| On 23 September 2009, The Minister for Immigration | | | | - Skilled - Designated Area - Sponsored (Residence) |
| and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, set new priority | | | | Subclass 883 |
| processing arrangements for Skilled Migration visas. | | | | - Skilled - Regional Subclass 887 |
| The new processing times apply to applications lodged | | | | - Applications remitted to DIAC from the MRT These |
| that have not been finalized, and to applications lodged | | | | new processing arrangements have made CSL |
| with the DIAC, on or after 23 September 2009. | | | | occupations more important than state nominated |
| The following processing priorities (with highest priority | | | | applications which seems to be the implication of huge |
| listed first) apply: | | | | amounts of applicants being state sponsored since the |
| | | | previous priorities were introduced. Another major |
| 1. ENS and the RSMS applications; | | | | change is that family sponsored applications have now |
| 2. CSL occupations - State/Territory nominated; | | | | been given higher priority than in the past (same level |
| 3. CSL occupations - Family sponsored; | | | | as MODL) and now 485 applications are subject to |
| 4. CSL occupations - not sponsored/nominated; | | | | priority arrangements when they were previously |
| 5. State/Territory nominated - occupation not on the | | | | exempt. |
| CSL; | | | | Unfortunately, for those who have already lodged |
| 6. MODL occupations and family sponsored - | | | | applications with DIAC, these new priorities mean a |
| occupation not on the CSL; | | | | longer wait even if the application is in the final stages |
| 7. All other applications to be processed in the order in | | | | of processing. Applications in lower priority groups |
| which they are received. Applications for Subclass 485 | | | | cannot be processed further until those in higher priority |
| (Skilled - Graduate) visas are now subject to priority | | | | groups are finalized. |
| processing. The following processing priorities (with | | | | If you have applied for an onshore or offshore GSM |
| highest priority listed first) apply: | | | | visa and your nominated occupation is on the CSL, it is |
| | | | estimated that your application will be finalized within 12 |
| 1. PHD's completed at an Australian institution; | | | | months from your lodgement date. |
| 2. Occupations on the CSL; | | | | If your nominated occupation is not on the CSL and |
| 3. Bachelor and Masters Degrees completed at an | | | | you have applied for an offshore GSM visa or intend |
| Australian institution; | | | | to apply for an offshore GSM before the end of 2009, |
| 4. Bachelor or Honours degrees completed at an | | | | it is unlikely that your visa will be finalised before the |
| Australian institution; | | | | end of 2012. |
| 5. Bachelor or Masters Degrees completed at an | | | | If your nominated occupation is not on the CSL and |
| Australian institution; | | | | you applied for an onshore GSM visa or intend to |
| 6. All other valid applications to be processed in the | | | | apply for an onshore GSM before the end of 2009, it |
| order in which they are received. The only visa | | | | is unlikely that your visa will be finalized before the end |
| subclasses exempt from priority processing are: | | | | of 2011. |
| - Skilled - Recognised Graduate Subclass 476 | | | | |