Q: Do I need to tell the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) that my occupation is on the Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List to obtain priority processing?
A:
No. When your State sponsorship is accepted by DIAC you do not need to provide any further information as they will determine your eligibility for priority processing. Applicants will not be eligible for priority processing until DIAC receives your State sponsorship notification.
Q: Can I obtain priority processing with State sponsorship if I have already applied for an Independent Skilled visa or I have been sponsored by a family member?
A:
Applications for permanent visas lodged before 1/7/2010
Yes. Applicants who applied for either a skilled (Residence) or skilled (Migrant) visa (subclasses 175, 176, 885 and 886) before 1 July 2010 are able to seek State sponsorship and have their application assessed on the basis of having State sponsorship.
Applications for permanent visas lodged on or after 1/7/2010
No. Applicants who applied for either a Skilled (Residence) or Skilled (Migrant) visa (subclasses 175, 176, 189, 190, 885, 886) on or after 1 July 2010 as either an independent or family sponsored applicant cannot be assessed using a State or territory nomination under a plan. This is because it is a legislative requirement for applicants applying from 1 July 2010 to have obtained a nomination prior to lodging the visa application.
Applications for provisional visas
No. The migration regulations do not permit applicants who applied for a Skilled Sponsored (Regional) visa (subclasses 475, 487, 489) on the basis of family sponsorship to change their application to a state or territory nominated application.
Q: What requirements do I need to meet when claiming points for work experience?
A:
To be eligible to claim points for work experience State Sponsorship applicants must have gained their work experience under the following conditions:
- work experience has been gained post qualification (traineeship and apprenticeship years are not included);
- work experience has been in paid employment;
- the applicant worked at least 20 hours per week in the specified occupation; and
- the applicant has performed tasks that correspond with the ANZSCO descriptor for the occupation in questions before they would be considered to have been ‘employed’ in a skilled occupation.
Q: I have been nominated and my occupation is not on my nominator’s State Migration Plan but is on another plan. Can I obtain a nomination from another State or territory under their State Migration Plan?
A:
Applications for General Skilled Migration visas lodged before 1/7/2010
Yes. Applicants who applied for either a Skilled (Residence) or Skilled (Migrant) visa (subclasses 175, 176, 885 and 886) before 1 July 2010 can obtain a further nomination under a Plan and be assessed on the basis of the new nomination.
Applications for General Skilled Migration visas lodged on or after 1/7/2010
No. Applicants for General Skilled Migration visas who applied to Department of Immigration and Citizenship on or after 1 July 2010 cannot use a nomination from another state or territory for their existing application.
Q: I lodged my visa application before the commencement of State Migration Plans and my occupation is not on my nominating state or territory plan. What happens to my application now?
A:
If you applied for your visa before the relevant Plan commenced, and your occupation is not on that Plan your nomination continues to be valid, however, your application will not receive priority processing (Category 2) under a Plan. This means that your application will retain its existing processing priority under Ministerial Direction 48.
Q: Is Skilled Migration WA honouring sponsorships that sit in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship pipeline for the following occupations;
- Hairdressers
- Computing professionals
- Pastry cooks
A:
Yes. If you have one of the occupations above that is not listed on the Western Australian Skilled Migration Occupation List your nomination continues to be valid, however, your application will not receive priority processing (Category 2) under the State Migration Plan. This means that your application will retain its existing processing priority under Ministerial Direction 48.
Q: What is Ministerial Direction 48?
A:
Ministerial Direction 48 applies to new priority processing arrangements for certain skilled migration visas. Under this Ministerial Direction the following applications will be processed as a priority in the following order:
- applications from people who are employer sponsored under the RSMS program or who have applied for a Skilled – Regional (subclass 887) visa
- applications from people who are applying under the ENS program
- applications from people who are nominated by a state or territory government agency for an occupation specified on that agency's state migration plan
- applications from people who have nominated an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) – Schedule 1 in effect from 1 July 2011 - See: Annual Update of Skilled Occupation List (111KB PDF file)
- all other applications.
Q: I have lodged a visa application with sponsorship from a family member. Can I access family sponsorship through a State Migration Plan?
A:
No. Plans are for applicants who are nominated by a State or territory Government only.
Q: I have been sponsored by the Government of Western Australia (pre 1 July 2011 ) but I have applied for my visa as my occupation was not listed on Schedule 3. The State Migration Plan has now been released and my occupation is not on the Western Australian skilled migration occupation list. Will Skilled Migration WA continue to support my visa application for sponsorship?
A:
No. If your occupation does not appear on the Western Australian skilled migration occupation list you will not be able to apply for State sponsorship in Western Australia.
Q: My occupation is on the Western Australian skilled migration occupation list and is listed as "Not available". My questions are:
Will I be able to lodge an application for sponsorship?
No. If your nominated occupation is listed as “Not available” you will not be able to lodge an application for sponsorship.
Will I be able to apply in the future?
Yes. If you have an occupation on the Western Australian skilled migration occupation list, meet the criteria for the relevant sponsorship you are applying for, and the occupation is listed as “Available”.
How will I know when my occupation is listed as available?
Skilled Migration WA will review availability of occupations on a monthly basis. If the occupation does become available this will take place on the first day of each month at which time you will be able to apply for sponsorship.
Will I be able to put my name in a queue?
No. You will need to check the website regularly for any updates on how and when to apply for State sponsorship.
Q: I am about to turn 45 years of age and my occupation is currently "Not available", am I able to lodge a sponsorship application?
A:
No. To lodge a sponsorship application your occupation needs to be listed as "Available" and you need to meet the criteria.
Q: I have lodged a State Sponsorship Application and I am about to turn 45 years of age and need to lodge my application with Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Can my application be given priority processing?
A:
Immediately after lodging your State Sponsorship Application please inform us of your deadline via email to migration@dtwd.wa.gov.au including your reference number, and we will consider it for priority processing.
Q: I have lodged a State Sponsorship Application and my IELTS result is about to expire, can my application be given priority processing?
A:
Immediately after lodging your State Sponsorship Application please inform us of your deadline via email to migration@dtwd.wa.gov.au, including your reference number, and we will consider it for priority processing.
Q: My work experience will lapse because my occupation is listed as “Not available”. Am I able to lodge my application because of this special circumstance?
A:
No. If your occupation is listed as “Not available”, you will not be able to lodge an application for State sponsorship.
Q: Am I able to relocate to another state even though I have not resided in Western Australia for two years post visa grant and what is the course of action for the applicant?
A:
By accepting State sponsorship you made a commitment to live and work in Western Australia for a period of two years and signed an agreement with the Government of Western Australia to do so. Applicants who request to relocate to another state will need to apply for release from their signed agreement through Skilled Migration WA.
Q: Am I able to provide additional documents for my application after it has been declined?
A:
All required documents must be submitted with an application at the time of lodgement. You can not submit additional documents. The application will be declined and a new application will need to be lodged.
Q: Am I required to complete the Skilled Migration WA settlement survey even though I have had my visa granted?
A:
Yes. To be granted State sponsorship, you signed an agreement with the Government of Western Australia, and as part of this agreement you agreed to complete a survey every six months for a period of 24 months.
Q: I am having problems lodging my online application, who do I contact for assistance?
A:
If you are having problems with the online application system you can call Skilled Migration WA during office hours, Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm (WST) on +61 8 9218 2100 or email the team via the online enquiries page. Please state your name, reference number (if applicable) and the problem you have encountered while trying to lodge your application.
Q: I have partially completed my application for State sponsorship and want to restart it at a later date, is my spot in the quota saved?
A:
No. Starting and partially completing an application does not reserve a place in a particular quota. While your saved application remains partially completed, it is possible that another applicant with the same occupation will complete an application and fill the quota.
If this is the case you will not be able to complete and lodge your application as the quota will have been reached. You will have the ability to reapply if and when places become available.
Skilled Migration WA will release any available places on the first working day of every month.
Q: If I hold a valid 417 or 485 visa can I apply for State sponsorship?
A:
Yes. Skilled Migration WA will consider applicants for State sponsorship on a Bridging Visa A provided they meet the criteria and held, a Subclass 417 (Working Holiday Maker) visa or Subclass 485 (Skilled – Graduate) visa.