Critical Skills List to change priority of visa processing

The Minister of Immigration introduced a Critical Skills List (CSL). This list focuses on medical and key IT professionals, engineers and construction trades. The idea behind the CSL is to change the order of processing of General Skilled Applications undecided after 1st January 2009 (that is all permanent points tested applications under skilled migration - 880,881,882,885,886,175,176 etc)

 

Although the total program numbers wont be cut at this stage, the place you fit in the priority list will determine how long it may take. In short the new priority order (number 1 being the quickest) will be ..

 

1. Employer sponsored visas

2. State or territory Government sponsored visas

3. Occupations on the critical skills list

4. Occupations on the Migration Occupations in Demand List

5. All other valid applications

 

The CSL is in addition to the current MODL list and mean that applicants who have nominated an occupation on the CSL can expect much speedier processing. Although the actual timelines are still uncertain it is possible that those applicants who are in priority 5 can expect a delay in the processing of their visas.

 

Changes to the processing of provisional visas (ie 475,487 etc). They will be done in the following order :

1. State or territory sponsorship

2. Family sponsorship where the applicant’s occupation is listed on the CSL

3. And then all other applications.

 

Do these changes apply to applications lodged before 1 January 2008? It would seem so. In "2008-09 Migration Program Changes Frequently asked questions" it states in Question 22: What will happen to those applications which are in the final stages of processing and where the department has requested applicants to provide health and character clearances? Those applications which are currently close to being finalised, will be finalised by the department, subject to health and character clearances."

 

The links to the changes are as follows:-
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-ski...whats-new.htm#j (link to DIAC announcement)
http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/medi...ion-program.pdf (Ministers Full Statement)
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-ski...ion/pdf/faq.pdf (Frequently Asked Questions on the NEW changes)
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-ski...skills-list.pdf (Critical Skills List)
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-ski...s-in-demand.htm (MODL List)