tbk

Decision ready basically means that you have all the supporting documentation ready with the application. For example, work references, medical insurance, educational certificates / transcripts. If all these documents are ready for the team to view upon launch then I believe it is deemed as 'decision ready'. There are a lot of other factors that may arise during processing and they may ask for more documentation which could have been hard to pre-empt before launch. Hope this helps!

Your MA is correct in informing you that there is only one channel of communication with the 457 processing centre, which is via email. My MA had told me this also, as well as the fact that you are no longer assigned a case officer anymore but applications are processed in teams of case officers. I have finally had some feedback from Immi! Unfortunately they did not answer any of the questions my MA asked them but simply asked for more information regarding my case, now in the final stage and MA says a week tops. I'm assuming that everyone else on this forum should follow suit quite soon as my case was complicated but from low risk country. Hang in there guys its just a matter of time!

Interesting. May I ask what number you used to call immi? Might try my luck there and see if I can get any update. thanks!

Wow, she is very lucky to have been processed so quick! Very jealous to say the least.

Still waiting.... Got my MA to send another email to immi as apparently my work needs me there by the 18th of Jan, no response to that either. I cant believe immi makes us wait this long, the application fee really does seem completely unjust now. Keep me updated as to your progress guys!

I dont know anyone who has done this particular visa on their own.. I definitely think its to your advantage to use an MA as they will know what documents you will need. They would also handle any requests for extra documentation during the process stage, which has come in incredibly handy for me as they asked for proof of the current labour market in the area I will be working in. From my experience so far I would advise to go with a highly recommended MA (if your gonna spend that amount of money), do your research and ask your friends who are in similar positions. Might be a good idea to let your company know what the deal is on your ETA. I've been needed at work since the new year but have convinced them to wait a little longer! Fingers crossed we all get an answer soon and everyone will be happy. Your definitely cutting it close, I'm sure you have the necessary contingency plans in place if you end up waiting longer.. where you moving from and to?

Hey Avenger, Your situation sounds a lot like mine! I had a chat with my MA yesterday and he told me that I do indeed have a case officer as he asked for extra documentation about a month ago to which my MA responded to. Still have heard absolutely nothing since then.. Given that it has been Christmas and new years and I can understand there may be a little back-log of applications waiting to be finalised.. Hoping to at least hear of an update regarding my application this week. Does anyone else find it plain stupid that MA's are only given 1 email address as a point of contact for immigration?!?!? thanks y'all

defo would go for the 417 working holiday if I was him. might also not be a bad idea to register your relationship with births, deaths & marriages in the state you live in. this effectively waives the fact that you have to have lived together for a year.

Hey all, Decision ready 457 lodged on 23rd Oct, nomination approved on 10th Dec - still waiting for visa verdict... My MA has tried to contact the department several times for an update but no responses at all, anyone experiencing the same? Thanks people

thanks for all the advice people, really appreciated and making my situation clearer by the day! If I was to apply for a prosepective visa marriage, can you go onto a Partner visa defacto instead of Partner visa marriage? My thinking is that once i get back into the country i can use the 6 months out of the 9 to find somewhere for me and my girlfriend to live and then apply for a defacto partner visa with 6 months living together and my relationship registered?? thanks again guys and gals!

hey snifter! First off thanks heaps for the quick response, much appreciated. After re-re-reading my post I forgot to mention that me and my girlfriend did in fact register our relationship. Apparently we have to wait a mandatory 28 day 'cooling period' until the actual certificate gets issued. Another thing that we did was open a joint bank account together, one of my friends told me that it would be a good idea / evidence for the future.. The copy & paste you included made for interesting reading... What does it actually mean by: Waivers 'at the time of application of the partner visa, the de facto relationship was registered as a prescribed relationship in the relevant Australian state or territory legislation' the term 'prescribed relationship' confuses me.. I have also been in contact with 2 immigration lawyers prior to my departure from Australia.. Both of rather high reputation.. One suggested me to register my relationship immidiately, which she claimed would waive the 12 month requirement. Whilst the other lawyer told me that i shouldnt bank on it, she advised that it wouldnt be a bad idea to try and at least accumulate 6 months of actual living together before launching an application.

hey all, So ive recently returned from Aus after having had a working holiday visa (1 year) and a tourist visa (8 months, overstayed by 2 months...). During the end of my WHV I started dating an Australian citizen and we have been together for the entirety of my tourist visa... we are currently looking at the partner visa option for me to come back to Aus to be with her, however our problem with this is that we have not lived together at all (except for me staying with her at her families home and her coming to stay at my rented properties whilst i was still in Aus). I had a few conversations with people from immigration saying that even though we havent lived together for 12 months, we could register our relationship as a defacto one with births, deaths and marriages (in New South Wales) and we may still be approved for a partner visa.... Has anyone heard the same thing as i have?? There are also a few other reaons why we werent able to live together such as, me being on a tourist visa and not being able to make an income, therefore giving me financial hardship to afford to move into a new place. Also my girlfriend is currently studying at university and does not recieve any financial suppoort from centerlink.. therefore putting her in financial hardship also.. Any advice or help is greatly appreciated, thanks a bunch peeps!! Tom