Definitely 457 long stay visa, employer sponsored!

Thought so ... as you will see the rest of the thread is about the 475.

Wouldn't that be great if the 475's were granted in 2.5 weeks, wishful thinking, a bit like if the exchange rate went up to 2.5.
Now wouldn't that be a great day!!!

The exchange rate might have got there by the time we get our visas... just trying to look on the bright side on a gray and miserable day in Blighty, and nearly 2 years since lodged visa :-)

Two years?
You must have applied around the same time as us. Its the not being able to plan and not knowing that's so frustrating. Sending you some positive karma. WWWT

Hi 475 ers
there is ray of hope
read this


Lisa Valentine | Tuesday,
December 1st, 2009 at 10:45 am

Australian High Commission in London was to be a focus of the protests.
Finally some news of hope for all those affected by the September 23 changes to priority processing of Australian visas.

Members of the forum Poms in Oz met with David Wilden, the Minister-Counsellor for Immigration of the Australian High Commission in London to outline their fears and voice opinions of all those affected by the changes.

The September 23 changes meant that those applying for state sponsored visas, including those already in the process, were told that they no longer qualified for priority processing and may have to wait a further three to four years for their visas to be finalised.

Many visa applicants were furious as a large number of them had paid thousands of pounds, been allocated case officers and sold their houses in anticipation of receiving their visas within months.
Five representatives from Poms in Oz were finally granted an audience with Mr Wilden after a protest was planned outside the Australian High Commission.

Mr Wilden told the five that all applications from Categories 1 to 4 were now under control. For Category 5 applicants, he estimated that there were around 3,500 applications where the occupation was not on the Critical Skills List (CSL) but who had received state sponsorship. These applications, he assured the five, were now beginning to be processed.

The applications would be processed in order of the dates they were lodged. A first come, first served basis.

Mr Wilder said that the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) would not say how long the processing would take, as applications which come under the CSL would still have to be processed as a priority, but it is thought that applicants will not now have to wait as long as previously thought.

No doubt the government are trying to smooth over the bad press it has received both in Australia and the UK over the controversial changes in which applicants were also told that no refunds would be issued should they withdraw their applications.

The news, whilst not offering anything definite, does seem to hold a glimmer of hope for state sponsorship applicants. Potential migrants to Australia are now hoping for more good news when the DIAC reveals the new Future Skills List later this month.

Been following this on the ************* website.

http://www.*************/forum/migrat...ry-5-news.html

The thread is starting to get long but worth a read from the beginning.

Johnnyyt

Hi everyone. Any updates lately?

The fact that I was barely weeks away from my visa makes me so depressed. Zzz.. trying hard to forget about all this for the time being..

Anyways, Merry Chrismas to everyone in advance and have a good 2010

well currently I know at least 2 cases when 475 visas were issued just recently...

It's really ray of hope....
My job inquiry has been completed recently .....
So i think processing is being started again......
It's really a ray of hope for us..

21st January 2010: I JUST GOT MY VISA!!! WOOOHOOOOOO!!!

Well done, now the hard work starts.

Johnnyyt

Hey!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You must be happy like anything!! Well done.. Let us know when you plan to come to Adelaide.. I am going in 20th Feb, 2010.

Cheers!

~Sohel

Hahaha thanks

Not sure when yet. Will keep you posted