Form 80 and External Checks - how long does it take?

[wonder]

Maybe it's like asking how long is a piece of string...but, I see from our friends on the forums who are coming from some high risk countries (Pakistan stands out), that external checks performed on applicants can be up to 13 months.

I would like to assume that that is the exception, however, would like to understand from people who have had CO request Form 80:

How long from Form 80 being submitted (when requested, not front loaded), until visa application, where all other requirements were met?

If you could share on:
Visa type:
Country of passport for both main and any secondary applicants:
Time taken from form 80 being submitted to visa application?

[Joanna82]

Can't help you but from looking at the 176 June thread I don't see a pattern who gets requested to fill out form 80. Seems pretty random to me. Any insights?

[wonder]

No idea, I think all High Risk may do (I've got a LR passport, however my husband has a HR passport, but permanent UK residency status) - we were both requested to fill in Form 80, and I was hoping to get some sort of indication of how long from submitting the form, as I don't know whether if you are requested to fill out Form 80 it means that you will automatically get full external checks, which are what takes so long, or if it only gets sent for external checks if something looks suspicious on the form...

Seems to be a bit of a black hole area as to what actually gets done behind the scenes.

And struggling to be patient

[Rossmoyne]

External checks means that DIAC request information from other countries. How long those countries take to answer those requests is what takes the time. Some countries are notoriously slow at responding. My understanding is that all Form 80's are thoroughly checked, but don't quote me on that.....