveen Reddy]

Immi just updated the processing times.


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[Alice 1]

Same here waiting from May 2016 requested documents in December after nothing happened


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[Yvi]

5 hours ago, Praveen Reddy said:

Immi just updated the processing times.


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These processing times seem unrealistic. Last week my MA called Immigration and they said they currently processing applicatiins lodged between April 2016-June 2017!!!!

[Ozdream1]

These processing times seem unrealistic. Last week my MA called Immigration and they said they currently processing applicatiins lodged between April 2016-June 2017!!!!

Unrealistic?
I unfortunately hit the 8th month...[emoji856][emoji20]

[Yvi]

Lots of people wait more than 8 or 13 months... for no obvious reason, unfortunately.

[Ozdream1]

Lots of people wait more than 8 or 13 months... for no obvious reason, unfortunately.

Yes unfortunately [emoji52]
And it seems so unfair to see such variables processing times between the different streams or within the same occupation...
Makes no sense at all..
And yes I think it's sometimes unfair... even if I'm always happy to see people get their visa granted here..[emoji5]

[Avengerpenguin]

Hi everyone, hoping someone can help me with a query.  Currently have an application for ens 186 lodged through the company MA, have been working here for 2 1/2 years on my 457.

At the point of employer nomination being checked do they re-check the occupation list, as my current visa category now has a caveat since the changes in July 2017 that I cannot meet,  my application was lodged in May but I have had no notification that it is with a case officer yet.

[Eamon]

26 minutes ago, Avengerpenguin said:

Hi everyone, hoping someone can help me with a query.  Currently have an application for ens 186 lodged through the company MA, have been working here for 2 1/2 years on my 457.

At the point of employer nomination being checked do they re-check the occupation list, as my current visa category now has a caveat since the changes in July 2017 that I cannot meet,  my application was lodged in May but I have had no notification that it is with a case officer yet.

Hi as far as i know if you applied before the July changes the caveat's don't apply. Only for nomination's after that date. I am in the same situation our occupation now has caveat's but we applied June 16.

[Iri01]

Hello,

I've been a silent follower of this forum for some time. My partner and I got the good news this week and are in the lucky group that didn't have to wait too long.

I've updated the spreadsheet; here is our timeline:

187 Direct entry, LR country

Nomination and Visa applied onshore on 28/02/2017 

Occupation: electrician, general

Extra information requested on 12/07/2017:  AU and overseas police checks, medicals, relationship evidence. Provided on 3/08/2017.

Visa granted 16/08/2017.

I wish a quick decision to all of you guys who are still waiting! I can only imagine the stress and anger you must feel! Hang in there!