New Changes to STATE SPONSORED MIGRATION

[Guest Gollywobbler]

Hi All

 

I spent quite a while yesterday trying to make sense of this latest bombshell.

 

To start with I wondered whether clumsy drafting of Q11 in the FAQ might be leading us all up the garden path.

 

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/faq-priority-processing.pdf

 

However freebo then found and posted the table below, which does seem to confirm Q11:

 

General Skilled Migration

 

NB: The three priorities mentoned in the Table are the 3 CSL ones. We can be sure of this because the Table does not mention subclasses 121/856 (NS visas) or 119/857 (RSMS visas.)

 

Earlier in this thread Alan Collett of Go Matilda said:

 

Go Matilda News article: Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia - News

 

I fear much of the backlog - resulting in the Minister's various directives and policy announcements - is being caused by large numbers of student visaholders who are now seeking permanent residency visas under the skilled program.

 

 

So I tracked down the Student visa statistics on the DIAC website:

 

Australian Immigration Fact Sheet 50. Overseas Students in Australia

 

There seem to have been major increases in Student visa grants every year for the last few years and since many of the Students do 2 or 3 year courses, I can well believe that there might by now be a higher number of recent graduates than ever before in Oz, with many of them now applying for the various GSM visas or planning to soon. I reckon Alan is spot on about this and that the Student visa figures are what has caused the predicted timelines to blow out in the way that DIAC now estimate.

 

Over on the British Expats thread George Lombard said:

 

I would suggest freezing the thread until the text of the Minister's direction is available, I haven't seen that yet and I'm sure it will answer, or leave unanswered, all relevant questions.

 

Waiting to see what the Minister actually said does make a lot of sense, so I tried to find that next but did not succeed.

 

NB - Agents - Please see ComLaw and the Regulations. The definition of Migration Occupatiion in Demand in R1.03 was altered on 17th September:

 

ComLaw Legislative Instruments - Migration Amendment Regulations 2009 (No. 11) (SLI 2009 No. 237)

 

I haven't had time to investigate what it used to say but I am wondering whether the LI is the first step towards scrapping the MODL?

 

Somebody on the BE thread said that the Minister tabled something in Parliament recently so I tried to track that down but again had no joy.

 

However I did find this:

 

http://www.aph.gov.au/SENATE/estimates/supp0910/info.pdf

 

The Minister for Immi will be getting a grilling from the Senate Budget Estimates Committee on Tuesday 20th October. I've no idea what they will be discussing but at least one of the other Senators is bound to ask some searching questions about the 23rd September changes, I reckon, and more might emerge about why the Minister has altered the definition of Migration Occupation in Demand.

 

I reckon that more detailed facts & figures might emerge via Hansard following the 20th October Committee. I don't know how promptly the transcripts are published after one of these Committees has met.

 

I'll put some comments/thoughts/suggestions into a separate post later.

 

Best wishes

 

Gill

[Alan Collett]

A problem with announcements such as the one yesterday is that an absence of accompanying statistical detail creates an atmosphere in which many look at worst case scenarios.

 

Remember also that the CSL and MODL are presently under review, and we could see more occupations finding their way onto the CSL if the States and Territories generally identify shortages in certain occupations.

 

At the coal face of processing I anticipate that case officers will progress certain prioritised categories, while others will be placed on temporary hold while the prioritised categories are cleared.

 

So, as an example, only this morning we have had a request from a case officer progressing a priority category 4 visa application.

 

I will make enquiries of the ASPC in an effort to identify when it is presently anticipated that the other priority categories will be first looked at, and the earliest visa applications that are presently being retained for UK based applicants for each priority category.

 

This should give a better indication for those who are concerned.

 

I can't guarantee a reply, but if I get one I will communicate details on this forum, and on Go Matilda News.

 

Best regards.

[Guest guest17301]

If you send a blank email to adelaide processing centre this is what comes back, useful for the latest processing times.....

 

GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION

ADELAIDE PROCESSING INFORMATION

 

This is an automated e-mail response which provides updated information on

skilled migration applications being processed by the Adelaide Skilled

Processing Centre (ASPC). Please do not reply to this email address as

this mailbox is not monitored. Contact details for the ASPC are listed

below.

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Recent Changes to Priority Processing - 23 September 2009

 

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, has set

new processing priorities for certain skilled migration visa applications.

The new direction will apply from 23 September 2009 and applies to new

applications, and those already lodged or in the final stages of

processing, and replaces the previous Priority Processing Direction (No.

40) which commenced on 1 January 2009.

 

The new direction gives priority to applicants who are sponsored by an

employer, have a nominated occupation which is in critical need and are

either sponsored by a state/territory government or by a family member.

Different priority processing arrangements for Skilled-Graduate (Subclass

485) visa applicants apply.

 

The Migration Act 1958 contains powers by which the Minister can consider

and finalise visa applications in an order of priority that the Minister

considers appropriate. Departmental officers are required to follow this

Ministerial direction, which applies to every stage of visa processing.

 

All General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas are subject to the new

Ministerial direction, except for:

· Skilled – Recognised Graduate (Subclass 476);

· Skilled – Designated Area – Sponsored (Subclass 883);

· Skilled – Regional (Subclass 887).

 

The direction gives the following processing priorities (with highest

priority listed first) to GSM applications:

1. applications from persons who are employer sponsored under the

Employer Nominated Scheme and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme;

2. applications from persons who are nominated by a State/Territory

government and have nominated an occupation on the Critical Skills List

(CSL);

3. applications from persons who are sponsored by family and who have

nominated an occupation on the CSL;

4. applications from persons who are neither nominated nor sponsored but

who have nominated an occupation on the CSL;

5. applications from persons who are nominated by a State/Territory

government and have not nominated an occupation on the CSL;

6. (i) applications from persons who have nominated an occupation on the

Migration Occupation in Demand List (MODL); and

(ii) applications from persons who are sponsored by family

and have not nominated an occupation on the CSL;

7. all other applications are to be processed in the order in which they

are received.

 

 

The direction also gives the following processing priority to

Skilled-Graduate (Subclass 485) visa applicants (with highest priority

listed first):

1. applications from persons who have completed an Australian Doctor of

Philosophy (PhD) at an Australian educational institution in Australia;

2. applications from persons who have nominated an occupation on the

CSL;

3. applications from persons who have completed an Australian Bachelor

degree and Australian Masters degree at an Australian educational

institution in Australia;

4. applications from persons who have completed an Australian Bachelor

degree and Australian Honours degree (at least upper second class level)

at an Australian educational institution in Australia;

5. applications from persons who have completed either an Australian

Bachelor degree or an Australian Masters degree at an Australian

educational

institution in Australia;

6. all other valid applications are to be processed in the order in

which they are received.

 

The complete list of occupations on the CSL is available on the

department’s website:

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/critical-skills-list.pdf

 

 

 

Application Processing Times

 

If your nominated occupation is on the Critical Skills List (CSL) and you

have applied or will apply for an onshore or offshore GSM visa before the

end of 2009, it is estimated that your visa application will be finalised

within 12 months from your lodgement date.

 

If your nominated occupation is not on the Critical Skills List (CSL) and

you have applied for an offshore GSM visa or intend to apply for an

offshore GSM visa later in 2009, it is unlikely that your visa application

will be finalised before the end of 2012.

 

If your nominated occupation is not on the CSL and you applied for an

onshore GSM visa or intend to apply for an onshore GSM visa later in 2009,

it is unlikely that your visa application will be finalised before the end

of 2011.

 

Your ‘nominated occupation' is the occupation you nominated at the time you

lodged your application and cannot be changed.

 

These application processing times are indicative only and are based on the

current visa application rate, the Priority Processing Direction (in effect

from

 

23 September 2009), and the availability of places in the Migration

Program.

 

Please do not contact the Department to request your application be

exempted from the Minister’s Priority Processing Direction. Departmental

officers must adhere to the Minister’s Direction and you will be contacted

by the Department when your application is allocated to a case officer.

 

Processing priorities are subject to change. Any changes to these

priorities or processing times will be updated on the Department’s website

at: What's New? Recent Changes in General Skilled Migration

 

 

Priority Processing Exemptions

 

 

Visa Subclasses 476 and 887 are exempt from the priority processing

changes. Applications under these subclasses will continue to be processed

in the order in which they were received by the Department – the following

subclass by application lodgement date identifies cases currently being

considered:

 

Visa Subclass Month/Year Lodgement

VF 476 (paper): 25 September 2008

VF 476 (e-lodged): 25 September 2008

VB 887 (paper): 7 July 2009

 

OTHER PROCESSING NEWS

 

MEDICAL RESULTS

 

If you have undertaken your medical examination at Health Services

Australia (HSA), please do not post your medical results to us unless your

case officer requests you to do so. Please store your results in a secure

place and do not open the sealed envelope.

 

 

BRISBANE PROCESSING

 

Information regarding applications processed in Brisbane can be obtained by

sending a blank email to the following email address:

gsmb.information@immi.gov.au

 

 

CONTACTING US

 

Email: All enquiries for the ASPC and BSPC need to be made using the

on-line enquiry form at:

General Skilled Migration Post-Lodgement Enquiry Form or

 

Telephone:

1300 364 613 (in Australia) for the cost of a local call; or

+61 1300 364 613 (outside Australia)

 

Contact Hours: (Australian Central Time):

0900 to 1600 Monday to Friday

 

Please note: due to the large volume of calls we receive, from time to time

you may experience lengthy delays before getting to speak to a customer

service officer.

 

 

LINKS

 

General Skilled Migration – What's New

What's New? Recent Changes in General Skilled Migration

 

Critical Skills List

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/critical-skills-list.pdf

 

Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL)

Is your occupation in demand? - Workers - Visas & Immigration

 

 

Last updated: 23 September 2009

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Important Notice: If you have received this email by mistake, please advise

the sender and delete the message and attachments immediately. This email,

including attachments, may contain confidential, sensitive, legally privileged

and/or copyright information. Any review, retransmission, dissemination

or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the

intended recipient is prohibited. DIAC respects your privacy and has

obligations under the Privacy Act 1988. The official departmental privacy

policy can be viewed on the department's website at Department of Immigration & Citizenship. See:

Privacy

 

 

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[FOTG]

I am sitting here trying to get over the flu and have just blubber my heart out!! We are waiting for SS, we thought our visa would be granted over the next few months, so we have had police checks, medicals, sold the house(living with parents) and last week we both handed in our notice at work(good well payed jobs!!). All I can think now is what the hell have we done!!! We have flights booked for 28th dec as we were advised by our agent that worst case scenario we could get WHV until our visa came through. Now with these changes I don't know what to do, I can't stop crying and don't know how to tell my hubby, from the looks of it we are not on the CSL so does this mean we are looking at 2012?? Please anyone any advice??

 

Hi Lindseyf, sorry to hear you've done so much for the damn "secured path" according to the DIAC's previous policy. I strongly advise you to follow the link: http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/migration-issues/69397-new-changes-state-sponsored-migration-4.html#post583837, which Gill posted and explain your situation to the Ombudsman. Good luck to all who have been affected to the worse side.

 

Kai

[Que Sera Sera]

All the agents are coming up with a delay of between 2-6 months so they are the experts and have seen this happen before so I have to leave my trust with them.

[rgrangana]

This is what I just posted on Kelly's WA thread.

 

I know this news made we all frustrated including me.

 

Anyway Don't worry, I guess soon next change may be replacement of CSl to FSL. As FSL results from the out come of the modl review, DIAC will consider more occupations with skill shortages in AU than current CSL. Otherwise they wouldn't achieve the objectives of MODL review.

 

Surely withing another one or two months most of you will be in new FSL and quickly get the priority. So lets live with a new hope.

 

Good luck to you all.

 

RG

[cartertucker]

Well my agent sent me an email late last nite, in which she said:

 

Applications from people who are nominated by a State/Territory government whose nominated occupation is not listed on the CSL (Estimated Processing Time 3-4 Months)

 

I am praying that this is the case.....:notworthy:

[Guest jilkfree1978]

i will pray with you aswell that is what we have:notworthy:

 

 

Well my agent sent me an email late last nite, in which she said:

 

Applications from people who are nominated by a State/Territory government whose nominated occupation is not listed on the CSL (Estimated Processing Time 3-4 Months)

 

I am praying that this is the case.....:notworthy:

[Que Sera Sera]

i will pray with you aswell that is what we have:notworthy:

 

 

Me three!:notworthy:

[FOTG]

Well my agent sent me an email late last nite, in which she said:

 

Applications from people who are nominated by a State/Territory government whose nominated occupation is not listed on the CSL (Estimated Processing Time 3-4 Months)

 

I am praying that this is the case.....:notworthy:

 

I hope thats the case too, but wat i was wondering is this based on her calculation or just kind of comfort? I mean, did she get this estimated period from DIAC or numbers with a formula? I am thinking it always be good if we knew how much people are actually on CSL per month and how many applications can DIAC handle per month??? More transparency.

[kellyjamie]

i actually felt physically sick when i read this yesterday and i just wanted to give up. it just feels like yet another kick in the wotsits.

 

i agree totally with IMP aswell excatly how long are we supposed to put our lives on hold waiting for that bloody visa to drop thru the inbox?

 

we are praying seriously praying they look at this again and realise what a monumental cock up of a decision it is, because if we have to wait another 3 years our son will be egtting ready to sit his standard grades and we are not prepared to uproot him at that point so it would really be 4 years for us and that is just too long, so much could happen in that time.

 

I had to laugh when i read the new priority list,

employer sponsored first - great if you can actually secure a job offer in the current climate, and with 99% of jobs on seek stating you must have the right to work in oz to apply!!!!!! so thats going to be easy

 

state sponsored on CSL - considering every bloody state has a different csl to the main one how on earth are states such as SA, NT, ACT and TAS meant to populate when they have a limited small pool of people they can get there within a year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

AND finally my wonderful category

state sponsor with no crappy csl!! this is a fantastic category to be in, seeings as 2 days ago we were 2nd priority and now wree 5th, you just gotta love that senator evans, what a guy, this is going to work because states such as those mentioned above are really going to love the idea of sponsoring you knowing that your visa will not be issued for 3 years!!! Evans obviously believes these states have crystal balls and can tell that in 3 years there will still be a shortfall of my occupation and so they will be happy to sponsor and wait 3 years!

 

today i have woke up totally livid but also despondent, why the hell am i jumping thru hoops naked and backwards trying to get into this country, yes we loved it and yes its going to or would have provided a wonderful life for our family but i just dont know if we can live handle the wait and uncertainty of it all anymore. Our agent believs things will change again and urged us yesterday to stay calm and positive and to keep on going, i have to say yesterday i was so glad we have an agent. Seeing him on friday for a pep talk then im getting sloshed on staurday and we,ll see what immigration joys monday brings!

 

love to all and and chin up everyone xxx:hug::hug:

[Que Sera Sera]

I hope thats the case too, but wat i was wondering is this based on her calculation or just kind of comfort? I mean, did she get this estimated period from DIAC or numbers with a formula? I am thinking it always be good if we knew how much people are actually on CSL per month and how many applications can DIAC handle per month??? More transparency.

 

 

 

From what I gather the way they are calculating it is based on the number of applicants in the top 4 catagories and how many visas they know are allowed to be allocated for this coming year. There are not that many applications in the top 3 catagories and the 4th ( the CSL ) will be done a whole lot faster when Diac concentrate wholly on them, so Diac are currently dealing with Aprils CSl applications.

[Guest Bill_er_Bong]

Q9: It seems likely that some people will find that they have spent a lot of money on meds in anticipation of swift end-stage processing of their applications but that this new change may result in those applicants having to have their meds done again.

 

 

Like me!!!!

 

Hahahahahahah!!! In the last week, I just spent £590 on x-rays, meds and police checks...!!! I was actually thinking of postponing the meds on Monday as I and also one of the kids had a bit of a cold... DAMN!!!

 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

 

And that just rubs your nose in it when you have to deal with the major pain of going from roughly 2 months to visa time to perhaps 2 -3 years till visa time!!!

 

Painful isn't it folks? I have to admit, I was expecting some kind of further change to the system, and thats why I went for the pre-load option with meds and PCCs so as to speed things through as fast as possible. However, I wasn't expecting this!!!

 

We got SS secured at the start of the month (non CSL), so we figured we were a couple of months away from a CO. Anyway, best of luck everyone, especially you "SS non-CSLers" like us...

 

Thanks for your opinions on this Gill, as ever an unbeatable trove of information on these matters...

 

I'll be back later with more thoughts....

 

:realmad:

[Guest Bill_er_Bong]

From what I gather the way they are calculating it is based on the number of applicants in the top 4 catagories and how many visas they know are allowed to be allocated for this coming year. There are not that many applications in the top 3 catagories and the 4th ( the CSL ) will be done a whole lot faster when Diac concentrate wholly on them, so Diac are currently dealing with Aprils CSl applications.

 

Hmmmm... I wish I was so optimistic. Or a lot less pessimistic! I hope it might be as you describe, but if so, how come they are quoting 3 years for someone who is State Sponsored but not on the CSL?

[Guest Bill_er_Bong]

All the agents are coming up with a delay of between 2-6 months so they are the experts and have seen this happen before so I have to leave my trust with them.

 

I think some of them are maybe telling people what they want to hear.... keep people interested... not loose hope... etc

 

I just can't believe that the govt would quote 3 years for SS non-CSL (position 5) if the delay would only 2 - 6 months. Something doesnt add up here... maybe the govt is wrong on this????

[FOTG]

From what I gather the way they are calculating it is based on the number of applicants in the top 4 catagories and how many visas they know are allowed to be allocated for this coming year. There are not that many applications in the top 3 catagories and the 4th ( the CSL ) will be done a whole lot faster when Diac concentrate wholly on them, so Diac are currently dealing with Aprils CSl applications.

IC, based on ur information, there're 5 months CSL applicants left for DIAC to deal with right now. My concern is: can they actually consume these number in a short period of time, like in 3 months? 6 months? Optimistically speaking, after they finish those CSL cases, they could deal with our SS cases along with new CSL cases. But as far as I know, there are heaps of CSL applicants coming at end of this year who finish their Professional year program from which they will qualified to be listed on the CSL.

 

Cheers,

 

Kai

[kellyjamie]

the news just keeps getting worse!:arghh:

[Guest TheHollies]

I think some of them are maybe telling people what they want to hear.... keep people interested... not loose hope... etc

 

I just can't believe that the govt would quote 3 years for SS non-CSL (position 5) if the delay would only 2 - 6 months. Something doesnt add up here... maybe the govt is wrong on this????

 

this happened when they altered the csl list in march, other visas were still being granted, are they really going to leave a big pile of applications which are finalised and ready to go to sit gathering dust in their offices for the next 3 years?? doesnt make sense

[Que Sera Sera]

IC, based on ur information, there're 5 months CSL applicants left for DIAC to deal with right now. My concern is: can they actually consume these number in a short period of time, like in 3 months? 6 months? Optimistically speaking, after they finish those CSL cases, they could deal with our SS cases along with new CSL cases. But as far as I know, there are heaps of CSL applicants coming at end of this year who finish their Professional year program from which they will qualified to be listed on the CSL.

 

Cheers,

 

Kai

 

The CSL is about to be changed though isnt it? so who knows, I sure don't!:twitcy:

[Guest WJK]

Well my agent sent me an email late last nite, in which she said:

 

Applications from people who are nominated by a State/Territory government whose nominated occupation is not listed on the CSL (Estimated Processing Time 3-4 Months)

 

I am praying that this is the case.....:notworthy:

 

Kelly

count me in :notworthy:

we are going to the emigrate seminar at Aintree Liverpool this weekend I will talk to the guys on the WA desk see what they think of recent changes ( maybe Sue can help again !) after all they wanted me ! now looks like they will have to wait to fill their skill shortages

will post what they say on here Sunday

Its strange we thought we were weeks away from Purple and would be looking for help/advice on removals banking etc now we will be going to the expo not knowing what the future will bring

 

WJK

[cartertucker]

Kelly

count me in :notworthy:

we are going to the emigrate seminar at Aintree Liverpool this weekend I will talk to the guys on the WA desk see what they think of recent changes ( maybe Sue can help again !) after all they wanted me ! now looks like they will have to wait to fill their skill shortages

will post what they say on here Sunday

Its strange we thought we were weeks away from Purple and would be looking for help/advice on removals banking etc now we will be going to the expo not knowing what the future will bring

 

WJK

 

Great, thankyou so much, we shall look forward to what they have to say....:eek:

[Guest Impatient]

There is a part of me that wants to think that the CSL is so small now, that it could not possible take them that long to get through existing and expected applications. But that thinking does me no good at all, same as most people on here I am working to a timeline and this will cause certain changes to be made - will I have the flexibility to adapt if the timeline gets shorter again? God knows. Hey ho.

[Shaz36]

Hi,

Perhaps you are right in thinking that if all efforts are focused on processing CSL's then they'll get thru them in no time, then end of Oct/Nov they will review the MODL, remove the CSL, and introduce a FSL.

 

Who knows!

[Guest Rhubarb]

There is a news story about this here, they say there were no press releases about this at all, it just appeared on the DIAC page. It says it affects all skilled working visas from yesterday, and not just new ones but ones that were already in the application process. :eek:

[cassy]

Tell me about it. I am all thought out, goggle eyed cause of computor!!!

 

To rub salt in the wound, had e mail off agent this morning to say wa have granted our sponsorship. Before yesterday I would have been screaming the news from the rooftop!!!!! Aint even phoned my oh yet!!

 

Oh well breakfast calling