Hi guys,
I've been following this space for a while now and we have been requested for the 2nd VAC payment recently so we are expecting our VISA grant later this month.
I just want to share my experience and my observations over the last 40 months (particular from the invitation to provide supporting documents to the final stage) with everyone in the forums and hopefully that you will find them informative, and comforting to know that we're not alone in this journey. Feel free to ask any questions
We have lodged our on 19.03.15, you will be able to see the complete timeline below. Similar to everyone, we were invited to provide supporting documents in early October. Below is a number of observations that I was able to note since following blog posts, forum and comparing to my experience. Hope you find this helpful.
Observations regarding PVC requests and responses
1. Replies and requests from the PVC teams seemed to be sent out in batched and they commonly falls on a Monday/ the start of the week (if the Monday is a public holiday, we do get responses on a Tuesday). It almost seemed like all replies are held back for a particular release dates or a response period. They seemed to be active every 3 weeks
If you look at recent posts:
12/06 - a round of 2nd VAC were sent out to many in this forum (@ant111 @MikenC @Merryweather @Nicole Eire @IanS61 @Tidang @Mrs Depp @whataday)
2/07 - I think this is another round - we got 2nd VAC and also @Zaki above I believe. Anyone else??
Note that it is 3 weeks apart! Let's see if this is true on the 24/7?
2. The lead time for getting responses from the PVC team after our documents submission are consistently exactly around the 3 weeks marks. (This may vary)
In our experience, we are constantly getting requested for documents and I have timed our activities with the PVC and it is always 3 weeks! So some of you might find this info interesting. I'm sure there are different cases. If anyone has a different experience, please do share
3. Invitation to provide additional documents may come very early, subsequent response maybe dependant on the "75% application processing period".
In our case, we complete AoS, health examinations and the initial request very early in January (our 33rd month). At this time, The "75% application processing period" is at 36th months. And coincidentally, on 19.03.18 (the exact 36 months milestone since our lodgement in 2015), we started to get subsequent requests from them. This is when the lead time for PVC communication with us kicks in (consistently hearing from them 3 weeks after we send in anything).
Application with Dependant child:
In our experience, the dependant must meet the criterion of a dependant child at the time of lodgement (22 in our case) and maintain a full time and dependency status until the visa grant (26 at the moment).
In April 2018, we are requested to provide provide additional proof to prove that the dependant application is still dependent. This is where the headache and anxiety really kicked in.
We have previously provided the receipts of tuition and expenses along with the questionnaire responses in March.
However, the were not enough, PVC requests us the following:
evidence that tax invoices were paid by the dependant's parents - if paid by them
Evidence to support the Dependency Questionaire, that cash were given to the Dependant/ or his relatives during his overseas trips to pay for expenses. This includes the parent's bank statements, deposit, money declared to Customs at airports to clarify the money trails of these cash payment
It was a very exhausting processes of tracing old bank accounts history, (including those that were closed many years ago) passport trips history and declare through statutory declaration statement by a number of involved relatives to prove this money trail. So to all of those who applied recently do think via bank transfer and keep your receipts! Very important and save you lots of headaches later on.
That's just our experience. Hope you find this info helpful. Feel free to ask me any questions. Happy to share our experience.
It's been a long journey but It's almost over. We're very happy.
Hang in there and good luck everyone.
