Visa Processing Times
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Complete applications
If complete, your application will be assessed by a case officer, subject to priority processing directions, and you will be advised of any final steps that may need to be completed prior to consideration of the visa.
Incomplete applications
If incomplete, an initial assessment of your application will be made by a case officer, subject to priority processing directions. You will receive an acknowledgment letter that includes the following information:
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file number
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date of application
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client and/or permission request ID
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Transaction Reference Number (TRN) - for online applications only
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grant of a Bridging A (subclass 010) visa - only for applicants who have applied for a General Skilled Migration visa that can be granted while they are in Australia
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name and contact details for your case officer, subject to priority processing directions
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any outstanding documentation you must provide.
Important: Processing of your application will not continue until all outstanding documentation has been received.
Providing additional information
Additional information can be provided in writing at any time until a decision is made on your application. All relevant information is taken into account.
If you are invited to give additional information, or comment on information, you will be given a date by which to do so. After that date, the department can continue processing your application whether you provide the information or not. You cannot delay a decision by saying that you might give more information later.
Invitation to comment
If another person gives the department information that could result in your application being refused, the department may give you an opportunity to comment on the information. The department will make this decision on a case by case basis.
Important: You will need to comment by a set date. After that date, the department can continue processing your application whether you provide further comment or not. You cannot delay a decision by saying that you might give more information later.
Interviews
If you are invited to attend an interview, you must attend on the date and time agreed with the department. If you do not attend or provide a valid reason for not doing so, the department can process your application and make a decision based on the information it already has.
Bridging visas
For General Skilled Migration visas that can be granted while you are in Australia, bridging visas ensure you remain lawful in case your current visa ceases before a decision is made on your visa application. A bridging visa will also ensure you remain lawful if your visa application is refused and you seek merits review of this refusal.
Change in circumstances
If any of your circumstances change, such that an answer in your application or information given to the department is no longer correct, you must inform the department as soon as possible.
Visa decision
If the visa is approved
When a visa is granted, a visa grant number is assigned to the visa. This is a unique number that is used to identify you as the holder of a valid visa in the department's computer systems.
You will receive a grant notification letter at your nominated email or postal address. This letter will confirm your visa approval, visa grant number and any conditions attached to your visa.
With no evidence of your visa approval, it is strongly recommended that you keep this letter with you when you travel to and from Australia as you may have to provide the visa grant number to the department.
If the visa is not approved
You will be notified in writing of the decision to refuse your application. You will also be advised if you are eligible to seek a review of the decision made and the time you have to do so or your time limit to depart Australia. The review will address the merits of the decision and will be undertaken by a body independent of the department.
You, or the person you have authorised to act and receive communication on your behalf, will be taken to have received the letter:
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seven (7) working days after the date of the letter, if the letter was sent to an address in Australia
or -
21 working days after the date of the letter, if the letter was sent to an address outside Australia.
If the letter is handed to you, you will be taken to have been notified at that moment.
If the letter is faxed or emailed to you, you will be taken to have been notified at the end of the day it was faxed or emailed.
Application processing times
For complete applications, the department will aim to process 75 per cent of applications in the time listed in the table below.
Processing times for applications lodged on or after 1 September 2007
|
Non Priority Processing |
||||
|
Visa Type |
Visa Subclass |
Priority Processing # |
Applications lodged on, or before 23 September 2009 |
Applications lodged after 23 September 2009 |
Provisional |
Skilled - Regional Sponsored (onshore)
Subclass 475 |
7 months from date of lodgement |
Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2012 |
3 years from date of lodgement |
|
Temporary |
Skilled - Regional Sponsored Graduate Onshore Skilled - Sponsored |
6 months from date of lodgement * |
12 months from date of lodgement |
12 months from date of lodgement |
|
Permanent |
Offshore Skilled Sponsored All |
15 months from date of lodgement |
Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2012 |
3 years from date of lodgement |
# Applications which fall into the first three priorities
* Applications which fall into the first three priorities
Subsequent entrants for provisional GSM visas are processed in the order in which the application is lodged. The priority processing order for GSM visas is available on our website.
Processing times for applications lodged before 1 September 2007
Note: Applications for these visa applications closed on 1 September 2007.
|
Visa Type |
Visa Subclass |
Priority Processing # |
Non Priority Processing |
|
|
Onshore Skilled Independent State/Territory Nominated Independent Skilled Australian Sponsored Offshore |
Finalised |
Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2012 |
|
Permanent |
Skilled Onshore Australian Sponsored NZ Cit Onshore Designated Area - Sponsored NZ Cit Skilled Independent Overseas Student Australian Sponsored Overseas Student Skilled - Designated Area-sponsored-Overseas Student Skilled - Designated Area-sponsored (Residence) |
Finalised |
Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2011 |
|
Provisional |
All Skilled - Designated Area - Sponsored |
Finalised |
Unlikely to be finalised before the end of 2012 |
# Applications which fall into the first three priorities
Subsequent entrants for provisional GSM visas are processed in the order in which the application is lodged. The priority processing order for GSM visas is available on our website.
Comment on this post
457 Visa Assistance
December 31, 2009 09:23:44
To Dulan, you may find updated information on Australian Visa Processing Times such Skilled Sponsored Subclass 176 as the on this website http://www.australianimmigrationvisas.com/australian-diac-visa-processing-time-service-standards
dulan
December 12, 2009 13:45:01
The Skilled Sponsored Subclass 176 is between the 175 and the 887 and its unclear to which processing time it falls into.
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