Category 4- how long will it be

[Team Rennolds]

Hi All

 

Big congrats to all who were on the S.A. smp. We were unfortunately not on the list and are therefore remaining in category 4 for now.

 

My question is, does anybody know how long this means our processing time will be? Would it be more sensible for us to look at other options such as employer sponsorship and if so does this mean starting the process from scratch or would we be able to transfer our existing application. I am over 35 and applying as office manager so this would be a prob.

 

Any advice anyone would be able to offer would be really appreciated. Very sad we did not make it on the list, boo. Thanks a lot in advance x.

:frown:

[User Name]

Officially its indefinite but I hear different numbers from different sources ranging from 3-6 years from now.

 

I personally think processing will start sooner than later as application numbers has plummeted big time due to these radical changes which are in some ways good for cat 4s. But still it might take 4-5 years to get to yours as the cat 4s will be processed very very slowly. All depends on how much cat 3 backlogs will shrink after new point test and any future ammendments to SOL.

[Guest VickyMel]

We've been looking at ENS as well since the changes hit Sept 2009. I think its fine if you have the right occupation. I would suggest you give it a go - you used to be able to switch fee free to and ENS from a 176 (but they did change a few things July 2010 - not sure about that one).

 

Have you looked at the new points system coming July to see if you might benefit there?

 

Really sorry you are in Cat 4 - we were very lucky and got through although I really thought we would be in Cat 4 forever and know how it feels.:hug:

[Team Rennolds]

Hi VickyMel

 

Congrats on getting your case officer, that's great news!

 

Can anyone recommend any companies that specialise in finding jobs in Australia? Might be the way to go as this uncertainty over time scales is killing me!!

[Guest VickyMel]

Hi VickyMel

 

Congrats on getting your case officer, that's great news!

 

Can anyone recommend any companies that specialise in finding jobs in Australia? Might be the way to go as this uncertainty over time scales is killing me!!

 

There are a couple of people who come on here and advise sometimes.

The one thing to consider is that I think most of them are usually temp visas - if you do that then is prob worth getting a new application in and keeping the PR one going.

 

The other way is to look at big employers in the occupation you are looking for and approach them independently.

I do a search of about 100 potential employers (specific to my OHs occupation) vacancies web pages each week.

Search the job sites

SEEK - Australia's no. 1 jobs, employment, career and recruitment site

and many others - but you will see many are only interested in people already with PR.

 

Its a pain in the arse but a lot of people get lucky.

 

Vicky

[Team Rennolds]

Thanks Vicky

 

I have been keeping an eye on job market since we started applying, and still get the daily job mails from seek. However as you say they nearly all want permanent residency & the recruitment companies aren't interested in helping till you are out in Oz. Not sure what to do there, but ....

 

... I had a quick recalculation of the points I would get on the new points system & it appears I would get the 65 points. However i have a question for everyone else out there - it says your job must be on the current SOL.

As i will still be going on a regional sponsored visa 475 ( as I need the 10 points it gives) does this mean my job must be on schedule 3 ( for all gsm applicants ) or schedule 4 ( for regional sponsored applicants )? Office manager is currently on schedule 4 but not 3.

 

Does the SMP not count then any more if I reapply in July 2011 and meet the new criteria and points?

 

Thanks

Mark

[yc1ten]

Officially its indefinite

 

 

Did you get that officially from DIAC?

[Guest TheStig]

Not to further dampen your spirits but DIAC has said on their website that Cat 4 will be processed only after Cat 1, 2 and 3 have been finalised. Cat 2 are capped for a certain limit per state so we know once this cap has been reached, no Cat 2s will be processed till next FY. However Cat 1 and 3 applications will always be coming in today, tomorrow and the day after... Despite my calls and emails, DIAC has time and time again refused to provide a timeline on when Cat 4's will be processed. So if anyone says Cat 4s will be processed in 4-5 years, take it with a pinch of salt as this is just pure speculation. With the new points system coming in this July, I would say expect more delays and uncertainty. How this translates into waiting times, no one knows. All we know is that its going to be a long longgg wait. For all you know, they might decide to revive the C&C just because they cannot clear up their own mess.

 

p.s: I am a Cat 4 applicant myself.

[taniaholmes]

Also remember that priority processing could change again, list could change they could introduce new categorise they could add occupations to their SMP or the SOL they could also remove them, don't forget we have seen others in low categories been bumped up with changes we have also seen people in high categories been bumped down to low categorise, nothing is set in stone.

 

Tania

[Jobo]

Thanks Vicky

 

I have been keeping an eye on job market since we started applying, and still get the daily job mails from seek. However as you say they nearly all want permanent residency & the recruitment companies aren't interested in helping till you are out in Oz. Not sure what to do there, but ....

 

... I had a quick recalculation of the points I would get on the new points system & it appears I would get the 65 points. However i have a question for everyone else out there - it says your job must be on the current SOL.

As i will still be going on a regional sponsored visa 475 ( as I need the 10 points it gives) does this mean my job must be on schedule 3 ( for all gsm applicants ) or schedule 4 ( for regional sponsored applicants )? Office manager is currently on schedule 4 but not 3.

 

Does the SMP not count then any more if I reapply in July 2011 and meet the new criteria and points?

 

Thanks

Mark

 

Hi Mark

 

I went to an Expo last year run by a company called 'Working In', think their website is Workingin-australia.com. i didn't use their services. they wanted people to pay £90 for an initial assessment and as i already know alot about my chances, visa prospects etc i didn't bother.

 

they claim they offer a service which helps you to write CVs aussie style (whatever that is!?) and help get you work. in reality i had some reservations about what they were promising but you could give them a try or look on their website.

 

Is your occupation not on any SMPs? If it is then you should consider trying one of those.

 

if you have no SMP options and you will be sitting in Cat4 for a very long time and you could eventually be capped and ceased. i know its a bit extreme but have you thought about a different profession? Are there any occupations on the SOL or SMPs that you think you could train up for and get experience in? I remember reading a post a while ago about a PIO member who realised she couldn't get a visa and so started to study as an accountant and managed to get a job in it too...eventually she got a PR visa as an accountant. it obviously took a few years but that actually may be quicker than waiting for a Cat 4 to be processed.

Good luck

 

Jo

[Guest Rami]

Noone really knows for sure. It is a complex issue and the government does not really know how to deal with it. I guess one of the proposed idea is via the visa capping bill.

 

 

i have recently read an article about an asylum seeker who came to oz by boat last year. after spending 8 months in jail, he was granted a protection visa in july 2010.

 

Mr Khaledi - who lives on $230 a week in Centrelink payments - said he had also applied for his wife, Zahra Moghaddam, 29, son Ali, 7, and daughter Rim, 18 months, to be granted protection in Australia in August. This is what the lucky man said :

"They are still not here yet and I say 'Why, why is it taking so long?' . . . I can't sleep, I am so depressed without them," he said.

 

" There must be more transparency in the work of the Immigration Department. There also must be a clear time-frame . . . because it is not fair for them to treat us the way they have. The government must fix this properly"

 

As you can read, cat 4 applicants and asylum seekers have the same problems. yet, the formers are treated differently.

[Guest Scissor Sister]

Hi all PIO

If DIAC go down the road of cap and cease to Cat 4 does any body know how much money will actually be refunded.

So far we have spent over four grand and thats without medicals. I cant see us getting anywhere near that refunded.

Anyway still hoping future changes will get us on track again.

Good luck to all Cat 4.

[Team Rennolds]

For now the cap and cease has been put on hold as far as I understand. If fees are paid back then I guess it will be Visa cost only as that is all that was paid to DIAC?

Here's hoping for changes in the future!

[Guest rachbarlow]

I'm am sorry but Cat 4 has not got a cat in hells chance! Sorry for the pun!

 

I think the best decision is to try to look at other options open to you, or other states where you are on the smp. That is what we have had to do and basically start over which is a huge pain in the behind. I was told 2-4 years, by which time we would have been capped so that timeframe set by the DIAC is unreachable anyway!

[Team Rennolds]

Honest but true. We're looking at different options too .

Can anyone throw any light on my earlier question about the new points system and which list I should be looking at to see if job on there? As it would still be regional sponsored is it the existing regional list?

[virtual_bajwa]

Hey guys,

Is there anyone 475 applicant who got the case officer recently. I do not know whether this is true or false but one of the client of Jag Khehra who is also RMA and very active on this forum. Here is his address on the facebook Welcome to Facebook is also member of this forum u can ask him about the client of his who got the case officer in December 2010. He belongs to category 4. And applied for 475.

[Guest Rami]

Not long AGO, a pio member created this website: Australian General Skilled Migration Group 4 Applicants | Unfair Policies. It is pretty useful for all cat 4 applicants.

[Guest Varlet]

i posted it in the website mentioned in the above comment, posting it here also:

 

While i think this initiative is great, my assumption that the letters will be disregarded.

My suggestion is to take the Legal path, and file a lawsuit with the ministry of immigration, Nothing else will give this issue the pitch it needs to get.

Approaching an immigration Lawyer, asking him to build a case for our issue, setting up a names list of applicants who wants to participate and also anonymous applicants or others who want to contribute $ payment for the Lawyer effort will be a start.

5-10$ from each person paid to the lawyer via Paypal can get us easily enough money to get this up and running.

Only an Australian located lawyer representing this community, together with some small funds raised can create the spark to get this going.

just my thoughts.

[Guest Varlet]

By the way,

While thinking about it, and it will be great if any migration agent can comment on my thoughts:

 

 

1. I find it funny that apart of the Ombusodan (or whatever its called) joke, there is no formal way to "protest" against the Ministry/DIAC ? there is no entity but the supreme court of law that can be used for that regard ?
   
2. Migration agents, like i am using, are part of "MARA" (correct me?) which is a government entity, how or why on earth will my migration agent which is reporting to the government will want to stand up for me and "fight" with diac/the ministry when my rights are abused ? wont it be suicidal for him to fight against an (obvious unfair) ministry policy ?
   

 

[Guest Rami]

By the way,

While thinking about it, and it will be great if any migration agent can comment on my thoughts:

 

 

1. I find it funny that apart of the Ombusodan (or whatever its called) joke, there is no formal way to "protest" against the Ministry/DIAC ? there is no entity but the supreme court of law that can be used for that regard ?

2. Migration agents, like i am using, are part of "MARA" (correct me?) which is a government entity, how or why on earth will my migration agent which is reporting to the government will want to stand up for me and "fight" with diac/the ministry when my rights are abused ? wont it be suicidal for him to fight against an (obvious unfair) ministry policy ?

 

 

Hey, if you refer to my previous post, you will see a link in relation a website. Many cat 4 applicants on that website are debating over the possibility of sueing DIAC. I believe some lawyers have aslo posted on that website. Maybe you should take look?

[Guest perry]

i posted it in the website mentioned in the above comment, posting it here also:

 

While i think this initiative is great, my assumption that the letters will be disregarded.

My suggestion is to take the Legal path, and file a lawsuit with the ministry of immigration, Nothing else will give this issue the pitch it needs to get.

Approaching an immigration Lawyer, asking him to build a case for our issue, setting up a names list of applicants who wants to participate and also anonymous applicants or others who want to contribute $ payment for the Lawyer effort will be a start.

5-10$ from each person paid to the lawyer via Paypal can get us easily enough money to get this up and running.

Only an Australian located lawyer representing this community, together with some small funds raised can create the spark to get this going.

just my thoughts.

__________________

lets do it ...am with u

 

cat 4

applied - dec 2008

trade- chef

ielets 7.5

visa subclass 886

surely there should be something we can do legally...

[Bluecatcollectables]

Hi everybody, I have not posted for a while, but am constantly monitoring this site for any news.

 

I thought I'd put my 'two-pennies worth in' with regards to Cat 4, which is the category I find myself in, having applied in Dec 2008.

 

Looking at the figures realistically and reading between the lines, it is being made increasingly difficult for people to apply for an Australian Visa. The jobs which are on the SOL all need quite a few years experience, as well as very good English language abilities. My guess is that with less people able to apply Cat 4 may, just may (fingers crossed) get a look-in. Let's not forget that quite a few 'would-be' applicants are probably put-off by Australia's ridiculous House prices and the horrendous Exchange Rates.

 

So far DIAC have managed to process both Cat 2 and quite a few Cat 3's simultaneously.

 

I can not see why, as numbers for Cat 2 are limited and Cat 1 seems to be of limited numbers by sheer difficulty, DIAC are not going to be able to handle Cat 4's stuck in the back-log aswell as dealing with new Cat 3s, including Cat 3 back-log????

 

Why has this Cap & Cease raised its ugly head again?? The applicants which were taken out of the application pool this way, pre Sept 07 I believe, probably did not have to have good English language skills at the time of lodging their application. Anybody who applied like myself in December 2008 has had to pass this test and apart from the occupations, which have now disappeared from the SOL list, are still highly skilled people in their fields. Having good English Language capabilities allows you much better employment chances. My sister and her financee live in Australia and some of the people they come accross in their professions, speak english very poorly indeed. I can see the Australian Government's viewpoint here.

I might be a tad optimistic here, but I feel and sincerely hope that in everybody's interest they will look at Cat 4s in date order soon, as DIAC are quite capable of running Category applicants alongside each other, as we have seen. Fingers and Everything crossed.:wink:

[taniaholmes]

Hi everybody, I have not posted for a while, but am constantly monitoring this site for any news.

 

I thought I'd put my 'two-pennies worth in' with regards to Cat 4, which is the category I find myself in, having applied in Dec 2008.

 

Looking at the figures realistically and reading between the lines, it is being made increasingly difficult for people to apply for an Australian Visa. The jobs which are on the SOL all need quite a few years experience, as well as very good English language abilities. My guess is that with less people able to apply Cat 4 may, just may (fingers crossed) get a look-in. Let's not forget that quite a few 'would-be' applicants are probably put-off by Australia's ridiculous House prices and the horrendous Exchange Rates.

 

So far DIAC have managed to process both Cat 2 and quite a few Cat 3's simultaneously.

 

I can not see why, as numbers for Cat 2 are limited and Cat 1 seems to be of limited numbers by sheer difficulty, DIAC are not going to be able to handle Cat 4's stuck in the back-log aswell as dealing with new Cat 3s, including Cat 3 back-log????

 

Why has this Cap & Cease raised its ugly head again?? The applicants which were taken out of the application pool this way, pre Sept 07 I believe, probably did not have to have good English language skills at the time of lodging their application. Anybody who applied like myself in December 2008 has had to pass this test and apart from the occupations, which have now disappeared from the SOL list, are still highly skilled people in their fields. Having good English Language capabilities allows you much better employment chances. My sister and her financee live in Australia and some of the people they come accross in their professions, speak english very poorly indeed. I can see the Australian Government's viewpoint here.

I might be a tad optimistic here, but I feel and sincerely hope that in everybody's interest they will look at Cat 4s in date order soon, as DIAC are quite capable of running Category applicants alongside each other, as we have seen. Fingers and Everything crossed.:wink:

 

I agree totally with everything you have said as it has been said less and less are able to apply and I would guess that DIAC would like to get to the point where the backlog of application become allot less in the future, also like yourself having a visa lodge now for 2 years you see so many changes so nothing is set in stone.

 

Thank you for being so positive!! as their doesn't seem to be much of that on this thread.

Tania :biggrin:

[Guest UFO]

I agree totally with everything you have said as it has been said less and less are able to apply and I would guess that DIAC would like to get to the point where the backlog of application become allot less in the future, also like yourself having a visa lodge now for 2 years you see so many changes so nothing is set in stone.

 

Thank you for being so positive!! as their doesn't seem to be much of that on this thread.

Tania :biggrin:

 

I wouldnt be surprise if they kill more applications before the new points system is introduced. But DIAC have given cat 4 applications to get a sponsor to move higher

[Guest Ramesh]

Hi All Cat 4's

 

I am a 475 visa applicant for SA. Applied for visa - March 2010. I am in Cat 4 too. Marine biologist occupation. IELTS Score 8. Recently i got a message from my immigration agent that Cat 4 will be activated by the end of 2011, has anyone received similar information??

 

Ramesh