This page will be updated fortnightly for the benefit of the public.

The tables below list lodgement dates of applications that have been allocated to case officers. These tables were last updated on 03/02/2012 and will be updated fortnightly.

Priority Group 5 Australian visa applications Processing Update 29/11/2011

Allocation Dates for General Skilled Migration Applications

Due to the strong demand for places in the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program the department is unable to immediately allocate all GSM applications to a case officer for consideration. When an application is allocated to a case officer depends on a number of factors, including the Priority Group of the application and the visa subclass applied for.

If your application has been allocated to a case officer you should have received communication from your case officer.

Applicants who lodged a GSM application before the following dates have been contacted by a case officer.

Important note:

N/A denotes 'Not Applicable'. There are no GSM visa subclasses within these priority groups.

** Not currently allocating.

A high volume of Priority Group 4 applications were received in May and June 2011. Whilst cases continue to be allocated per week, the limited movement of allocation dates reflect the high volume of applications received during this period. The affected visa subclasses are:

• Skilled – Independent (Migrant) subclass 175
• Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) subclass 176
• Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 475

Allocation of Priority Group 5 applications lodged outside Australia is yet to commence.

Visa subclasses 485 and 476 are exempt from the current priority processing direction. Applications for these subclasses will be processed in the order in which they were received by the department.

Subsequent entrant applications

All subsequent entrant applications that were lodged before 23 December 2011 have been contacted by a case officer.

Processing time service standards

Processing time service standards for different types of visa applications are linked to the Portfolio Budget Statements. Refer to the processing times for visas for migrating to Australia as a skilled person.

Source: DIAC

Processing times – skilled migration applications affected by processing priorities

The below table describes the processing times for the following visa subclasses.

Processing times – skilled migration applications exempt from processing priorities

The following visa subclasses are exempt from priority processing. These subclasses are processed in the order in which they are received.

Low risk applies to nationals from countries which issue Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) eligible passports. A list of these can be found on the department's website. High risk countries are those which are not ETA eligible.

Processing priority groups

Priority processing arrangements apply to skilled migration applications. They determine the order in which the department considers applications. Applications accorded a higher priority under the arrangements will be processed ahead of lower priority applications, regardless of when the application is lodged.

The following table details processing priorities for skilled migration applications.
Note: The highest priority is listed first.

General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas are processed by the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre (ASPC) and GSM Brisbane.

The application type you lodge will determine which General Skilled Migration Processing Centre will be responsible for your application.

Applications lodged from outside Australia will be processed as follows:

Applications lodged in Australia will be processed as follows:

SEE: Australian Visa Processing Priority

SEE= Australian Visa Applications processing update 13/07/2011

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Information below is now outdated.

Information noted below regarding processing times is allocation dates just before the 1 July 2011 changes for historical and information purposes.

Note: the pre-1 July 2011 Processing Priority Groups 2, 3 and 4 have become Processing Priority Groups 3, 4 and 5 because the former Processing Group 1 has become Priority Groups 1 and 2.

Applications lodged before the following dates are currently being  considered by a case officer

Details correct at 18 July 2011.

Important - GSM processing priorities have changed in line with Ministerial Direction No. 50. For details please see here - Australian visa current processing times updates

Priority Group 1

Skilled – Regional subclass 887
VB 887 (e-lodged) 20 June 2011
VB 887 (paper): 20 June 2011

Priority Group 2

There are no GSM visa classes in priority group 2

Priority Group 3

*Priority 3 applications are currently being allocated within two weeks of DIAC receiving confirmation of a valid nomination from the relevant State/ Territory Government. Applicants in priority group 3 are therefore encouraged, where possible, to provide decision ready applications to enable efficient processing and finalisation of their applications.

Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) subclass 176
VE 176 (e-lodged): 10 July 2011
VE 176 (paper): 10 July 2011

Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) subclass 886:
VB 886 (e-lodged) 10 July 2011
VB 886 (paper): 10 July 2011

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 475
VF 475 (e-lodged): 10 July 2011
VF 475 (paper): 10 July 2011

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 487
VC 487 (e-lodged) 10 July 2011
VC 487 (paper): 10 July 2011

Priority Group 4

Skilled – Independent (Migrant) subclass 175
VE 175 (e-lodged):10 August 2010
VE 175 (paper): 10 August 2010

Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) subclass 176
VE 176 (e-lodged): 10 August 2010
VE 176 (paper): 10 August 2010

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 475
VF 475 (e-lodged): 10 August 2010
VF 475 (paper): 10 August 2010

Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional) subclass 495 and
Skilled – Designated Area Sponsored subclass 496
UX 495 and UZ 496 (e-lodged and paper): All applicants who have an occupation on the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) – Schedule 3 have been allocated.

Skilled – Independent (Residence) subclass 885
VB 885 (e-lodged) 1 May 2011
VB 885 (paper): 20 April 2011

Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) subclass 886:
VB 886 (e-lodged) 1 May 2011
VB 886 (paper): 20 April 2011

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 487
VC 487 (e-lodged) 1 May 2011
VC 487 (paper): 20 April 2011

Priority Group 5

(See attached file: Important information for applicants in priority group 5.pdf)

Processing of priority group 5 applications can only commence once all applications from higher priority groups have been allocated for assessment.

Priority Exempt Applications

Visa Subclasses 485 and 476 are exempt from the current priority processing direction. Applications under these subclasses will be processed in the order in which they were received by the department.

Skilled - Graduate subclass 485
VC 485 (e-lodged) - 22 December 2009
VC 485 (paper) - 22 December 2009

Skilled – Recognised Graduate subclass 476
VF 476 (e-lodged): 28 February 2011
VF 476 (paper): 28 February 2011


Subsequent Entrant Applications
All subsequent entrant applications for subclasses 485, 487 and 475: 2 April 2011

Popular

• Australian visa current processing times updates
• State Sponsorship Migration Plans Australia
• Decision Ready (DRC) Australian Visas Processing Priority
• Australian Visa Processing Priority
• Australian Skilled Occupation Lists (SOL)

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Information below is now outdated.

Information noted below regarding processing times is allocation dates just before the 1 July 2011 changes for historical and information purposes.

Priority 2 State Migration Plan:

*Priority 2 applications are currently being allocated within two weeks of DIAC receiving confirmation of a valid nomination from the relevant State/ Territory Government. Applicants in priority group 2 are therefore encouraged, where possible, to provide decision ready applications to enable efficient processing and finalisation of their applications.

Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) subclass 176
VE 176 (e-lodged): 10 June 2011
VE 176 (paper): 10 June 2011

Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) subclass 886:
VB 886 (e-lodged) 10 June 2011
VB 886 (paper): 10 June 2011

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 475
VF 475 (e-lodged): 10 June 2011
VF 475 (paper): 10 June 2011

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 487
VC 487 (e-lodged) 10 June 2011
VC 487 (paper): 10 June 2011

Priority group 3

Skilled – Independent (Migrant) subclass 175
VE 175 (e-lodged):10 July 2010
VE 175 (paper): 10 July 2010

Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) subclass 176
VE 176 (e-lodged): 10 July 2010
VE 176 (paper): 10 July 2010

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 475
VF 475 (e-lodged): 10 July 2010
VF 475 (paper): 10 July 2010

Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional) subclass 495 and
Skilled – Designated Area Sponsored subclass 496
UX 495 and UZ 496 (e-lodged and paper): All applicants who have an occupation on the new Skilled Occupation List (SOL) – Schedule 3 have been allocated.

Skilled – Independent (Residence) subclass 885
VB 885 (e-lodged) 1 April 2011
VB 885 (paper): 1 March 2011

Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) subclass 886:
VB 886 (e-lodged) 1 April 2011
VB 886 (paper): 1 March 2011

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 487
VC 487 (e-lodged) 1 April 2011
VC 487 (paper): 1 March 2011

Priority Group 4

Processing of priority group 4 applications can only commence once all applications from priority group 2 and 3 have been allocated for assessment.

Priority Exempt Applications

Visa Subclasses 476, 485 and 887 are exempt from the current priority processing direction. Applications under these subclasses will be processed in the order in which they were received by the department.

Skilled – Recognised Graduate subclass 476
VF 476 (e-lodged): 28 February 2011
VF 476 (paper): 28 February 2011

Skilled – Regional subclass 887
VB 887 (e-lodged) 20 March 2011
VB 887 (paper): 20 March 2011

Subsequent Entrant Applications

All subsequent entrant applications for subclasses 485, 487 and 475: 2 April 2011

Skilled - Graduate subclass 485

1. Applications from people who have completed a Professional Year who lodged a subclass 485 application before 17 March 2011.
- All applications have been assessed.

2. Applications lodged from 9 February 2010 to 30 June 2010 where the nominated occupation was on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) Schedule 3 in effect from 1 July 2010.
- All applications have been assessed.

3. All other applications will generally be processed based on the date they were received.
At the time of this announcement applications lodged prior to the following dates had been allocated -
VC 485 (e-lodged) - 22 December 2009
VC 485 (paper) - 22 December 2009.

For important information about current processing arrangements for subclass 485 visa applications See: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/485-processing.pdf

• Processing times – skilled migration applications affected by processing priorities

The below table describes the processing times for the following visa subclasses.

Processing times – skilled migration applications exempt from processing priorities

The following visa subclasses are exempt from priority processing. These subclasses are processed in the order in which they are received.

Other visas Processing times

Contact us for more information in relation to below:

• Processing time for visiting Australia
• Processing times for studying in Australia
• Processing time working in Australia
• Processing time for migrating to Australia - as a skilled sponsored worker or business person
• Processing time for migrating to Australia - as a skilled person (GSM)
• Processing time for migrating to Australia - as family
• Processing time for migrating to Australia - Special Eligibility (former resident)
• Processing time for re-entering Australia as a permanent resident
• Processing time for migrating to Australia as a refugee or under the humanitarian programme

DIAC Processing time service standards

The tables below show the 2008-09 processing time service standards for different types of visa applications.

These service standards are linked to the 2008-09 Portfolio Budget Statements. DIAC aims to process 75 per cent of cases within these service standards, however actual processing times may vary from these standards as the following notes explain.

• The service standards are indicative only. Individual cases may be decided in longer or shorter periods than the service standard, depending on a range of factors, individual circumstances and the complexity of each case.

• The service standards apply to visa applications lodged with complete documentation. You can expect your application to take longer than the processing time service standard if it was lodged without all the required documentation.

• The service standards do not include the time taken to process nominations and/or sponsorship applications.

• Processing times vary by location, reflecting the differing circumstances of national and regional caseloads.

• If you submit your application for a visa online the processing times may be different from those shown below.

  
  

  Links to processing times by visa type

  The links below show the processing time service standards for different types of visa applications.

  • Visitor Visa Processing Times
    Sponsored visitors, non-sponsored visitors, medical treatment, working holiday and working and holiday visas

  • Student Visa Processing Times
    Students and student guardian visas

  • Temporary Work Visa Processing Times
    Sponsored and non-sponsored business visit and other sponsored temporary resident visas

  • Business Skills Visa Processing Times
    Labour agreement, employer nomination, regional sponsored migration and business skills visas

  • Skilled Migration Visa Processing Times
    Skilled sponsored worker and skilled business person

  • Family Visa Processing Times
    Prospective marriage, partner, child, New Zealand citizen family relationship, parent and other family visas

  • Resident Return Visa Processing Times
    Former resident, resident return and Australian declaratory visas

  • Refugee or Humanitarian Program Visa Processing Times
    Offshore humanitarian and onshore protection

Source: DIAC

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