This is a sample copy of the letter going out to 31,000 applicants for General Skilled Visas who are now in the new priority 5 for visa processing for a General Skill Migration visa.

Many visa applicants who were previously in priority 4 have now been downgraded to priority 5. Approximately 31,000 Austrlaian Visa Applicants for General Skilled Migration are affected.

This letter outlines the latest Ministerial Directive for DIAC; and clients being given visa advice through Adagent Visadvice will be directed accordingly. Here is the sample letter.

Australian Government
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
GSM Adelaide - Level 3 55 Currie Street Adelaide SA 5000
GPO Box 2399 ADELAIDE SA 5001

GSM Brisbane - 299 Adelaide Street Brisbane QLD 4000
GPO Box 9984 BRISBANE QLD 4001

Telephone: 1300 364 613

Fax: 07 3136 7473

www.immi.gov.au

Letter Reference: dateD50PG5
Client ID:
Client File Number:
ICSE Permission Request ID:
Transaction Reference Number (TRN):

Dear Name

Re: Visa Name Subclass xxx

I am writing to update you with information regarding your General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa application and the priority processing arrangements in place. The information contained in this email is for information only and you do not need to take any action. This email also contains instructions on how you can obtain the latest information about when your
application is nearing assessment by a case officer.

Priority processing arrangements

A new Ministerial Direction came into effect on 1 July 2011 establishing new priority processing
arrangements for Skilled Migration applications. This Direction determines the order in which the department considers applications. Applications accorded a higher priority under these arrangements are assessed ahead of lower priority applications, irrespective of when the application is lodged. In line with these arrangements GSM has commenced assessing skilled migration applications which fall within its processing responsibility in the current order:

Priority 1: Applications from people who have applied for a Skilled – Regional (subclass 887
visa

Priority 2: No GSM applications are included within this group

Priority 3: Applications from people who are nominated by a state or territory government
agency for an occupation specified on that agency’s state migration plan

Priority 4: Applications from people who have nominated an occupation on the Skilled
Occupation List (SOL) – Schedule 1 in effect from 1 July 2011
(http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/_pdf/sol-schedule1.pdf)

Priority 5: All other applications

Your application is now grouped in priority 5.

The department does not anticipate that the creation of an additional priority group, as per this Direction, will impact negatively on the processing of applications which were previously in
priority group 4 and are now in priority group 5. This is because recent reforms have impacted
on the volume of applicants waiting for a skilled migration outcome.

To find out more information about the priority processing arrangements in place, see:
http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/24apriority_skilled.htm 2011-2012 Migration Program Year

On 10 May 2011, the Minister announced the Migration Program for 2011-2012 to be set at 185,000 places, 72,460 of which are allocated to the GSM program.

Taking into consideration current application rates and the overall number of GSM places available the department expects to commence processing of some priority group 5 applications in this program year.

Once commenced, processing of priority group 5 applications will take place in date of lodgment order, after all applications of a higher priority have been allocated for assessment.
As required by the Direction, priority will continue to be given to GSM applications in higher priority groups which will affect the overall number of priority group 5 applications assessed. It is therefore anticipated that many priority group 5 applicants will still have a long wait for visa processing.

Information about the status of your application

You can now view updates on the status of your application at our website:
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/lodged-informat...
This website contains information on current allocation dates, processing times and general
information about GSM visa processing and can assist you to determine when your application is nearing assessment.

Comparing the published information about which applications are currently being allocated to case officers, to the lodgment date of your application, may give you an indication of when you can expect your application to be allocated.

Please be aware however, that the allocation of applications in priority group 5 will continue to be affected by the number of applications received in higher priority groups.
We therefore recommend that you monitor the status of your application via this website.

Options available to applicants in priority group 5

The options available if you were outside Australia when you made your application are to:

 continue to await a decision on your visa application

 consider your eligibility for an employer sponsored visa, which would require a new visa
application;

 consider your eligibility for nomination by a state or territory government under a state
migration plan, which would require a new visa application (unless the relevant application
was lodged before 1/7/10)

 withdraw your application.

The options available if you were in Australia when you made your application are to:

 continue to live and work in Australia (if your visa permits) while awaiting a decision on your
visa application

 consider your eligibility for an employer sponsored visa, which would require a new visa
application

 consider your eligibility for nomination by a state and territory government under a state
migration plan, which would require a new visa application (unless the relevant application
was made before 1/7/10)

 apply for another substantive visa

 withdraw your application and depart Australia unless you hold another visa permitting you to remain.

If you have been granted another visa for migration to or permanent residence in Australia and no longer require your GSM application to be processed you can withdraw your application so that it can be finalised. Withdrawal letters, signed by each applicant aged 18 years or over, can be scanned andemailed to gsm.documents@immi.gov.au. It is important to note that applicants who withdraw their application due to extended processing times are not entitled to a refund of the Visa Application Charge or compensation for other costs incurred in making an application.

Contacting Us

Departmental officers must adhere to these priority processing arrangements and have no discretion to work outside of these arrangements. We therefore ask that you limit enquiries about your GSM application to essential matters and refrain from making progress enquiries.
Unless a change to the priority processing arrangements is made by the Minister, there is nothing further that the department can advise in relation to when your application will be assessed.

It is recommended that you regularly check the information on allocation dates and processing time service standards available at: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/lodgedinformati...

In the event that the priority processing arrangements do change, you will be contacted about how this affects your application.

Yours sincerely,