critical skills test / state nomination priority processing question

[andy172]

Hi, I have seen this posting on the australian immigratin site:

As a result of this announcement from 1 January 2009 applications for
General Skilled Migration will be strictly allocated and processed in the
following priority order:

1. Applications with a successful State & Territory Nomination (until
all applications have been allocated); and then
2. Applications where the nominated occupation is on the Critical
Skills List (until all applications have been allocated); then
3. Applications where the nominated occupation is on the Migration
Occupations in Demand List (until all applications have been allocated);
then
4. All other remaining applications


My question is- I checked the Skills database and found a bunch of positions matching my current work role both in the state&teritory nominations as wells as in the critical skill list (mechanical engineer - under graduation & working as Decision Science manager).
So, how to make sure I belong to the Priority 1 - state nomination ? What is the process to asess my eligibility for this one?
Potentially how much faster will it get if qualified for this category vs CSL vs regular?

Please let me know
Thanks
-Anand

[anj1976]

Hi Anand, first and foremost is getting the skill assessed. Once done, u hv to get state sponsorship. all you need is ur skill in their skill list. you need to fill a form, provide some documents like work exp proofs, asset statements etc and wait for 3-4 weeks for them to respond.
post which you apply for the visa, giving them the state sponsor grant letter.

yes it does speed up things.

No one can comment on the current timeline due to the change in policies but their first priority would remain sponsored visas followed by the rest. and the regular comes the last. right now they r processing the state sponsored and the CSL ones, lemme give you an example, the state sponsored currently has been taking anything from 3-6 months. we r in the csl and the modl and we are yet to hear form them, we applied in sept 08, had we not been in csl, we wud hv been waiting for csl's to get over (they say they hv to assign a co to all csl cases by july 09. which means modl applications come next. and the modl's still hv 5 months waiting. and then comes the regular.

i dont know if i am making sense but yes state sponsored applications are moving faster thn anticipated.

[andy172]

HI Anj,

When you said "State sponsored applicant", does it mean getting the visa sponsored by the state employer in Australia? Or is it just another category before applying? In this case, the visa is still a Skilled Independent visa right? Or the visa type is change in case of a state sponsored applicant?
Falling into this category come with any obligations??

And if I understand correctly, even to assess into this category the process is get skills assessed thru regular authorities and then contact these state offices to get into the list??

Please let me know.
Thanks
-Anand

[ellisa]

Hi Andy172

What you need to do is check your skill is in demand in the state you wish to apply to. Remember you will be tied into that state for two years after which you can work anywhere in australia. You then need to apply to that state and can find out more on the state government website. I applied to queensland and was granted in 3 weeks. They then send you a certificate which lasts 2 years. I lodged my visa 176 29/01/09- CO assigned 18/02/09 and meds requested the same day. Meds completed 05/03/09 so now waiting but i have to say its been so fast. What anj says is right you have to get your skills assessed first as this needs to be done before you can go any further.

Hope this helps
Lisa

[andy172]

Originally Posted by ellisa

Hi Andy172

What you need to do is check your skill is in demand in the state you wish to apply to. Remember you will be tied into that state for two years after which you can work anywhere in australia. You then need to apply to that state and can find out more on the state government website. I applied to queensland and was granted in 3 weeks. They then send you a certificate which lasts 2 years. I lodged my visa 176 29/01/09- CO assigned 18/02/09 and meds requested the same day. Meds completed 05/03/09 so now waiting but i have to say its been so fast. What anj says is right you have to get your skills assessed first as this needs to be done before you can go any further.

Hope this helps
Lisa

Thanks Lisa.
I am kind of getting the point now. So if I am eligible the whole things much much faster then. But one question, when you said I will tied into that state for 2 years, doea that mean I have go to that state right after I get the visa and get it validated? OR I need to stay in that state for 2 years from the time I move there?

The reason I am asking this is, I am not sure whether I can move right away once I get and visa and validation done, I might take some time before I move there.
But once I move I am ok to get tied into the state.

Please let me know.
Thanks
-Anand

[anj1976]

hi andy,
u can work only in the state that sponsors you. you can move around in other states but cant work there. this applies for 2 yrs post ur coming here.
there is no difference in 175(independent PR) and 176(state sponsored independent PR) except for being tied to the state. u can validate the visa and then come as u please but yeah for initial 2 yrs u wud be tied to the state. i am not sure if this starts the moment u validate, common sense says its active the moment u validate it.

and everything else is the same, i mean the procedure, get ur assessment done, tk the state sponsorship from respective state and then get the visa. but if u think u hv time in ur hands, y not go for 175 where there r no strings attached. u get the visa in 12-15 months and then u can move.

my husband turned 29 in dec'08 and we did not hv much time since u loose points if u r ovr 30. u do not get the age benefit.

normally ppl used to tk the state sponsorship if they were short of points but now ppl are trying to the same to get the visa fast. uncouth people like us

[alizulfs]

Originally Posted by anj1976

(they say they hv to assign a co to all csl cases by july 09.

i dont know if i am making sense but yes state sponsored applications are moving faster thn anticipated.

hi anj,

where did u got this news from...
according to aspc news they say by end of may'09 all the csl cases would be allocated COs.

pls correct me if im mistaken

ali

[anj1976]

its stated in the auto response clearly. the priority is given to the state sponsored followed by the csls and then the modls. which means even if right now csl's are being taken, the priority still remains the state sponsored.

[alizulfs]

Originally Posted by anj1976

its stated in the auto response clearly. the priority is given to the state sponsored followed by the csls and then the modls. which means even if right now csl's are being taken, the priority still remains the state sponsored.

Hi,

Your comments on below please.

thanks:

GENERAL SKILLED MIGRATION ADELAIDE
PROCESSING INFORMATION FOR THE WEEK COMMENCING:
2 March 2009

Applications are now being allocated as follows:

State & Territory Nominated Applications:

Once the department has received valid nomination from a state or territory, applications will be allocated to a case officer within 10 working days.

Applications with Occupations on the Critical Skills List (CSL):

Applications are being allocated in date of lodgement order. All CSL applictions are expected to be allocated to case officers by end of May 2009.
Applications with Occupations on the Migration Occupations in Demand List
(MODL):
Applications are not being allocated at present

[alizulfs]

Originally Posted by anj1976

its stated in the auto response clearly. the priority is given to the state sponsored followed by the csls and then the modls. which means even if right now csl's are being taken, the priority still remains the state sponsored.

2231-79 (Java Specialist) falls under CSL?