Kangaroohunting

OH MY GOSH!! GOT MY GRANT TODAY!! I've been waiting for this day for 9 whole months! Hope everyone waiting receive their grants very soon! I know my application was sent to ASIO for security checks so I guess it could take them up to 7-9 months to complete checks if you've traveled quite a bit. Thank you a lot Captain for all the information you've provided. It really helps! Gonna move to Melbourne in April!

I'm losing my mind!!! 7 months and still no news!!

Its sooo frustrating.....Have you called or emailed?

I called them 3 months ago and was informed that my application can proceed once the check results are back to IMMI. Emailed CO 2 months ago and was told IMMI cannot control the time taken to complete the checks so I will have to wait. Is your application under routine checks too? Couldn't think of any other reason why its taking so long.

I'm still waiting for my grant...Its been almost 6 months since lodged my visa. I have no clue how much longer would it take for them to complete the routine checks Fingers crossed!!

Still no news....3 months and 17 days.

Oh my! 9 months! That's insane considering that most people load all required documents upfront and IMMI only need police clearance from countries in which one stayed for more than 1 year. Just think about having to wait that long without knowing the result. Hope that doesnt happen to any of us...... I'm starting to wonder how ASIO runs their external checks. Do they just run your name against some sort of database or do they actually require confirmation from security agencies of a particular country?

Mickeyteg explained everything. But I reckon if you email your CO, he's gonna have to get back to you with an update within 2 weeks as its part of his job. Wonder how many April applicants are still waiting for their grants. Its been 3 months and 9 days since I lodged my application...

Maybe try calling at 00:30 am UK time. I got through the first attempt.

Ring them in three and a half hour. It should be 9:30 am in Adelaide by then. You should get through straight away.

Fingers crossed for all of us waiting.

@CaptainC I worked in 2 High Risk countries before. I couldn't think of any other reasons that could trigger the checks. I read an ASIO document a while ago and it says routine checks could either be internal or external. Internal checks would take 1-2 months at most but external checks could take longer. (This news says around 66 days for Asylum seekers but did not mention GSM http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-03-01/asios-security-check-logjam-revealed/1962922) There's no way of telling what checks they are doing. I did hear from our HR department IMMI called to check my work history.

Routine checks could be triggered for a variety of reasons from what I've learned. If you have extensive travel history or have had jobs in countries that are deemed 'High Risk' by ASIO, a routine check could happen to your application. Or sometimes they just need to verify basic information such as work history. And people are saying that no one knows how long a routine check's going to take as IMMI outsources security checks to ASIO. I called Adelaide GSM and the nice lady said she does not know how long it is gonna take but its quite normal for applicants to go through routine checks, and when the checks are cleared then the application can proceed. It is annoying though not knowing how long it would take for ASIO to complete the checks....

Yep! Lodged 13th April and application is under 'routine check'......... Waiting eagerly

Just called them! The nice lady assured me there's nothing wrong with my application. It just happens that my application is under routine checks as I worked in a quite a few counties before and there is nothing I can do but wait......Fingers crossed.

Thanks for the info! I'm not that nervous about calling them anymore! I will wake up and call them when their office opens!

Since so many people hurried things along by calling and since the lady seems to be very nice. I assume it is a good idea to call for the April applicants now. Gonna call again tomorrow!!

Called them today but didn't get through. Will call again tomorrow. Fingers crossed! And congrats to people who got their grants today!

Great news!! Congrats! Just wondering did you call IMMI before getting your grant??

Congratulations everyone!!! Really happy for you guys. Just wondering when you called them. Did you talk to the CO or the reception?? I think I might give them a call to speed things up a bit. Lodged my visa on 13th April. The wait's coming to 3 months very soon.

Congratulations on all the grants today! Great to see things are moving along and more people are getting grants! Can't wait!

The champagne's been occupying my fridge for the past 6 months! It cannot wait to get screwed open! Come, the GRANTS!!

I think the CO asked for my form 80 since I worked in a few countries and traveled quite a bit. Apart from that I also received a long email from DIBP team 13 requesting more information (extremely detailed information) regarding my employment and gaps between employment. I also learnt from our HR department that they did reach them to verify work history!

Good to hear IMMI's still giving out grants. I'm a bit confused though since they sent out emails about how visa quota for the 14-15 financial year has been reached and they could not give out more grants before 1st July. Anyone knows what happened??

Congratulations and happy moving! Lodge my 189 visa on 13th April as well! Hope the April gang will start receiving grants very soon!