What would you say to the Minister of Immigration? Really.

[Guest biohacker]

Gday Biohacker.

 

No problem and I'm sorry you guys have to deal with the incompetencies of Government over here as well as at home. (oops, did I say that?) :policeman:

 

CSL won't go any faster, but it will get done.

 

Jamie. On the top of that, you should see the incompetence and corruption of my own government. I am just an honest guy who wants to earn his bread, but in my country is so difficult to achieve this if you are a person with no political connections. That is why I am so anxious to get into Australia and start a new life where honest work pays

[Guest sassygal]

wow thank you Jamie for such detailed information,

[Guest sh7t man no way]

question 1--- why are you treating good peaple so badly---question 2---if a goverment doesnt know what it doing its doing with immigration,how do you expect an individual to know--question 3 the truth does not hurt.

[Guest June Pixie]

Dear Minister,

 

First of all I’d like to thank you and your government unreservedly for helping me discover that I actually like living in the UK. I am one of the ‘rose tinted glasses’ prospective migrants who watched too much ‘Wanted Down Under’ last year. Added to that sad fact I honestly believed that Australia could offer our family a good way of life, and at the time I was prepared to embrace the whole ‘Aussie’ ideal and go full out to make Australia a success. We were indeed impatient to live that dream.

 

When the changes were announced we were affected; we had completed a successful Cabinet Maker TRA, IELTS for non British born lead applicant, gained South Australian state sponsorship and finally lodged our visa in August this year; going through this process was like the migration equivalent of Cruft’s. Things bounced along quickly and we were eagerly waiting getting the medicals and police checks done and booking our flights for next July for our permanent move to Australia.

Then came the ‘changes’ and now we are looking to wait however long you deem necessary to grant our visa. Our predicament now is whether we actually want to come to Australia. Giving people the liberty of time they sometimes, on balance, will decide that what they need is actually right on their doorstep and perhaps they need not travel to the Antipodes to live that perceived dream.

 

As a couple we do not have a ‘Critical Skill’ but we do have, between us, three in demand occupations, my partner is a four year apprenticed Cabinet Maker, who has repaired furniture at Windsor Castle, Dornoch Castle and Westminster Abbey. He is also a qualified Arborist and in study to complete his consultancy – Two of your 60 point occupations apparently in demand. My occupation only carries 40 points as a Housing Officer, but the gist is, we are a young healthy couple who could have brought our work ethic and skills to an Australian workforce and progressed well there.

As it now happens my partner has been offered two prospective jobs in Germany and another to relocate within the UK; now we have been given this enforced wait we have to consider our other options.

 

On one hand I commend the Australian government for making an unpopular decision and sticking to it, then maybe, sometime in the future, having to back track and say sorry to a few people. After all, it’s only an unpopular decision for people who are impatient and especially people who have lost money on medical fees.

The downside to your decision lies in the fact that now you have given prospective migrants a chance to reflect on their situations, and quite possibly it won’t be a positive outcome for Australia.

 

I have to ask that: Is it not the case that a great number of skilled migrants who have willingly came to Australia and paid for the privilege to do so, return to their home countries? What you are left with is a few people who migrate there and happen to like hot weather or students who are rich enough to go to University there and perhaps stay on a couple of years and finally, a hotch potch of nationalities who really do need that better life.

Surely it will be better for the long term Australian economy to just open the gates, let the skilled migrants flow in, see what sticks and pray for the best?

 

What ever happens in the future and when we finally get our visa in 2012/13 we will validate it for an extended holiday but whether we stay or not – Who knows!

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

JP of UK

[Guest sassygal]

Dear Minister,

 

First of all I’d like to thank you and your government unreservedly for helping me discover that I actually like living in the UK. I am one of the ‘rose tinted glasses’ prospective migrants who watched too much ‘Wanted Down Under’ last year. Added to that sad fact I honestly believed that Australia could offer our family a good way of live, and at the time I was prepared to embrace the whole ‘Aussie’ ideal and go full out to make Australia a success. We were indeed impatient to live that dream.

 

When the changes were announced we were affected; we had completed a successful Cabinet Maker TRA, IELTS for non British born lead applicant, gained South Australian state sponsorship and finally lodged our visa in August this year; going through this process was like the migration equivalent of Cruft’s. Things bounced along quickly and we were eagerly waiting getting the medicals and police checks done and booking our flights for next July for our permanent move to Australia.

Then came the ‘changes’ and now we are looking to wait however long you deem necessary to grant our visa. Our predicament now is whether we actually want to come to Australia. Giving people the liberty of time they sometimes, on balance, will decide that what they need is actually right on their doorstep and perhaps they need not travel to the Antipodes to live their perceived dream.

 

On one hand I commend the Australian government for making an unpopular decision and sticking to it, then maybe, sometime in the future, having to back track and say sorry to a few people. After all, it’s only an unpopular decision for people who are impatient and especially people who have lost money on medical fees.

The downside to your decision lies in the fact that now you have given prospective migrants a chance to reflect on their situations, and quite possibly it won’t be a positive outcome for Australia.

 

As a couple we do not have a ‘Critical Skill’ but we do have, between us, three in demand occupation, my partner is a four year apprenticed Cabinet Maker, who has repaired furniture at Windsor Castle, Dornoch Castle and Westminster Abbey. He is also a qualified Arborist and in study to complete his consultancy – Two of your 60 point occupations apparently in demand. My occupation only carries 40 points as a Housing Officer, but the gist is, we are a young healthy couple who could have brought our work ethic and skills to an Australian workforce and progressed well there.

As it now happens my partner has been offered two prospective jobs in Germany and another to relocate within the UK; now we have been given this enforced wait we have to consider our other options.

 

I have to ask that: Is it not the case that a great number of skilled migrants who have willingly came to Australia and paid for the privilege to do so, return to their home countries? What you are left with is a few people who migrate there and happen to like hot weather or students who are rich enough to go to University there and perhaps stay on a couple of years and finally, a hotch potch of nationalities who really do need that better life.

Surely it will be better for the long term Australian economy to just open the gates, let the skilled migrants flow in, see what sticks and pray for the best?

 

What ever happens in the future and when we finally get our visa in 2012/13 we will validate it for an extended holiday but whether we stay or not – Who knows!

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

JP of UK

 

 

very well said and I am sure there are a lot more whom will think alike. Being completely unimpressed with the changes but too much money and time put into their visa application to pull out and lose it all. How many will suck it and see...who knows what their position will be in 2012, all manner of circumstances could have changed not to mention lost all desire to move to oz after been given the run around for the best part of 3 or more years.

 

I think it is totally unacceptable for them to give a such a date, so far all they have predicted is that they are not likely to be processed until the end of 2012, well thats the current news and information........what if they change it again and again......leopards dont change their spots and the radical plucked out of the ass changes are becoming a habbit........unfortunatley:sad:

[kellyjamie]

so non csl ss really are looking at atleast 2 years minimum?

[SHANO7]

Great post Jamie

 

Cyrstal ball for us also please. My wife recently passed TRA for hairdessing and our app for WA ss was lodged and acknowledged 1st September. Our agent believes that by end oy the year we shall have SS. What is the expected timescale for us please. In respect of Employee sponsored. My Uncle owns a salon in London Court Perth and the intention is for my wife to work for him. Is this a possible avenue to employer sposnored and therfore a quicker turnaround ?

 

Your advice would be welcomed.

Shane

[Guest Gollywobbler]

Hi Shane

 

My Uncle owns a salon in London Court Perth and the intention is for my wife to work for him. Is this a possible avenue to employer sposnored and therfore a quicker turnaround ?

 

 

You and Uncle should definitely investigate the possibility of an ENS 121 visa for your wife:

 

Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 121/856)

 

Employer Sponsored Migration Booklet - Australian Immigration

 

Best wishes

 

Gill

[Guest sassygal]

Great post Jamie

 

Cyrstal ball for us also please. My wife recently passed TRA for hairdessing and our app for WA ss was lodged and acknowledged 1st September. Our agent believes that by end oy the year we shall have SS. What is the expected timescale for us please. In respect of Employee sponsored. My Uncle owns a salon in London Court Perth and the intention is for my wife to work for him. Is this a possible avenue to employer sposnored and therfore a quicker turnaround ?

 

Your advice would be welcomed.

Shane

 

 

yes follow gills advice and quickly before the goal posts move yet again!

 

could your uncle sponsor me please, we could get all of the hairdresser from PIO and start a national chain of PIO hairdressers:biglaugh:

 

good luck, after the changes everyone wants an employer so be quick and beat the que..........jesus the things you have to do these days!

[SHANO7]

Thanks Gill

 

Would it matter that we have already applied for WA SS ? We had initially wanted to do everything without bothering my uncle as we will probably live with them initially. Its so annoying he also rents oout property and we are going to rent from him also and then ... the changes !!!!

 

Shane

[SHANO7]

Thanks Sassygal

 

The idea would be to eventually purchase the salon we could then have a continous straem of ENS from the UK working from our salon

 

I think I will Skype him this weekend and put the idea to him .

 

We just want to be granted PR as soon as possible. Our daughter is 16 and who knows what she might think in a few years time. Maybe I should get her to apply to be Senator of Immigration !

 

Good luck to you also

Shane

[Guest Gollywobbler]

Thanks Gill

 

Would it matter that we have already applied for WA SS ? We had initially wanted to do everything without bothering my uncle as we will probably live with them initially. Its so annoying he also rents oout property and we are going to rent from him also and then ... the changes !!!!

 

Shane

 

 

Hi Shane

 

It will not matter one jot that you are awaiting SS from WA. Indeed the Minister is so keen on employer-sponsored PR that he is prepared to grant significantly more of these Cat 1 visas than DIAC thought would be applied for during the current Aussie financial year (y/e 30th June 2010.)

 

Rellies throughout Oz are busy consulting their accountants, migration agents etc in an effort to help to cut the Gordian Knot of the blown out timelines with non-CSL applications for GSM visas.

 

Our daughter is 16 and who knows what she might think in a few years time.

Daughter will be assumed to be dependent on you for as long as she is under 18. Once she turns 18 it becomes potentially tricky. Visa-wise it is in her own best interests to secure PR for her asap so as to ensure that she will have a choice about whch country she wants to live in later on.

 

Fingers crossed for you all

 

Cheers

 

Gill

[Guest sassygal]

Thanks Sassygal

 

The idea would be to eventually purchase the salon we could then have a continous straem of ENS from the UK working from our salon

 

I think I will Skype him this weekend and put the idea to him .

 

We just want to be granted PR as soon as possible. Our daughter is 16 and who knows what she might think in a few years time. Maybe I should get her to apply to be Senator of Immigration !

 

Good luck to you also

Shane

 

 

good for you, hope it goes well with him, as for your daughter well i dare say she would do a far better job than the current halfwit:biglaugh:

[Guest The Newboroughs]

OK Wanderer fair point... but I echo earlier points that once you have paid your money you should not expect to have the goal posts moved or possibly removed completly. Change the occupation lists/processing proprities but apply these to all new applications.

I feel like we are gambling with our money.

[Guest Gollywobbler]

OK Wanderer fair point... but I echo earlier points that once you have paid your money you should not expect to have the goal posts moved or possibly removed completly. Change the occupation lists/processing proprities but apply these to all new applications.

I feel like we are gambling with our money.

 

Hi there

 

I agree with you.

 

Surely it was obvious at the outset that the smart money would switch to State sponsorship pronto? Therefore why didn't DIAC foresee what would happen and act accordingly at the very beginning of the Bold New Scheme in December 2008?

 

Instead they have had their Minister turning cartwheels and overturning both of his earlier Directions.

 

It gives the impression that the head honchos of DIAC were so deeply rooted in "first come first served" that they did not bother to keep track of what sort of occupations, mix of occupations etc, were in the pile in years gone by and are only just discovering the details late on during 2009.

 

Not impressive in my book. This shambles could have been avoided if somebody had rubbed a few brain cells together so see if a spark could be produced by so doing.

 

Cheers

 

Gill

[McKlaut]

Ha, very interesting news, numbers. Many thanks for it. Really

 

BUT still I have some questions:

-A. Do states that gave us Sposorships need us? Ha?

 

if the answer is Yes - why they don't rise any objections to the Government migration policy? And don't tell me they can wait for a specialist for 3 years. It's a scam.

 

If the answer is Noo - why don't they make a clear statement that their shortages lists are fake too?

 

-B. who do I need to sleep with to get PR Down F..ken Under next time?

[wrussell]

As a pom.....you pile of ****

As an Aussie.....good on ya mate.

 

The minister is a POMinOZ

[Alan Collett]

Gday basil

 

The Adelaide numbers are ranked like this, reflecting priority of processing, numbers are individual applications, not total people involved:

 

State nominated with CSL, Unallocated 27, Allocated 720, Total 747

Family sponsored CSL, 1130, 279, 1409

All other CSL, 6335, 4289, 10624

All other State nominated, 3678, 0, 3678

MODL only, 12388, 0, 12388

Other, 15659, 0, 15659

Total, 39217, 5279, 44496

 

So Adelaide hold 12000+ CSL applicants, allow another 12000 for Brisbane and more for Perth etc.

 

<snip>

 

 

 

Thanks Jamie.

 

Just one comment: aside from ENS and RSMS processing, skilled visa processing only takes place at Adelaide (the offshore caseload) and Brisbane (onshore).

 

So maybe not quite so bad as you were intimating ...?

 

Best regards.

[andyhus]

Thanks for my visa.

[Guest Jamie Smith]

Thanks Jamie.

 

Just one comment: aside from ENS and RSMS processing, skilled visa processing only takes place at Adelaide (the offshore caseload) and Brisbane (onshore).

 

So maybe not quite so bad as you were intimating ...?

 

Best regards.

 

Gday Alan

 

The numbers for other offices than Brisbane and ASPC were my estimate, but the ASPC guys did say that DIAC ASPC and DIAC Brisbane had 2 years of case load on hand already.

[kellyjamie]

Jamie, so if your not csl your defo minimum 2 years at the earliest?

[Guest Jamie Smith]

Not necessarily kellyjamie

 

I would think perhaps 2 years, rather than minimum of 2 years. If they increase the volumes of visas for the year as a result of possible skills shortages it will be much shorter.

 

Justin JIANG please edit or remove your last post.

[Guest Mach]

 

I would think perhaps 2 years, rather than minimum of 2 years. If they increase the volumes of visas for the year as a result of possible skills shortages it will be much shorter.

 

 

Seems reasonable, considering reports are filtering in that DIAC began processing Group 4 this week.

 

Must say even an optimist like myself was surprised at how quickly they are getting through the first three groups. I dare say it will be faster than two years for those of us in Group 5 who already have a CO and an early lodgement date.

 

Thanks again for the info, Jamie. Great work.

[Guest proud2beaussie]

A word of caution here folks,whilst it is clear that the ministers latest directions about priority processing have caused hardship and distress to many people.and it is clear,to me at least,that they have been drafted without thinking of the consequences to potential migrants,I think that comments such as the one above,which I have deleted,will achieve very little.

It would be far better to stick to the task of explaining to the minister that his directions have hurt many people and have the potential to impact on Australias reputation adversely.

I can understand that people are frustrated-but please can we keep things calm-as difficult as that can be in these circumstances.

[Guest Jamie Smith]

Mach I'd be surpised if Group 4 was being handled as the DIAC chappies were quite adamant that they HAD to do gp1, then Gp2, so forth. You can see the numbers on page 5 of this thread that Gps 4 onwards had no allocated cases.

 

So they had cleared the allocated cases recently, probably well ahead of the priority changes coming into effect.

 

I don't think they would have cleared a few thosuand allocated cases that quick, my suspicion is DIAC were told not to allocate files long before the changes were made public, and to wait until a decision was made on them.

 

They said Gps 1 and 2 would be cleared in coupla days, and that Gp 3 would be finished by February I think.

 

I think they said that they would be handling new CSLs at target processing times in January February.

 

So the issue becomes how many new CSLs are there going to be to slow down their reaching the Group 4 etc

 

DIAC also said that they were now doing triage, and decision ready cases were to be approved at time of first handling if they could, and then the next best others would get the 28 days to reply letter but if the reply was received before 28 days they would try to approve immediately a satisfactory reply came in and not wait until the 28 days were up before checking the file again.

 

The frustration is it's all bl**dy common sense and logical but case officers had to be wait to be told to do it that way.

 

To DIAC's merit, they told the story of a case officer who said "why approve it same day, that's unnecedssarily fast", and another case officer said "no it's not, don't forget some agent has been working on this file for 5-6 months already".

 

I suggested to the managers that they fire the first and promote the second but they just shrugged...

 

So there's a reason to get an expert to check the file before lodgement at least.