Today I finally got the answer, it was not what I wanted to hear though!!!!

175 GSM on hold until end of 2012 unless you are on the CSL.

AS a chef I am done for.

I am so disappointed, I applied in March 2008 and now I have to wait 5 years.

At this point I WISH I could get my money back.

IF you are feeling the same or have found a solution share here........

At the moment I cannot quite see the answer!

Five years? 2012 is only two years away.

Are they giving 175 VISA now? the movement is very slow. why? are they planing for something?

Regards,
Kasun

The actual quote was my application is on indefinite hold until the end of 2012 and will not be reviewed (not finalized).

I am guessing there will still be significant time lag between review and processing, to be honest I don't think 2013 or even later is unrealistic.

As it stands today for sure its a staggering 4 years plus review plus process.

Unless your skill is on the CSL, EXPECT a very very long wait indeed

mine is now on hold pending review at the end of 2012

I am a chef

If you do a search or even just a quick look on the first couple of pages of the Immi forum, you'll find stacks of others in your position - nothing until 2012. Sucks but apart from speaking with a very reputable agent about other options, not sure what you can do. Most people are stuck with the weight.

Whilst it's the ruling at the moment, there's nothing to say that things won't change in the next year or so that will bring you all back into the application process. Don't hold your breath though.

Am I being thick here but I thought 175 visas were not being processed as there are not state sponsored?

John

State sponsorship is not the major factor. Whether the occupation is on the CSL or not is what counts.

It's not exactly breaking news. This has been a sticky at the top of this forum for weeks. http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=633659

Threads merged.

So then why did the government set these priority lists:

1. applications from people who are employer sponsored under the ENS and the RSMS
2. applications from people who are nominated by a State/Territory government and
whose nominated occupation is listed on the Critical Skills List (CSL)
3. applications from people who are sponsored by family and whose nominated
occupation is listed on the CSL
4. applications from people who are neither nominated nor sponsored but whose
nominated occupation is listed on the CSL
5. applications from people who are nominated by a State/Territory government whose
nominated occupation is not listed on the CSL
6. (i) applications from people whose occupations are listed on the Migration Occupations
in Demand List (MODL)
and
(ii) applications from people who are sponsored by family and whose nominated
occupation is not listed on the CSL.


and

7. all other applications are to be processed in the order in which they are received.

We have enough points to apply for a 175 but I thought that a SS 176 was the only way to go and would be quicker?

JOHN

Because there is a recession happening and it makes good sense to protect Australia's interests and to not have a flow of immigrants who will not be able to find work or will take work away from Australian citizens/permanent residents.

Thanks for that but my question was " I thought 175 visas were not being processed as there are not state sponsored?" and I posted the ozzie goverment priority lists to back up what I was saying.

Can anyone please help as I am totally confused!

JOHN

As we all know, state sponsorship was an alternativ to a 175 application on hold until very recently. The most frustrating thing about the 176/SS applications is that the state sponsorship is based on each state's own "occupation in demand" list which is not in sync with the federal CSL or processing priorities, therefore you can be sponsored by a state that wants you to get PR granted from DIAC asap but the federal DIAC mothballs your application until the end of 2012 which effectively renders the SS useless. It is a ridiculous situation.

My wife is a Nurse and we would prefer to apply for a 175 as it would give us more flexibility. We already have state sponsorship and were waiting till January 2010 which is when my wife has completed a year as a nurse and then we were going to apply for a 176. And bearing in mind the new list of priorities I thought that applying for a 175 was a waste of time. So am I wrong?

JOHN