In one of the latest news coming in, the DIBP has announced that due to high volume of applications for ICT occupations, skilled state nomination online applications i.e. for subclass 190 and 489 will not be accepted between 1st Oct, 2014 and 5th Jan, 2015. The closure will be for a period of 3 months beginning next week.
The occupations that will be affected during this period are:
135112 ICT Project Manager
261111 ICT Business Analyst
261112 Systems Analyst
261311 Analyst Programmer
261312 Developer Programmer
261313 Software Engineer
261314 Software Tester
261399 Software and Applications Programmers nec
262111 Database Administrator
262112 ICT Security Specialist
263111 Computer Network and Systems Engineer
Who Will and Won't be Affected by this Temporary Closure?
The applications filed before 1st Oct won't be affected by this. They will be assessed and the results will be announced as per the procedural guidelines.
Only the applicants filing for an application under any of the ICT occupations listed above will be affected. However, it's nothing to worry. The closure is temporary and it in fact gives the applicants more time to prepare their file and arrange all documents well in advance. Once the Victoria State Sponsorship Program opens in January, applicants can submit their file without having to wait any further.
The purpose of closure is to work on the outstanding applications and reduce the process timelines for the future applicants. Besides that, Victorian Government Nomination remains open and PhD and 457 pathways won't be affected during this period.
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