WATCH THE VIDEO FOR THE ANSWER!
In this week’s episode of our Weekly Q&A one participant asked What can we do about Australian visa processing delays?
The exact question was:
Does this mean the visa application will be refused? Is there a way of following it up or making it go faster? These are common concerns, because a visa refusal is a tragedy for an Australian Filipina couple who wish to be together.What should be done if our Australian visa application is delayed? Will there be problems?
Got a Question About Australian Visas?
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Ladies from Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia. Who makes the best wives?
Offshore Partner Visas and Prospective Marriage Visas
Australian Partner Visas and Aging Visa Sponsors
Merits Review! How to turn an Australian Visa Refusal around at the AAT!
I only have 56,000 in my bank accoubt, can i be in australia to be with my long time online boyfriend?
It’s not about money in the bank, Kaye. It’s whether they believe you have a genuine reason to visit Australia, and an intention to return at the end of your stay. Suggest you get a visa assessment on our website, and we can advise you properly.
Hello jeff, my cousin already got one month tourist visa in 2019’s féb.then hé went bâck to india because of his job.After 3 months hé applied again same visa 600 because i forced him.His mother got the visa but for his visa timing is delaying.i néed thèm hère asap because one month tourist visa was not suffcient for us.i m Australian.keenly waiting hère for goldens moments with him.
I can’t help you, sorry. I don’t have anything to do with visa applications from India.
Hi Jeff,
I lodge my application thru VFS, applying for tourist visa and sponsored by my bf. It was processed at Australian embassy in Philippines, last September 23,2019 but until now never had a result? When I try to email the VFS they only replied its being processed. Is there anything else I can do? Thanks for the reply.
The article explains all about this. There is nothing you can do but wait.
Hi I applied for my visa on the 13 – 02 – 22 my flight was on 27 – 03 – 22 my visa never turned up my wife’s came back after 4 days mine still has not arrived can you help
I can’t do anything about the speed of visa processing, sorry
have applied for a tourist visa for my mum(subclass 600) – she has travelled to Australia 7 times in the past 15 years – December 2016 being her last trip.
We applied for a visa in October for her to visit us over christmas and had to book her flights so as to not miss out on a seat -She was asked to undergo a medical – which she did promptly….and she has booked her flight for this weekend and has still not heard back from Immigration about her Visa. There is nothing on the immiaccount to indicate the progress of her application. Is there anything we can do to expedite the application process? or at least find out the progress of same? The delay in processing same could result in her missing her flight.
Nothing realistic, no sorry Deneth. Their priority is protecting Australia from infectious diseases or from the expense of medical treatment. They get more concerned as a person gets older, of course. This will need to run its course. Need to understand that every single case is a high priority to someone right now. They won’t put one further up the queue for anything.
I applied for my subclass 600 visa in August 2018. My wife is Australian, I’m English. It’s now the end of January and nothing. I contacted them via my immi account in November – and was just told I’d have to wait, because there was a backlog. I’ve travelled there 3 times before but it looks like my wife will be visiting her relatives on her own this time. Five months to process a tourist visa application is ridiculous. I’ll never be apllying for another visa from them. It’s not as if I’m asking for it for free -I paid over 80 GBP
I don’t handle any visa applications from England, so can’t comment. That sounds absurdly long. I’d suggest asking your wife to contact her Local Member.
Hi there ! Can you tell me please am I able to submit a visa application before Christmas , I’ve been told not until next year . Is this true ?
Apologies for the delay in replying. Technically you could have applied if you were ready, but 7 days before Christmas wouldn’t have seen a visa grant. And you wouldn’t have got a flight for her anyway.
How is the timeframe for Australian visas calculated, does it include all days or only working days?
Not sure what you’re asking. Timeframe for processing?
Do they process visa applications on a weekend or is it just Monday to Friday
I suspect they don’t work on Sundays. I suspect they may work on some Saturdays. But visa applications are never so speedy as to have to ask whether they process on the weekend or not.
hi Jeff
im waiting for subsequent entrant 485 post study processing time lapse even on the request of medical i submitted after one week now its been more than one month. any expert advise plz whether should i email them?
I don’t get involved in 485 visas, sorry.
Hi jeff ,
I applied for a partner visa , its been 15 months and still no response. Any idea what should be the next step or should i just be waiting ??
You could email a polite request, but don’t be too surprised if no response
I have applied for an Australian work visa through a friend over there, but uptill his telling theres no progress so far after four months…. What’s to know if there’s a means I will check if really he applied for the visa….
Ask for a copy of the acknowledgment letter from the Department. They always issue one. Also ask for a copy of the receipt for the visa fees.
Hi! I’m wondering if the visitor subclass 600 visa application is processed in Australian immigration centre in Australia or the closest Australian embassy to the country you are applying from?
Normally in the country where the applicant lives, or another country whose embassy takes care of that country.
My brother applied visitor visa for Australia on 28 May . He recieved emails56 request for more information on 25 June. He has already sent it on 28 and they recieved it on 1 July .But no response. Why they takes too long . Any hope
What I should do
Thanks
hi,
I applied my student visa on 21st of february.I am from Sri Lanka.My ELICOS starting date was 15th of march.But still i didn’t get my visa.I got new COE letter from university that date is 26th of april. but stii i am waiting for my spouse and my visas. is there any issue if i attach my new COE letter via IMMI account?
I don’t deal with student visas, sorry
Hi jeff.applied visitor visa of my husband on 20 november 2018 for marriage anniversary and new year from nepal but we havent heard from them yet
There is nothing you can do but wait
Hello me and my husband applied for 600 visitor visa. From pakistan. We havevery good travel history. My hubby has ms from australian. And his sister is aus citizen we are sure about every document we submitted like job letters bank details etc which we submit everytime applying for european/schengen visas. Immi account stated our visa processing time is 17-29 days its been 35 days we are worried. We emailed them and recieved reply “its under processing” We had to travel on 1st july 2018 . Its 3rd july today. Any idea what should we do.
Yes, be patient. They won’t rush things because you push them. Those processing times are only average.
A delay in visitor visa tourist stream-subclass 600 means you are about to be rejected? or should withdraw application or to wait? been 35 days already!
If you are going to refuse a visa application, they will refuse it. They don’t necessarily delay the decision. It probably just means they are busy.
Hi Mr Harvie
I applied for my mrs. 461 nz citizen relationship visa in February 2019. Normally the processing time was 6months. I have already submitted the medical and PCC they asked for in Feb. but now the processing time showing 26months. What can i do please? Why this is changed.
Thank you
There is nothing you can do to change processing time. Yes, we’re aware of the additional processing time for 461’s, but it is how it is.
Good day to you,
I have traveled to Australia twice before and was granted a tourist visa subclass 600. Last year, my application only took less than 12 calendar days.
This year, I submitted my application last 2nd of August. Unfortunately, there is no feedback yet. I am very worried about my application since I will be coming with my parents and everything has been booked (flights and hotels), and it’s supposed to be my birthday gift to them as they have reached 65 this year. My parents’ visa has already been approved (applied in our home country). So now, I’m waiting for my visa approval.
Will there be any other way to contact the Australian Visa Immigration to request for a follow-up? When we lodge an application in Malaysia, we used VFS global, but what VFS gave me when I inquired is a link on how long visa processing takes; July 2018 statistics.
Do you there I will be able to make it on my travel date, which is 9th of September?
This waiting game is so stressful.
Sorry about the long story.
Thanks in advance.
🙂
You don’t achieve much by trying to “chase them up”. They are probably busy. If it’s been, say, 4 weeks you might be forgiven for sending an email which is very polite and asks them if they still need anything. Don’t tell them a long story, as they won’t appreciate it.
Thank you for your response.
My visa has been approved, which is a happy news for me. Unfortunately, my friend who will travel with us had his ETA application rejected; he is a Malaysian citizen and it’s also his third time to go to Australia. This is devastating since we are to travel on 9th of September. He had emailed his documents and it’s another waiting game.
Would you believe in any chance for him to join us on the said schedule?
I know we can’t predict this, but is there any chance?
Thank you.
There is always a chance. The Case Officers in the Department are quite fair. But I don’t know the situation of your friend, so there is nothing I could add.
I have applied tourist visa on 1 Jan 2019..still no response. The department says be patient .What should I do
Continue to be patient.
I applied tourist visa with my mother on 28 May .My mother’s visa has already approved in 5 days. But I am still waiting.Is it any chance to be approved.pls advise me
Of course there is a chance. Please be patient.
My brother is still waiting?? I already sent more information details on 28 June . Been 43 days already. Thanks
I have submitted my application on 1st August for Sub-Class 600 Visitor Visa with my friend. My friend got his visa on 3rd September.Unfortunately, there is npt feedback for me and I didn’t get my result yet. My proposed Travel Plan is 17th September. What can I do? Please advice me.
You need to wait. That’s all you can do. You can’t ask them to process it faster.
Hiii
Mr. Jeff Harvie, I am a little confused about applying visa. Is it a service ? If it is a service ,why we cant know the processing details ? if it is not a service , then why we have to pay so much money for it.
Thank you .
You’re asking why the Government won’t provide you with fixed processing times? It’s a public service. But no, it’s not a retail service. Visas are Government grants. When you deal with a retail business and you don’t like the service, you can take your business elsewhere. If you don’t like the “service” from the immigration department, you have no other choice.
I have already submitted s56 more information documents on 28june .But i didn’t get any response. Thanks
I submitted my visa visa class 600 application on 23rd of August 2018 and i am due to travel to Australia on 2nd Nov. I have not received visa yet. any hope for me.
No idea sorry. I would suggest at this stage you send a polite followup request.
Hi Jeff, Where could I send a follow up request? I reside in UK but have a Philippine passport and submitted my tourist visa (subclass 600) application through immiaccount.
Hi How do you follow up if immiaccount was used for application of tourist visa?
you mention sending a polite followup request but where would you send this to please? Many thanks
To the office or Embassy that’s managing your application. Should be on the acknowledgment letter you received.
Can you please share the email address to enquire about the present status of visitors Visa 600 application? Thanks
I don’t enquire about present status of any visa application, Vikas. If you read the article you will see that this is pointless. Be patient and let them get on with the processing, and it will be finalised in due course.
I have submitted my application on 30 November 2018 ans still awaiting 600 Australian Tourist Visa . In my application it is mentioned from 16 to 27 days of processing. I have two queries, the days mentioned are Calendar days or Working days.? Also is there any other way for tracking the same.
These are average processing times, and nothing you can rely on for individual cases. And no, you can’t track an application.
Why is subsequent student visa getting delayed. They havent granted any sbsequent visa from may 31.what is the reason for such a delay.
We have nothing to do with student visas here, so we can’t answer your question sorry.
Hi.. I am waiting for a subclass 600 visa after applying on 3rd of September. It will be my 3rd visa to visit my daughter and last yr took only 20 days. As they require character references etc each time does that mean mine will take longer than others? What is the longest people have waited?? I hope to travel in February
They’re probably just busy. It’s coming up to Christmas after all.
Hi,
I had already lodged my husband as a subsequent visa last October 29, 2019 as a dependent on my Subclass 500 Visa. Until now we didn’t get any response from my Immi account. Is there anything that I need to do or maybe I missed something? He already done with his medical, and his insurance is already starting this November 28, 2019. Please help me with my problem. Thanks
Please read the article
Hi, I am an Indian citizen and resident in Germany for the past 2 years. I have applied for subclass 600 tourist stream online on 07th Nov 2018. I haven’t got any updates on my application yet. I am supposed to travel on 24th Dec to celebrate Christmas with my friends in Sydney. I haven’t booked my flight tickets yet. But, my friends have made reservations based on our travel plan. I have spoken to the them couple of times, to make sure none of my documents are missing. Still no updates on my application. Really tensed, what should I be doing now? I will end up losing a lot of money due to my reservations in Australia.
To Mamta (and to all the others who comment and ask similar questions):
I don’t have power to make your visa applications go faster! I don’t do visa applications for Indian citizens from Germany anyway, but even if I did I would not be able to influence this!
Also, the Department (and ourselves when we advise clients) always say DO NOT BOOK TICKETS UNTIL YOU HAVE A VISA GRANT! It may take longer than usual, or it may even be refused. About 1:5 applications do.
Sorry! No suggestions other than to be patient.
I have lodged Tourist Visa – 600 for Australia on 30 November 2018, its been now 28 calendar days. How can I know the status . Also, we have a function to attend in Australia on 6th of January . What can we do.?
You can’t track the status, sorry. You can only wait.
I recieved s56 for more information on 25 june.i already sent on 28june.But i didn’t receive any response. What i should to do.Thanks
Nothing! They don’t respond.
Hi Mr Harvie, I lodged my Visitor visa 600 application on the 11th of December 2018, my supposed travelling date is 9th of February, 2019 and my visa is still not out… At first when I lodged, it was showing 19 to 33 days,after 2 weeks it became 16 to 27 days, just 2 days ago it became 15 to 27days, does it mean I’ll have to wait till 15days…
What “became 16 to 27 days”? There is no fixed processing time on tourist visa applications. They take as long as they take, and you need to wait. It’s as simple as that.
Good day Jeff!
I lodged visitor visa application to travel to Australia on the 26th of December 2018 and I need to be there on the 16th of February 2019.
It said it will take 16 to 27 days to process at the time of the application but its about 35 days as of today (29/1/2019)
I already gave a feedback and made enquires because it is already approaching the day I need to be in Australia but still no response from the Department on the decision of my visa application.
Please what do you advice? Thanks..
They don’t give guarantees on when visa applications will be processed by. I know it isn’t what you want to hear, but unless it’s about 2 months or so you can’t do very much at all.
I have applied for a 476 visa the visa is delaying for processing
We don’t manage Subclass 476 visas, sorry. We just do partner and tourist visas from Philippines.
Hi Jeff,
My dad did a Visa (subclass 600) starting 12th of December, were actually due to fly as a family on Monday! Still no update and it’s been longer than 2 months, is there anything we can do? We have tried calling but no one is able to tell us anything.
Thank you!
Rachel
Does “Did a visa” mean lodged a visa application in December? Or something else? Is there an Australian sponsor? If there is, can always ask the local MP to follow it up. Otherwise not much you can do but wait.
Hello mr.harvie , i’m a lebanese citizen and my mom is living in australia, i don’t want to make it a long story but the title is that i don’t know her and i lodge my visitor visa application to see her, my application have been lodged in australia on 21 dec 2018 , i received an email on 10 jan about providing PIDs as fingerprints , i made it on 11 jan and i received that the info’s have been sent to the depatment in australia , i am worry about this long time that it tooks i’m waiting more than 2 months, what should i do in this situation ?
Thank you , karim sabra
I have no experience in dealing with visitor visas from Lebanon, sorry
I made a visa application in August 2018. It’s now April 2019. I queried the delay two months ago but was told I’d just have to wait. They’re obviously playing silly buggers, and I feel like telling them to stick it – I’ll spend my money in Spain.
Can’t comment, sorry. I don’t know what type of visa it is or where you applied for it. But in most cases you get little positive by trying to chase them up. They take as long as they take.
Hi Jeff,
Would you know the email address I can email. It has been 36 days and my husband and I are travelling next week to spend Easter with my family. I know there is not much we can do but wait but I would like to atleast try.
I have applied for visa subclass 500 on 20 Dec 2017 and still waiting. What can I do to expedite the decision?
We don’t manage that type of visa. Unable to comment, sorry.
Hi Jeff
I applied for my parents visitor visa 600 on 19th March. Did the Medicals and biometrics in the same week
2 weeks ago case officer contacted me from Dubai office asking for health cover for both applicants. I provided that
She mentioned that if you provided a 6 month health cover we are considering to grant them 3 years visa with 6 months stay each entry
If you provide 12months health cover they can stay 12 months on each entry
My understanding is when they ask for health cover they approve this visa. Now it’s been over two weeks I haven’t heard back from them
I emailed the case officer and another case officer replied that we are still doing mandatory checks
I have bought the tickets and now waiting for them to get back
Can you tell what’s going on in this case ?
You should never book tickets without the visa being granted. They will work according to their own timetable, and you need to wait. Don’t get annoyed with them or you may make it worse.
Do you think they will grant the visa as they have asked for health cover ?
Also how long does it take after they have asked for health cover ?
Thanks
Ali
There is nothing useful I can offer, sorry. You just need to wait.
Hi, I have applied subsequent dependant visa (subclass 500) on September, 2018 through an agency from my country. It’s been 7 months and we still haven’t get a single response! My agency and my husband is contacting regularly but immigration repeating one response – “backlog” & “wait”. It is really sad and frustrating for me and my husband.
PS: My husband is a Masters student in WA.
We don’t do student visas, so I can’t comment.
Can you please let me know where I can get proper answers for student dependant subsequent visa?
Yes, if you can find a Registered Migration Agent who specialises in student visas.
Hi. Three of us (me, fiance, mother) submitted Tourist visa application. Mine and my mother’s was submitted March 23, my fiance’s, a week later. After two weeks, me and my fiance got our visas. But my mother’s is still pending. 🙁 We are all listed as each other’s traveling companions. Any ideas what could be causing the delay? Is this a bad sign or could be neutral? We travel May 9, we’ve booked flights and hotel for two weeks.
You should NEVER book flights without the visa granted.
Not necessarily a bad sign. Even if listed as traveling companions, they process them separately. They may be checking something, or maybe they simply haven’t picked it up yet. Just be patient.
I have applied for a 600 visa on april 1st … have not heard anything from them yet. The average processing time is 18-28 days
Average does not mean “maximum”. Please read the article. It explains all of this.
Hi Jeff,
I applied to Subclass 600 visa on the 11th of February. Now it said “This application has been finalized. Please refer to messages”. But no messages come yet. I am so confused right now. Why it is finalized but no messages? What should I do?
Sincerely,
Billy
I have no idea. Suggest you contact them and ask.
Hi Jeff, my mother in-law’s tourist visa has passed the estimated visa processing time. It’s been over 30 days now.. My wife is due to give birth in about 4 days time and that’s the reason her mother is intending to visit- to provide some support and care to my wife after delivery. Do u think this could count as a compelling reason to travel urgently? Because I am planning to call the department and inform them that she has to travel urgently, to see it they will push the application up for this reason.
They will never push you ahead in the queue. Whilst I understand she wants her mum there, it’s not something they would consider an emergency.
Hi Jeff,
I have applied my mom’s visitor (600) visa online on the 26 March.
She has completed her medical. When I check the status it show “Processing”
Do you think it will help if I cancel the application and pay $1000 to fast track visa with a new application?
Thanks
If you cancel the visa, they will stop processing it and you will lose your fee.
If you pay $1,000.00 to “fast track” it, you will probably just lose your money. There IS no “fast track”. Somebody is lying to you.
I have applied for business Visa 22 days before, but still the status is showing as pending. I have submitted all required documents with all approval’s while submission. Please let me know what is the maximum time does it take to process the business visitors Visa
I don’t manage business visas, sorry
I HAVE APPLIED FOR A DEPENDANTS VISA FOR 218 DAYS NOW ,I WAS ASK TO PROVIDE LETTER FROM MY WIFE’S SCHOOL AND ALSO RECENT BANK STATEMENT WHICH I DID IN MAY TILL DATE I HAVEN’T HEARD FROM THEM. WHAT CAN I DO PLEASE
Hi Jeff,
I hope you can give me an advise =)
My brother and I waited to lodge his tourism visa 600. We submitted this Saturday but his tickets is for next week so we just have 10 days…Unfortunately processing time says 16-26 days. Do you think it could be processed before that ? Should I send an email or call them ? Or his visa won’t get approved in 10 days just after 16 days…
We attached all docs including returns ticket…
Thank you very much,
Cesar
They will NOT speed the processing up for you, sorry to say. Calling or emailing would be a waste of time. You should see if you can change the tickets.
Hi Jeff,
Hope you are doing well. My parents applied for Visitor Subclass 600 (Tourist Stream) Visa on 29/06/19 in order to spend few days with us here. Mum’s visa has been approved just after a week, however dad’s visa is still pending. Can you please advise whether I should contact the department in relation to dad’s visa status, or anything else they require?
You should be patient. There is no way of hurrying them.
Hi jeff,
I’ve applied for student Visa (Subclass 500) on 13th July 2019, When I check the status it show “Received”, What can I do to expedite the decision?
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the insights you provide on this forum.
I applied for a 189 Visa in 1st week of march 2019(wife & I and 2 young kids). At that time the average processing times were said to be 3-4 months. Hence I expected my case to be addressed by June 2019.
However, now we are in August and next week I will complete 6 months of waiting time with absolutely no updates received from the department. The only thing I know is that my application shows status as “Received” on the immiAccount applicant page since the day I submitted the application.
I have seen various online forums and observed that this is a problem a lot of other applicants are facing. There appear to be several 189 applicants like me. It appears department processed applications till 3rd Week of Feb 2019, and after that things drastically slowed down. Cases after 22nd Feb 2019 have been moving with snail’s pace .
Based on your experience, what do you think may be the reason? Any other insights will be appreciated.
Thanks,
MN Ansari
Please read the article
Hello! I’m from the Philippines and have lodged a tourist visa 600 application last 22 Sept. and must travel by 25 Oct. The wait is so stressful!! 🙂 Would you know if there are many applications this time of the year for tourist 600 visas from Philippines? Thank you
Hi,
I had already lodged my husband as a subsequent visa last October 29, 2019 as a dependent on my Subclass 500 Visa. Until now we didn’t get any response from my Immi account. Is there anything that I need to do or maybe I missed something? He already done with his medical, and his insurance is already starting this November 28, 2019. Please help me with my problem. Thanks
Please read the article
I mean tourist visa applied on 13 Nov and today is 19 December and intended travel date passed, so will intended travel date affects the visa decision or not, please help me with feedbacks.
Sorry, but you just have to wait. That’s what the article explains.
who are you Jeff? and what help you can do and for which visa?
Who am I? What can I do and for what visa? If you read the website this is all explained. And I suspect you’re not after a visa from Philippines to Australia, which is again explained on the website.
Hi Jeff
I have applied post-study work visa 9SC 485) in Aug, 2018 and haven’t heard anything from the department. It has been 18 months, is there anything can be done about such a long delay in visa processin? Anything such as request to Minister or anything?
Firstly, I don’t handle that visa type. Please check the Department website and see if this is outside the quoted processing time for that visa. If it is, then there is nothing gained by trying to chase it up or to get a progress report. If it’s outside that time, you may get support from your local member.