Allocation Dates for General Skilled Migration Applications
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Allocation table
The tables below list lodgement dates of applications that have been or will soon be allocated to case officers. You can use this information to determine when your General Skilled Migration (GSM) application will be allocated and to prepare your application for assessment. This information was last updated on 3 May 2013.
Effective 1 July 2012, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship set new priority processing arrangements for certain skilled migration visas. Allocation dates outlined below reflect the new priority processing arrangements.
| Visa Subclass | Priority Group 3 | Priority Group 4 | Priority Group 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 189 Skilled – Independent | N/A | Within 8 weeks of lodgement | N/A |
| 190 Skilled - Nominated | Within 5 weeks of lodgement | N/A | N/A |
| 489 Skilled - Regional | Within 5 weeks of lodgement | Within 8 weeks of lodgement | N/A |
| 175 Skilled – Independent | N/A | All applications allocated | 21 May 2008 |
| 176 Skilled – Sponsored | Within 6 weeks of an approved nomination | All applications allocated | Allocation not commenced* |
| 475 Skilled – Regional Sponsored | Within 6 weeks of an approved nomination | All applications allocated | Allocation not commenced* |
| 496 Skilled – Designated Area Sponsored | N/A | All applications allocated | 10 August 2007* |
| 885 Skilled – Independent | N/A | All applications allocated | 28 June 2010 |
| 886 Skilled – Sponsored (e-lodged) |
Within 6 weeks of an approved nomination | All applications allocated | 31 August 2009** |
| 886 Skilled – Sponsored (paper) | Within 6 weeks of an approved nomination | All applications allocated | 30 April 2009** |
| 487 Skilled – Regional Sponsored (e-lodged) |
Within 6 weeks of an approved nomination | All applications allocated | 31 August 2009** |
| 487 Skilled – Regional Sponsored (paper) |
Within 6 weeks of an approved nomination | All applications allocated | 30 April 2009** |
N/A- The visa subclass is not applicable for this priority group.
* and ** Allocation of Skilled Regional Sponsored (formerly Skilled Australian Sponsored (Family Sponsored)) GSM applications is limited due to the number of visa places available in the 2012-13 program year.
Further information is available about the allocation and processing of Skilled Regional Sponsored (formerly Skilled Australian Sponsored (Family Sponsored)) visa applications.
See: Allocation and Processing of Skilled Regional Sponsored GSM Visa Applications
Further information is available about the priority processing groups and the order of processing applications.
See: Priority processing groups and order of processing applications
Further 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, 476 and 887 are exempt from the current priority processing direction and are processed in the order in which they were received by the department.
| Visa Subclass | Application Date |
|---|---|
| 485 Skilled – Graduate subclass | 23 December 2012 |
| 476 Skilled – Recognised Graduate subclass | 13 February 2013 |
| 887 Skilled – Regional | 05 January 2013 |
Subsequent entrant applications
All subsequent entrant applications lodged before 11 February 2013 have been allocated to a case officer.
What happens when my application has been allocated
When your application is allocated to a case officer, you will be notified and provided with an email address for all future correspondence. Your case officer can assist with further detail on how to obtain specific clearances, and confirm the validity of any previously obtained clearances.
What you can do if your application is nearing allocation
If you lodged your application online, any additional documentation must be attached online through the eVisa system. Guidance in attaching documents through the eVisa system is available on our website.
See: Attaching Documents to a General Skilled Migration Visa Application
If you lodged your application by paper, you can provide additional documentation by scanning and emailing the documents to the department.
Email: gsm.documents@immi.gov.au
If your application is in one of the categories listed below, you need to make sure all relevant information and required supporting documentation has been provided to us. This includes undertaking any outstanding health and character clearances before your application is allocated:
- Priority Group 3
- Priority Group 4 – lodged within one month of the dates listed in the Allocation table above
- Priority Group 5 – lodged within two weeks of the dates listed in the in the Allocation table above (subclasses 487 and 886 only)
- Priority Exempt – lodged within three months of the dates listed in the Priority Exempt table above.
Notes:
- Applicants should not proceed with health and character clearances where a '*' is listed in the Allocation tables above
- Having your application ready for finalisation at this pre-allocation stage, may expedite a decision.
Health and character assessments are valid for one year from the date of issue and may be affected by changes to the processing directions. You will be responsible for paying any fees and costs associated with obtaining any clearances you need.
Further information about character and health requirements is available.
See:
Character and Penal Clearance Requirements
Health Requirements