OCTOBER '08 APPLICANTS
Apr 28th 2010, 4:06 am
#406
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5
Re: OCTOBER '08 APPLICANTS
Is there any Oct 2008 applicant remaining to be finalized GSM 175 visa who are in MODL/CSL?
Aug 23rd 2010, 9:14 am
#407
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Takapuna, New Zealand
Posts: 913
Re: OCTOBER '08 APPLICANTS
I know its been a long time but just thought I'd update.
We had out New Zealand PR approved last week, about 2 months since we lodged it! WOOHOO!!
Our 175 PR lodged in Oct 08 still hasn't been looked at but we don't plan to use it now.
I hope everyone else has got there's approved by now though, as we are just hoping to get a refund when/if they cancel them so we can recoup our wasted money from our Oz visa fiasco.
We had out New Zealand PR approved last week, about 2 months since we lodged it! WOOHOO!!
Our 175 PR lodged in Oct 08 still hasn't been looked at but we don't plan to use it now.
I hope everyone else has got there's approved by now though, as we are just hoping to get a refund when/if they cancel them so we can recoup our wasted money from our Oz visa fiasco.
Aug 23rd 2010, 9:38 am
#408
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 283
Re: OCTOBER '08 APPLICANTS
Congratulations!
We finally got our PR in April and we are off to Perth in less than two weeks
We finally got our PR in April and we are off to Perth in less than two weeks
Aug 23rd 2010, 10:20 am
#409
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Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Takapuna, New Zealand
Posts: 913
Sep 10th 2010, 1:49 pm
#410
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16
october 08 applicants
Hi just wondered if there are any other people still waiting ,applied Oct 08 appplication still says commenced processing ,changed to 176 in July 09 but no news what so ever,disillusioned brickie
Sep 10th 2010, 2:59 pm
#411
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,814
Jan 21st 2011, 11:30 am
#412
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Dundee
Posts: 10
Re: OCTOBER '08 APPLICANTS
Hello,
We are Oct 08 applicants. We initially applied for 175 visa, however when all the changes came into place we applied for 176 WA visa. This has finally been granted today! :-) So excited, I could burst.
Hubby is an electrician and we are moving to Perth in the summer. They were going to approve our visas last August, however, I was expecting again so we decided to put them on hold. Had the little one in November 2010, case officer requested our medicals in Dec...finally done our meds two weeks ago and today they are approved. Very long journey but got there in the end. Good luck to everyone still waiting. Kelly and Graham.
We are Oct 08 applicants. We initially applied for 175 visa, however when all the changes came into place we applied for 176 WA visa. This has finally been granted today! :-) So excited, I could burst.
Hubby is an electrician and we are moving to Perth in the summer. They were going to approve our visas last August, however, I was expecting again so we decided to put them on hold. Had the little one in November 2010, case officer requested our medicals in Dec...finally done our meds two weeks ago and today they are approved. Very long journey but got there in the end. Good luck to everyone still waiting. Kelly and Graham.
Jan 21st 2011, 11:45 am
#413
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Delhi
Posts: 61
Re: OCTOBER '08 APPLICANTS
Congratulaitions!
Hello,
We are Oct 08 applicants. We initially applied for 175 visa, however when all the changes came into place we applied for 176 WA visa. This has finally been granted today! :-) So excited, I could burst.
Hubby is an electrician and we are moving to Perth in the summer. They were going to approve our visas last August, however, I was expecting again so we decided to put them on hold. Had the little one in November 2010, case officer requested our medicals in Dec...finally done our meds two weeks ago and today they are approved. Very long journey but got there in the end. Good luck to everyone still waiting. Kelly and Graham.
We are Oct 08 applicants. We initially applied for 175 visa, however when all the changes came into place we applied for 176 WA visa. This has finally been granted today! :-) So excited, I could burst.
Hubby is an electrician and we are moving to Perth in the summer. They were going to approve our visas last August, however, I was expecting again so we decided to put them on hold. Had the little one in November 2010, case officer requested our medicals in Dec...finally done our meds two weeks ago and today they are approved. Very long journey but got there in the end. Good luck to everyone still waiting. Kelly and Graham.
Jan 21st 2011, 1:24 pm
#414
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 283
Re: OCTOBER '08 APPLICANTS
Hello,
We are Oct 08 applicants. We initially applied for 175 visa, however when all the changes came into place we applied for 176 WA visa. This has finally been granted today! :-) So excited, I could burst.
Hubby is an electrician and we are moving to Perth in the summer. They were going to approve our visas last August, however, I was expecting again so we decided to put them on hold. Had the little one in November 2010, case officer requested our medicals in Dec...finally done our meds two weeks ago and today they are approved. Very long journey but got there in the end. Good luck to everyone still waiting. Kelly and Graham.
We are Oct 08 applicants. We initially applied for 175 visa, however when all the changes came into place we applied for 176 WA visa. This has finally been granted today! :-) So excited, I could burst.
Hubby is an electrician and we are moving to Perth in the summer. They were going to approve our visas last August, however, I was expecting again so we decided to put them on hold. Had the little one in November 2010, case officer requested our medicals in Dec...finally done our meds two weeks ago and today they are approved. Very long journey but got there in the end. Good luck to everyone still waiting. Kelly and Graham.
Good luck with it all, it will be stressful getting organised but just keep your eye on the bigger picture
Jan 22nd 2011, 5:18 am
#415
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Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Takapuna, New Zealand
Posts: 913
Re: OCTOBER '08 APPLICANTS
Congrats both!!
Sunshine7 - Was yours just a standard 175 or did you change to a State Sponsored 176 as well?
We were an Oct 08 standard 175 applicant but not had anything through yet. Not bothered though as been living in NZ for just over a year now as got our PR within 2 months and loving it here.
Sunshine7 - Was yours just a standard 175 or did you change to a State Sponsored 176 as well?
We were an Oct 08 standard 175 applicant but not had anything through yet. Not bothered though as been living in NZ for just over a year now as got our PR within 2 months and loving it here.
Jan 22nd 2011, 6:22 am
#416
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 283
Re: OCTOBER '08 APPLICANTS
We changed to a State Sponsored 176 during the process - luckily. That's not good you are still waiting, such a long time, at least you are not bothered though.
Jul 18th 2011, 2:11 am
#417
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Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Takapuna, New Zealand
Posts: 913
Re: OCTOBER '08 APPLICANTS
HAHA! Had this email from immigration yesterday, as we still haven't had anything done with our October 2008 175 application.
So after going to the bottom of the pile in 2010 when they changed the rules, they've now created a deeper bottom of the pile and moved it to that 
Man alive, wish I'd never wasted our hard earned cash on this application. At least we were able to get New Zealand PR within 2 months of applying and are happy living in kiwi land now.
Feel sorry for anyone else in this thread caught out by this crap.
Re: Subclass 175 Skilled - Independent Visa
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-sh...ty_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/gener...nformation.htm
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 and emailed to [email protected]. 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/gener...nformation.htm
In the event that the priority processing arrangements do change, you will be contacted about how this affects your application.
Yours sincerely,
General Skilled Migration
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-sh...ty_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/gener...nformation.htm
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 and emailed to [email protected]. 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/gener...nformation.htm
In the event that the priority processing arrangements do change, you will be contacted about how this affects your application.
Yours sincerely,
General Skilled Migration
Man alive, wish I'd never wasted our hard earned cash on this application. At least we were able to get New Zealand PR within 2 months of applying and are happy living in kiwi land now.
Feel sorry for anyone else in this thread caught out by this crap.
Sep 18th 2011, 5:31 pm
#418
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 272
Re: OCTOBER '08 APPLICANTS
AndyR have you had any joy with your 175? we have moved up to Cat 3 from Cat 5 so hopefully a CO wont be long now!!!
Sep 18th 2011, 8:37 pm
#419
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Takapuna, New Zealand
Posts: 913
Re: OCTOBER '08 APPLICANTS
Glad yours got bumped up to Cat 3 though, hopefully it'll speed it along for you guys as its been such a long wait hasn't it.
Have you thought about NZ if Oz doesn't come off? We never did until we ended up here by chance and totally love it!!! Our PR application only took 5 months all in here, and my initial work visa was a matter of weeks.
Sep 18th 2011, 9:10 pm
#420
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 272
Re: OCTOBER '08 APPLICANTS
Hi Andy,
Really glad you have settled in well, good to hear.
We have considered NZ I have even got a job offer as a truck driver, I was getting the medicals in Nov as I have had an operation and wont be medically fit until then. but now that WA have put hairdressers back in the list we are hoping we will get a CO ASAP.
I am calling them later to see what is actually happening.... we was in NZ in Feb 2007 Auckland area only a reccie but yeah loved it and will definatley consider living there just seems everytime we go to change direction DIAC / WA drag us back in.
Chris
Really glad you have settled in well, good to hear.
We have considered NZ I have even got a job offer as a truck driver, I was getting the medicals in Nov as I have had an operation and wont be medically fit until then. but now that WA have put hairdressers back in the list we are hoping we will get a CO ASAP.
I am calling them later to see what is actually happening.... we was in NZ in Feb 2007 Auckland area only a reccie but yeah loved it and will definatley consider living there just seems everytime we go to change direction DIAC / WA drag us back in.
Chris