Priority processing available for Australian skilled migration visas

Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, has announced from 1 July 2012, new priority processing arrangements will be in place for certain skilled migration visas.

The priority processing arrangements allow the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to consider and finalise visa applications in an order of priority that the minister considers appropriate. The new arrangements apply to visa applications for the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS), Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) and certain points based skilled migration visa schemes.

From July 1, 2012, processing priorities (with highest priority listed first) are applications from people who:

• are sponsored under the RSMS program
• are sponsored under the ENS program
• are nominated by a state or territory government agency
• have nominated an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List
• all other applications.

Applications for visa subclasses 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, or 489 which are submitted through SkillSelect will be given the highest priority within each priority processing group.

DIAC stated that the changes to priority processing arrangements were made to address the needs of industry by targeting skills in demand across a number of sectors, while ensuring that the Skilled Migration Program is responsive to the current economic climate and the needs of the Australian economy.

The new priority processing arrangements apply to all current applications, including those in the final stages of processing. Priority processing arrangements are subject to changes in response to Australia's economic situation and do not change visa eligibility criteria.

Global Visa Support offers a variety of programs in Australia. Please visit our Australian page for more information: http://www.globalvisasupport.com/australia.html