Allocation Dates for General Skilled Migration Applications

Due to the strong demand for places in the General Skilled Migration (GSM) program the department is unable to immediately allocate all GSM applications to a case officer for consideration. When an application is allocated to a case officer depends on a number of factors, including the Priority Group of the application and the visa subclass applied for.

If your application has been allocated to a case officer you should have received communication from your case officer.

The tables below list lodgement dates of applications that have been allocated to case officers. These tables were last updated on 17 February 2012 and will be updated fortnightly.

Priority processing

Applicants who lodged a GSM application before the following dates have been contacted by a case officer.

Visa Subclass	Priority Group 1	Priority Group 2	Priority Group 3	Priority Group 4	Priority Group 5
Skilled – Regional subclass 887 online	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	N/A	N/A	N/A	**
Skilled – Regional subclass 887 paper	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	N/A	N/A	N/A	**
Skilled – Independent (Migrant) subclass 175 online	N/A	N/A	N/A	3 June 2011	**
Skilled – Independent (Migrant) subclass 175 paper	N/A	N/A	N/A	3 June 2011	**
Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) subclass 176 online	N/A	N/A	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	3 June 2011	**
Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) subclass 176 paper	N/A	N/A	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	3 June 2011	**
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 475 online	N/A	N/A	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	3 June 2011	**
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 475 paper	N/A	N/A	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	3 June 2011	**
Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional) subclass 495	N/A	N/A	N/A	All applications allocated	**
Skilled – Designated Area Sponsored subclass 496	N/A	N/A	N/A	All applications allocated	**
Skilled – Independent Overseas Student subclass 880	N/A	N/A	All applications allocated	All applications allocated	All applications allocated
Skilled – Australian-sponsored Overseas Student subclass 881	N/A	N/A	All applications allocated	All applications allocated	All applications allocated
Skilled – Designated Area-sponsored Overseas Student subclass 882	N/A	N/A	All applications allocated	All applications allocated	All applications allocated
Skilled – Onshore Australian-sponsored New Zealand Citizen subclass 862	N/A	N/A	All applications allocated	All applications allocated	All applications allocated
Skilled – Independent (Residence) subclass 885 online	N/A	N/A	N/A	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	1 August 2008
Skilled – Independent (Residence) subclass 885 paper	N/A	N/A	N/A	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	1 August 2008
Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) subclass 886 online	N/A	N/A	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	1 August 2008
Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) subclass 886 paper	N/A	N/A	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	1 August 2008
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 487 online	N/A	N/A	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	1 August 2008
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 487 paper	N/A	N/A	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	Within 4 weeks of lodgement	1 August 2008

Important note:

N/A denotes 'Not Applicable'. There are no GSM visa subclasses within these priority groups.

** Not currently allocating.

A high volume of Priority Group 4 applications were received in May and June 2011. Whilst cases continue to be allocated per week, the limited movement of allocation dates reflect the high volume of applications received during this period. The affected visa subclasses are:

• Skilled – Independent (Migrant) subclass 175
• Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) subclass 176
• Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 475

Allocation of Priority Group 5 applications lodged outside Australia is yet to commence.

Information is available about the processing of Priority Group 5 applications.
See: Processing of Priority Group 5 General Skilled Migration Applications

Priority exempt applications

Visa subclasses 485 and 476 are exempt from the current priority processing direction. Applications for these subclasses will be processed in the order in which they were received by the department.

Visa Subclass	Lodgement Method	Application Date
Skilled – Graduate subclass 485	online	21 February 2011
	paper	19 February 2011
Skilled – Recognised Graduate subclass 476	online	23 December 2011
	paper	23 December 2011

Subsequent entrant applications

All subsequent entrant applications that were lodged before 13 January 2012 have been contacted by a case officer.

Processing time service standards

Processing time service standards for different types of visa applications are linked to the Portfolio Budget Statements. Refer to the processing times for visas for migrating to Australia as a skilled person.
See: Processing Time Service Standards

Contact us

The General Skilled Processing Centres do not operate a client enquiry counter. The preferred method of communication is by email.
See: Professionals and Other Skilled Migrants Visas