updated on 23 December 2011

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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 23 December 2011 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 5 May 2011 **
Skilled – Independent (Migrant) subclass 175
paper N/A N/A N/A 5 May 2011 **
Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) subclass 176
online N/A N/A Within 4 weeks of lodgement 5 May 2011 **
Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) subclass 176
paper N/A N/A Within 4 weeks of lodgement 5 May 2011 **
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 475
online N/A N/A Within 4 weeks of lodgement 5 May 2011 **
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 475
paper N/A N/A Within 4 weeks of lodgement 5 May 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 20 August 2007
Skilled – Australian-sponsored Overseas Student subclass 881 N/A N/A All applications allocated All applications allocated 20 August 2007
Skilled – Designated Area-sponsored Overseas Student subclass 882 N/A N/A All applications allocated All applications allocated 20 August 2007
Skilled – Onshore Australian-sponsored New Zealand Citizen subclass 862 N/A N/A All applications allocated All applications allocated 20 August 2007
Skilled – Independent (Residence) subclass 885
online N/A N/A N/A Within 4 weeks of lodgement **
Skilled – Independent (Residence) subclass 885
paper N/A N/A N/A Within 4 weeks of lodgement **
Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) subclass 886
online N/A N/A Within 4 weeks of lodgement Within 4 weeks of lodgement **
Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) subclass 886
paper N/A N/A Within 4 weeks of lodgement Within 4 weeks of lodgement **
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 487
online N/A N/A Within 4 weeks of lodgement Within 4 weeks of lodgement **
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) subclass 487
paper N/A N/A Within 4 weeks of lodgement Within 4 weeks of lodgement **

Important note:

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

** Not currently allocating.

Allocation of Priority Group 5 applications lodged in Australia has commenced for the following visa subclasses in effect prior to 1 September 2007:

Subclass 880 – Skilled – Independent Overseas Student
Subclass 881 – Skilled – Australian-sponsored Overseas Student
Subclass 882 – Skilled – Designated Area-sponsored Overseas Student
Subclass 862 – Skilled – Onshore Australian-sponsored New Zealand Citizen.
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 15 November 2010
paper 28 October 2010
Skilled – Recognised Graduate subclass 476 online 1 November 2011
paper 1 November 2011

Subsequent entrant applications
All subsequent entrant applications that were lodged before 25 November 2011 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