Update on Processing Times

 

Processing Times:

Now that the dust has settled around the announcement of the new Priority Processing arrangements implemented by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, we can consider the implications.

Senator Evans has taken 50,000 visas from the possible 108,000 skilled category for 2008/2009 and allocated these to the Employee Sponsored Nominated (ENS) and Regional Skilled Migration Scheme (RSMS) categories. This means the quickest permanent visa route into Australia is via employee sponsorship.

Both the ENS and RSMS visa categories require an approved employer to sponsor you for a fixed period of employment : ENS - 3 years and RSMS - 2 years. These visas are currently taking up to 6 months to be processed, depending on where your application is lodged. I can see the processing times being extended as more people change to this visa category, in a  similarar way to the State Sponsored visa's 176 and 475.

The good news is:

In the 2 weeks following the announcement, we have had applications approved to clients who are currently on the Critical Skills List. We have also had follow up requests for medicals and police clearances for clients on this same list. Given this, my advice to those of you who have lodged your applications would be to await the imminent announcement on the merging of the MODL and CSL before making any decisions about changing your visa category. The announcement, expected within the next couple of months, will undoubtedly change the processing times once again.  

For example, a Bricklayer currently on the MODL with State sponsorship to Western Australia but not on the CSL, will currently take 12-14 months to process. If the Bricklayer should be included on the new CSL, then the processing time could be reduced dramatically to 3-4 months.

To give you an idea of the expected processing times, after the 23rd September changes, I have listed some of the more popular occupations and approximate processing times.  

  From Lodgement of Main Application with DIAC:

• 176 State Sponsored with occupation on the Critical Skills List (CSL)  -  3 to 4 months.

e.g. Registered Nurse, Wall and Floor Tiler, Accountant, Gasfitter, Quantity Surveyor, IT Professionals on the MODL  and Dentist.

• 175, 176 and 475 with occupation on the Critical Skills List (CSL)  -  6 to 8 months.

e.g. Registered Nurse, Wall and Floor Tiler, Accountant, Gassfitter, Secondary School Teacher, Quantity Surveyor, IT Professionals  and Dentist.

•  175, 176 and 475 who are State Sponsored whose occupation is not on the CSL  -  12 to 14 months.

e.g. Bricklayer, Primary School Teacher, Joiner, Painter & Decorator, Office Manager, Sales and Marketing Manager.

•  175, 176 and 475 on the MODL and not sponsored or on the CSL  -   18 to 20 months.

e.g.  General Electricians, Carpenters, Mechanical Engineer, Cook, General Plumber, Plasterer, Surveyor, Engineering Manager and Architect.

As you can see, some applications will not be affected by the new priority processing, with some actually being processed more quickly. The main categories affected will be those not on the CSL or State/Terriotory sponsored. These applicants can expect, under the current processing criteria,  for their visa approvals to take longer than first suggested.

The most frustrating thing about all this, is that we know the Minister, Senator Chris Evans, is looking over submissions to scrap the CSL and merge it with the MODL. Undoubtedly, nobody will be given any indication about what to expect until such time as an announcement is made. So, watch this space.

For those clients who have not lodged their applications, my advice would be to do so whilst you are eligible. Although we cannot determine what the changes will be, there is always the chance that they may alter your eligibility status.

It was only a few years ago that the processing times for skilled visas to Australia was 2 years, in some instances even longer. Although many of you feel that your lives are 'on hold' while you wait for your visas to be granted, do not lose sight of the fact that you will get your visa, albeit not as quickly as you would have liked. Focus on the reasons for your decision to move to the 'Lucky Country' - it will be worth the wait.

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