New SOL - State Migration Arrangements

[surhythms]

Hi Suzanne,

 

Can't comment on the work of another agent, sorry. My understanding is that for some time now the ACT has been ensuring that IT applicants are up to speed for the industry in the ACT, ie that they were doing this informally before the April change to the Quota list was notified. To that extent your agent may have thought it a gamble to lodge a 175 application if the sponsorhip was not certain.

 

Cheers,

 

George Lombard

 

Hi George

 

Thanks for letting me know that - We werent aware that ACT were doing this and I thought this was a new process that we werent told about. Talk about panic stations !! No thats fair enough not commenting on another agents work I was really only trying to figure out if this was a new rule. Thanks for the help.

 

Suzanne

[claireg]

I contacted ACT also, we applied for SS on 22 March. They have also advised that as we are Computing Professional needs to go to the ICT panel for suitability for jobs, etc. and it will be early June before they hear back and can process our app.

 

Like Suzanne we were on baseline when we applied but our occupation moved to Quota on 1 April.

 

It seems that all IT occupations whether on baseline or not, need to be assessed by this ICT panel from what they are saying. Our agent did tell us that our CV would need to be verified by the relevant IT body before the app would be processed but we didn't expect it to take this long. However, start of June is only a few weeks away now.

 

Just hope we get it, otherwise we will be in for a long wait on our 176 family visa.

Claire

[surhythms]

I contacted ACT also, we applied for SS on 22 March. They have also advised that as we are Computing Professional needs to go to the ICT panel for suitability for jobs, etc. and it will be early June before they hear back and can process our app.

 

Like Suzanne we were on baseline when we applied but our occupation moved to Quota on 1 April.

 

It seems that all IT occupations whether on baseline or not, need to be assessed by this ICT panel from what they are saying. Our agent did tell us that our CV would need to be verified by the relevant IT body before the app would be processed but we didn't expect it to take this long. However, start of June is only a few weeks away now.

 

Just hope we get it, otherwise we will be in for a long wait on our 176 family visa.

Claire

 

Thanks for the update Claire - I have calmed down a little from this morning :biggrin:

I had no idea about the CV having to be verified but as I do now at least we know where we stand. We kind of got our knuckles wrapped for contacting ACT ourselves but we werent getting any information from our agent other than they hadnt heard anything as yet. I wonder when the CV is verified will that mean it will take another 10 weeks to process the application for SS?

 

Suzanne

[claireg]

Thanks for the update Claire - I have calmed down a little from this morning :biggrin:

I had no idea about the CV having to be verified but as I do now at least we know where we stand. We kind of got our knuckles wrapped for contacting ACT ourselves but we werent getting any information from our agent other than they hadnt heard anything as yet. I wonder when the CV is verified will that mean it will take another 10 weeks to process the application for SS?

 

Suzanne

 

I shouldn't think so Suzanne, at the end of the day if it was you having to process seriously how long would it take to go through a handful of papers and forms to decide whether the sponsorship is granted? Not that long, a few days at the most I would say. They have the evidence to prove the funds we hold in savings, our commitment statement, positive ACS result and a few other forms so I personally think it wouldn't take too long once they start the processing.

 

We havn't told our agent I contacted ACT, don't know if "ACT" report you to your agent or not. Basically we asked our agent and they didn't bother to contact them to find out. So we did instead. If we listened to our agent, we wouldn't have got our Visa app lodged either. I do feel like "ooh we have an agent, we should let them advise the best thing next" but having a wealth of advice on PIO we have gained more of an understanding of the visa process than from our agent.

 

CLaire

[surhythms]

I shouldn't think so Suzanne, at the end of the day if it was you having to process seriously how long would it take to go through a handful of papers and forms to decide whether the sponsorship is granted? Not that long, a few days at the most I would say. They have the evidence to prove the funds we hold in savings, our commitment statement, positive ACS result and a few other forms so I personally think it wouldn't take too long once they start the processing.

 

We havn't told our agent I contacted ACT, don't know if "ACT" report you to your agent or not. Basically we asked our agent and they didn't bother to contact them to find out. So we did instead. If we listened to our agent, we wouldn't have got our Visa app lodged either. I do feel like "ooh we have an agent, we should let them advise the best thing next" but having a wealth of advice on PIO we have gained more of an understanding of the visa process than from our agent.

 

CLaire

 

 

Well Hopefully they dont take too long - Yeah I wouldnt mention it to the agent now - I guess my craziness got in the way this morning !!

 

I never realised how stressful this process actually is - Ive barely done a tap of work since Friday

 

Suzanne

[matjones]

I never realised how stressful this process actually is - Ive barely done a tap of work since Friday

 

I've barely done a bit of work since the Sept 09 changes...

[surhythms]

I've barely done a bit of work since the Sept 09 changes...

 

:laugh: dont feel so bad now however I do have a thesis to get in aswell. Looks like it wil have to be done by expedient means!!

[Guest VickyMel]

I've barely done a bit of work since the Sept 09 changes...

 

 

Yup - :err: I know the feeling....

[claireg]

oh I have to go back to work on Monday after 13 months off!!! Don't think I can remember anything!:laugh:

[Guest Gollywobbler]

Thanks for the update Claire - I have calmed down a little from this morning :biggrin:

I had no idea about the CV having to be verified but as I do now at least we know where we stand. We kind of got our knuckles wrapped for contacting ACT ourselves but we werent getting any information from our agent other than they hadnt heard anything as yet. I wonder when the CV is verified will that mean it will take another 10 weeks to process the application for SS?

 

Suzanne

 

 

Hi Suzanne

 

Why did your agent tick you off for contacting the ACT yourselves? She clearly didn't bother to contact the ACT about their practices with IT applicants herself. Otherwise she would have bothered to explain the ACT's practices to you, wouldn't she?

 

In your shoes, I'd give her a dose of knuckle rapping straight back by mentioning that you are considering making a formal complaint to the OMARA. She ought to get off her high horse and start acting like a genuinely professional individual instead if you do that, I suspect.

 

Cheers

 

Gill

[Guest Gollywobbler]

Hi Vicky,

 

Yes, that just leaves the ACT and NT who are continuing to sponsor, and I'm sure their decisions to suspend the program won't be long in coming. FWIW there's some sense in only processing applications already lodged, since from 1 July it will be new lists all round using ANZSCO.

 

Cheers,

 

George Lombard

 

Dearest George

 

:hug::hug:

 

("OK, Gill, forget the smarming, wheedling and blandishments. Whaddya want?")

 

The old ASCO Code is here:

 

1220.0 - Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) Second Edition, 1997

 

The new ANZSCO is here:

 

1220.0 - ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, First Edition, Revision 1=

 

I don't understand any of the IT specialties anyway so I am not even going to try to compare ASCO and ANZSCO for an IT occupation. IT might be a particularly apt example precisely because I don't know anything about it so I don't have any pre-conceived ideas about it either.

 

My question is this: How similar are ANZSCO and ASCO? Will existing skills assessments that have judged someone according to ASCO be good enough for measuring the person's abilities against ANZSCO as well, please?

 

Many thanks

 

Gill

[surhythms]

Hi Suzanne

 

Why did your agent tick you off for contacting the ACT yourselves? She clearly didn't bother to contact the ACT about their practices with IT applicants herself. Otherwise she would have bothered to explain the ACT's practices to you, wouldn't she?

 

In your shoes, I'd give her a dose of knuckle rapping straight back by mentioning that you are considering making a formal complaint to the OMARA. She ought to get off her high horse and start acting like a genuinely professional individual instead if you do that, I suspect.

 

Cheers

 

Gill

 

Hi Gill

 

We got ticked off becasue we were told we would confuse the process by contacting them directly. Personally I think I have every right to check my own application at any time I want . I do remember contacting her when the changes for the ACT came through on April 1st and asking her if our CV would need to be verified as the occupation was now on the quota list. She confirmed that it did not affect us and I also checked the ACT website again today to check the situation. It clearly states the following on their guidelines when applying for SS:

"

Sponsorship of computer professionals

· ICT Occupations subject to the QUOTA must have a positive skill assessment from the ACS;

· ASCO 2231-79 occupations subject to the QUOTA must also:

- be assessed by the relevant ACT based body as having at least one year full time experience in one of the nominated specialisations before the sponsorship is lodged. The two bodies assessing Quota specialisations in the ACT are:

o University of Canberra (UC)

Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering

Mr Dharmendra Sharma

Professor & Dean, Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering

Phone: +61 2 6201 2001

Fax: +61 2 6201 5231

Email: Dharmendra.Sharma@canberra.edu.au

Website: Skills in Demand - Assessment : Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering : University of Canberra

o Canberra Institute Technology (CIT)

Centre for Information & Communication Technology

GPO Box 826, Canberra ACT 2601

Phone: (02) 6205 2491

Fax: (02) 6207 3338

Email: centreict@cit.act.edu.au

Website: www.cit.act.edu.au

 

 

 

 

Now this applies to quota applications and not baseline. Considering we were told that because we were baseline at the time of application and it wouldnt affect us and now this seems to have changed. Unless ACT did not confirm this correctly to the agent at the time. There seems to be a miscommunication somewhere.

 

 

 

Rant over :biggrin:

Suzanne

[George Lombard]

Darling Gill,

 

The trouble is, until we see the new SOL, no-one knows the full catastrophe. It's not just IT occupations, you'll find most occupations are technologically different compared to 1995 when the first ASCO draft would have been prepared. There's a concordance here: 1220.0 - ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, First Edition, 2006 .

 

Cheers,

 

George Lombard

[Guest Gollywobbler]

Darling Gill,

 

The trouble is, until we see the new SOL, no-one knows the full catastrophe. It's not just IT occupations, you'll find most occupations are technologically different compared to 1995 when the first ASCO draft would have been prepared. There's a concordance here: 1220.0 - ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, First Edition, 2006 .

 

Cheers,

 

George Lombard

 

Hi George

 

Thanks very much.

 

Having just read your link (which I was not aware of until now) it seems that the bedrock information is not ready yet for this switch from ASCO to ANZSCO to take place, even. :shocked:

 

I had not realised that.

 

This new SOL according to ANZSCO instead of according to ASCO is potentially an accident looking for somewhere to happen, I now think. :shocked:

 

Very worrying.

 

Many thanks

 

Gill

[George Lombard]

Last word from SA:

 

This is to remind you that the Online Sponsorship Application System will be SHUT DOWN on 14 May 2010. You will recall the notice that Immigration SA published on our website on 14 May 2010 alerting you to this action. Although the SOL has not been published by DIAC, but in view of the action they have taken with Offshore Applications, Immigration SA will proceed with this Shut Down to enable us to process the applications we have in the pipeline. We regret if this causes you and your clients any inconvenience but we had hoped that providing you with advance notice of this Shut Down we assisted you in submiting Sponsorship Applications. The System will be reinstated as soon as we can. Please visit our website regularly for updates.

All complete applications (Online and supporting documents) registered by Immigration SA by the 14 May 2010 will proceed to decision.

 

 

Cheers,

 

George Lombard

[Guest ouseun]

HI GEORGE

 

I HAVE RECIVED A EMAIL FROM VIC ABOUT MY SS THEY TOLD ME TO PULL MY FINGER OUT AND COMPLETE MY APLICATION BY 16 MAY

 

On 7 May 2010 the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) announced its decision to temporarily suspend processing of certain General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa applications. This includes the following visa subclasses:

 

· Subclass 175 – Skilled Independent (Migrant) visa

· Subclass 176 – Skilled Sponsored (Migrant) visa

· Subclass 475 – Skilled Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa.

 

Processing of certain state sponsorship applications by the Victorian Government is affected by the suspension to visa processing. Please see our website for further information on whether your state sponsorship application will be processed during this suspension: www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/about-us/news/2010/temporary-suspension-of-certain-general-skilled-migration-gsm-visas

 

Our records show that you have commenced a sponsorship application on the LiveinVictoria website, however you have not yet submitted the application. After consideration of the information above, should you wish to continue with the sponsorship application, we invite you to complete the application by Sunday 16 May 2010. No further sponsorship applications will be accepted after this date.

 

We look forward to receiving the application.

 

Kind regards,

Skilled and Business Migration Program

[Guest archisami]

hi,

I don't know if it's ok to ask it here but most experts like dear george lombard and gill view this thread.

I just want to know that Is it right to say:"no more CSL no more cat 3 and 4,therefore existing cat 5 would be in 3rd priority."

If they announce SMP some occupations will jump to the 2nd and if they don't or the occupation not be included it will be in 3rd rank.

So waiting for the end of CSL is likely to wait for some kind of priority.

[Guest Gollywobbler]

hi,

I don't know if it's ok to ask it here but most experts like dear george lombard and gill view this thread.

I just want to know that Is it right to say:"no more CSL no more cat 3 and 4,therefore existing cat 5 would be in 3rd priority."

If they announce SMP some occupations will jump to the 2nd and if they don't or the occupation not be included it will be in 3rd rank.

So waiting for the end of CSL is likely to wait for some kind of priority.

 

Hi there

 

I think that the clearest description from the 8th Feb 2010 announcement is the description in the ASPC's information e-mail.

 

Do you have a recent copy of the auto-email that the ASPC send if you send a blank e-mail to aspc.processing@immi.gov.au ? If you do not have a copy of the e-mail, please get one.

 

Once you have considered the auto-reply from the ASPC, I think the 8th Feb plans are quite clear.

 

The unknown factor is whether the Minister will change the processing priorities yet again once he is ready to proceed with his next phase of causing utter chaos, total uncertainty and describing that combination as "a reform of the system."

 

Cheers

 

Gill

[mlsdq]

so, when is the next SMP unreliable release date again?

[Guest landarjatt]

dear Gill

my friend is in aus, he is student of cookery, but some one is sposnser to my friend about bussness , but it is diffrent occopataion , is it help for PR ? or change on work permit.

thank you

regards

landarjatt

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Gill

 

We got ticked off becasue we were told we would confuse the process by contacting them directly. Personally I think I have every right to check my own application at any time I want . I do remember contacting her when the changes for the ACT came through on April 1st and asking her if our CV would need to be verified as the occupation was now on the quota list. She confirmed that it did not affect us and I also checked the ACT website again today to check the situation. It clearly states the following on their guidelines when applying for SS:

"

Sponsorship of computer professionals

· ICT Occupations subject to the QUOTA must have a positive skill assessment from the ACS;

· ASCO 2231-79 occupations subject to the QUOTA must also:

- be assessed by the relevant ACT based body as having at least one year full time experience in one of the nominated specialisations before the sponsorship is lodged. The two bodies assessing Quota specialisations in the ACT are:

o University of Canberra (UC)

Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering

Mr Dharmendra Sharma

Professor & Dean, Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering

Phone: +61 2 6201 2001

Fax: +61 2 6201 5231

Email: Dharmendra.Sharma@canberra.edu.au

Website: Skills in Demand - Assessment : Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering : University of Canberra

 

o Canberra Institute Technology (CIT)

Centre for Information & Communication Technology

GPO Box 826, Canberra ACT 2601

Phone: (02) 6205 2491

Fax: (02) 6207 3338

Email: centreict@cit.act.edu.au

Website: www.cit.act.edu.au

 

 

 

 

Now this applies to quota applications and not baseline. Considering we were told that because we were baseline at the time of application and it wouldnt affect us and now this seems to have changed. Unless ACT did not confirm this correctly to the agent at the time. There seems to be a miscommunication somewhere.

 

 

 

Rant over :biggrin:

Suzanne

[Guest TinaG]

CAN ANYONE HELP - ANSWER MY QUESTION

I have submitted my SA SS on-line application and they have received my complete paperwork by 11/05/10, but with all the changes and suspensions, does this mean that they will not deal with it until July, I haven't yet submitted my 176 application as wanted to confirm that I had SS first.

Thanks for any replies.

[libbysmum]

CAN ANYONE HELP - ANSWER MY QUESTION

I have submitted my SA SS on-line application and they have received my complete paperwork by 11/05/10, but with all the changes and suspensions, does this mean that they will not deal with it until July, I haven't yet submitted my 176 application as wanted to confirm that I had SS first.

Thanks for any replies.

 

Hi,

 

It seems as though they will not be processing any sponsorship applications unless you can prove to them you have a valid 175/176 visa application already lodged. We received an email from them stating this and had to provide them with a copy of our receipt for the visa application. The link to the info is below:

 

Make The Move :: General skilled migration

 

Hope this helps

 

Sarah

[George Lombard]

Statement from SA this morning clarifying the situation:

 

The anticipated SOL was announced by DIAC this morning. In short, the list of 181 occupations is less than half its old version. Note that this announcement was made by DIAC and not Immigration SA. DIAC has a dedicated phone line to respond to queries on this new list – 1300 735 683. Please direct all enquiries to this number.

For details visit - What's New? Recent Changes in General Skilled Migration

Immigration SA is currently considering the impact this announcement may have on Sponsorships and if appropriate, will publish our response on our website. At the moment we have no comment – monitor our website for any updates.

As we announced recently, the system was SHUT DOWN on Friday 14 May but processing of Onshore applications will continue as will applications that have been lodged with DIAC if we have evidence of this – visit Immigration SA website for details.

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

George Lombard

[reza]

Statement from SA this morning clarifying the situation:

 

The anticipated SOL was announced by DIAC this morning. In short, the list of 181 occupations is less than half its old version. Note that this announcement was made by DIAC and not Immigration SA. DIAC has a dedicated phone line to respond to queries on this new list – 1300 735 683. Please direct all enquiries to this number.

 

For details visit - What's New? Recent Changes in General Skilled Migration

 

 

Immigration SA is currently considering the impact this announcement may have on Sponsorships and if appropriate, will publish our response on our website. At the moment we have no comment – monitor our website for any updates.

 

As we announced recently, the system was SHUT DOWN on Friday 14 May but processing of Onshore applications will continue as will applications that have been lodged with DIAC if we have evidence of this – visit Immigration SA website for details.

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

George Lombard

 

There is no such an announcement on SA website could you please provide us with the link?

[Alan Collett]

There is no such an announcement on SA website could you please provide us with the link?

 

Received by migration agents as an email ...

 

Best regards.