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
             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: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/whats-new.htm

 As explained above the Department is processing applications according to
 Ministerial Direction No. 42 - Order of consideration - certain Skilled
 Migration visas.  The Department anticipates that a small number of
 applications from persons who are nominated by a State/Territory
 government and have not nominated an occupation on the CSL will be
 finalised this program year. Finalisations will focus on applications
 where health and character checks have been requested by the case officer.

 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):  19 November 2009
 VF 476 (e-lodged):     19 November 2009
 VB 887 (paper):  11 November 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:
 http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/forms/gsm/post.htm 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
 http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/whats-new.htm

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

 Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL)
 http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/skilled-occupations/occupations-in-demand.htm


 Last updated: 5 January 2010

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