Most General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa applications are subject to a Ministerial Direction which determines the priority in which they are considered. Applications are allocated to a case officer for processing based on the priority of an application according to the Direction.
Each week the two GSM processing centres (Adelaide and Brisbane) allocate the highest priority applications on hand before the next highest, until there are sufficient applications allocated in each of the visa categories to meet the planning levels set by government in the 2011-12 Migration Program.
Allocation process and caseload
Each week approximately 1000 priority affected cases are allocated to case officers. Cases are allocated based on their priority group and whether they were lodged in or outside Australia.
In Australia
Allocation of applications lodged in Australia is currently made up of all available applications from Priority Groups 1, 3 and 4. If there are any remaining places available, then Priority Group 5 cases will be allocated. There are no GSM applications in Priority Group 2.
The department commenced allocating Priority Group 5 applications lodged in Australia in November 2011. As at 13 April 2012, all clients who lodged their application before 5 January 2009 have been contacted by their case officer. A further 21 471 Priority Group 5 cases are awaiting allocation.
Outside Australia
Allocation of applications lodged outside Australia is currently made up of all available applications from Priority Groups 1 and 3. If there are any remaining places available, then generally Priority Group 4 cases will be allocated. There are no GSM applications in Priority Group 2.
As at 13 April 2012 there were approximately 1840 Priority Group 4 cases lodged outside Australia awaiting allocation. A further 14 914 Priority Group 5 cases are also awaiting allocation.
Processing arrangements for Priority Group 5
Allocation of Priority Group 5 applications lodged outside Australia has commenced with applications in state sponsored GSM visa subclasses currently being allocated in the order they were received.
Allocation of state sponsored cases ahead of the remaining Priority Group 4 applications lodged outside Australia is due to there being a lower than anticipated number of applications lodged this program year under a State Migration Plan (Priority Group 3). This allocation includes applications in visa subclass 495 which, was not affected by the Minister’s Cap and Cease arrangements, unlike other GSM applications lodged outside Australia prior to 1 September 2007. All affected applications will be allocated to case officers during April and May 2012.
GSM has also limited the allocation of Skilled Australian Sponsored cases lodged in and outside Australia due to there being a low number of available visa places remaining this program year. Skilled Australian Sponsored applicants in both Priority Groups 4 and 5, whose applications are yet to be allocated to a case officer will be affected.
The allocation of Priority Group 5 applications lodged outside Australia is expected to continue in general date of lodgement order throughout the 2012-13 Migration Program year in line with available Migration Program places in the specific GSM visa categories.
The overall number of Priority Group 5 applications processed in any program year will ultimately depend on the number of higher priority applications received, and other factors, including the size of the Migration Program and its composition, and any variation of the Processing Direction.
Many Priority Group 5 applicants still face a considerable wait until their application is allocated to a case officer for processing and may want to consider other options available.
Source: DIAC
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Information below is now may be outdated.
Migration Applications Processing Update – some good news
There has been some good news from the Department of Immigration (DIAC) in the last month. DIAC has announced that it expects to commence allocating some General Skilled Migration (GSM) Priority Group 5 applications this program year (2011-12).
This group comprises approximately 27 347 onshore applications, and 15 284 offshore applications.
As of 18 November 2011 there were approximately 751 onshore applications and 5544 offshore applications in Priority Group 4 awaiting allocation.
Information on how processing of Group 5 applications will occur:
Processing of Priority Group 5 applications lodged in Australia will begin with the remaining applications in the visa subclasses in effect prior to September 2007, the oldest of which was lodged on 28 July 2005. There are approximately 756 cases in this group.
Processing of Priority Group 5 applications lodged outside Australia will begin with applications in visa subclasses 495 and 496, which were lodged prior to 1 September 2007, the oldest of which was lodged on 10 July 2006. Unlike other GSM visa applications lodged from outside Australia, prior to 1 September 2007, these applications were not affected by the Minister's Cap and Cease arrangements. There are approximately 594 cases in this group.
The number of Priority Group 5 applications processed this program year will ultimately depend on the number of higher priority applications received, and other factors including any change in the size of the Migration Program or variation of the Processing Direction. Many Priority Group 5 applicants still face a considerable wait until their application is allocated to a case officer for processing and may want to consider other options available.
Back ground to Australian migration application processing.
Most General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa applications are subject to a Ministerial Direction which determines the priority in which they are considered.
Under the Direction allocation of applications to a case officer for processing is done based on the priority of an application according to the Direction.
Each week within the two GSM processing centres (Adelaide and Brisbane) the highest priority applications on hand are allocated before the next highest until sufficient applications are allocated to deliver the GSM component of the 2011-12 Migration Program.
Priority Processing for Skilled Migration Visas
The current priority processing arrangements were announced on 10 May 2011.
Priority processing refers to the order in which the department considers skilled migration applications. The minister is able to consider and finalise visa applications in an order of priority that the minister considers appropriate. The changes to priority processing do not change visa eligibility criteria.
From 1 July 2011, processing priorities (with highest priority listed first) are:
- applications from people who are employer sponsored under the RSMS program or who have applied for a Skilled – Regional (subclass 887) visa
- applications from people who are applying under the ENS program
- applications from people who are nominated by a state or territory government agency for an occupation specified on that agency's state migration plan
- applications from people who have nominated an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) – Schedule 1 in effect from 1 July 2011
- all other applications.
RSMS, ENS and state migration plans–priority groups 1, 2 and 3
Applications from people who are applying under the RSMS are processed as priority group 1. Those applying under the ENS are processed as priority group 2.
Applications from people who are nominated by a state or territory government agency with a nominated occupation that is specified on the state or territory's state migration plan receive the third highest level of priority processing. State migration plans are developed by state or territory governments in consultation with the department. They include occupations that are in demand in each individual state and territory.
As a transitional arrangement, applicants who were nominated by a state or territory government for an 'off-list' occupation prior to the implementation of state migration plans will also receive processing under priority group 3.
Occupations on the SOL–Schedule 1 in effect at 1 July 2011–priority group 4
All applicants with a nominated occupation on the SOL–Schedule 1 are included in priority group 4. This includes both independent applicants and applicants sponsored by an Australian family member.
All other applications–priority group 5
Applicants with a nominated occupation that is not on the SOL–Schedule 1 in effect at 1 July 2011 and who are not employer sponsored or nominated by a state or territory government under a state migration plan, will be processed under priority group 5.
Applicants with a nominated occupation that is not on the SOL–Schedule 1 in effect at 1 July 2011 can only move into a higher priority group by lodging a new application with an employer sponsorship or a state or territory government nomination in an occupation specified under a state migration plan. Alternatively, applicants can only nominate a different occupation that is on the SOL–Schedule 1 by lodging a new application. It is not possible to change a nominated occupation or to change to an employer sponsored or state nominated visa category, unless a new application is lodged. A new application would require the payment of a new Visa Application Charge.
Applicants should not contact the department to request that their application be exempt from the priority processing direction. Case officers do not have discretion to exempt applications.
Options available to applicants in priority group 5
Applicants with nominated occupations in priority group 5 should note that these changes are designed to facilitate priority processing of group 1. Group 5 will however still have a long wait for visa processing.
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