In light of this, the Minister for Immigration has just released the latest update with respect to priority processing, which takes into account the latest 1 July changes to the Migration Regulations and law:

1. First to be processed will be Applications from people who are employer sponsored under the ENS and the RSMS.

2. Second to be processed will be Applications from people who are nominated by a state/territory under new state or territory’s state migration plans (these have yet to be released).

3. Applications from people who have nominated an occupation on the new Skilled Occupation List – SOL – Schedule 3.

4. All other applications are to be processed in the order in which they are received.

These visa subclasses are NOT effected by priority processing:

• Skilled – Recognised Graduate subclass 476 Visas

• Skilled – Graduate subclass 485 Visas

• Skilled – Designated Area – Sponsored (Residence) subclass 883 Visas

• Skilled – Regional subclass 887 Visas.

More information on the changes to the GSM program is available from the departmental website by following these links:

New Skilled Occupations List ist (SOL)

New SOL – FAQs

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Sort Out My Visa is a Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.

In particular, the immigration program is set to remain at about the current size, with small changes to some of the visa schemes, in line with the Government’s aim to continue to focus on current demand driven migration. This means that the focus will continue to be on individuals who can help fill Australian’s skilled shortages, and individuals who have an employer on board ready to provide sponsorships.

With this in mind, the total number of migrant places will remain at the current level of 168,700 places. Of this number about  113,850 places will be reserved for skilled migrants (this is an increase of about 5000 places, with most being reserved for employer sponsored skilled migrants) and 54,550 places for family migrants (a decrease of about 5000 places).

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Sort Out My Visa is a Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.