Jay M

So after almost 32 months, i just got an update. good news is i'm relieved to know that they're processing my application despite the fact that they didn't send me an acknowledgement letter / email.

Not so good news is they've required me to submit A LOT MORE documents that i have already submitted with the original application. They want me to re-do my medicals, police checks both NZ and AU certificates, private insurance evidences etc... it's very annoying. it's as if i submitted my original application with no supporting documents at all.

These additional documents and certificates are both expensive and time-consuming (The NZ online police check even had me warned that my certificate will be delayed by as much as 40 days because of the pandemic!). While they want me to compile and submit everything within 28 days. LOL

I just want to get this done and over with. it's been a 3 year nightmare. (and to think, we'd be doing it all over again in about 4 years!). The visa 461s isn't a sustainable option anymore, so much stress for such short visa length. I'd be looking at PR pathways when i get my 461 approved.

On 29/04/2020 at 22:56, kiwi_sparkles said:

Does anyone on this thread have any updates?  Finding other peoples experiences for 461s applications is proving tricky.  Lots of peeps posting info on other visa types, but not 461! 

Processing time, as of 28 Apr 2020 is now 33 months for 90% (I am sure it was <30 at the start of 2020) but strangely I'm sure the 75% timeframe has dropped since last month, from 27 to 25 months.   I am now keeping a spreadsheet to track this - mostly out of curiousity.

We only lodged my husbands application last month, just before the COVID lockdown began here in London so I think we are going to be in for a loooong wait.  I rang the customer services team a few days after I lodged it (an Aussie number) and they said we should get some sort of acknowedgement and a reference number once the data has been transferred into their system, but to call back in a month if we've not heard anything.  Called them on Monday, and they say it's not in their system yet. Suspect it's sitting in a post room gathering dust given everyone is working from home now.   

Same boat. My 461 application is 26 months old now. I've gotten a bridging Visa paper but no acknowledgement / reference number. Called them number of times before, they said they couldn't provide information on this type of visa application - very very frustrating.

• 75% of applications: Unavailable due to low volume of applications.
• 90% of applications: Unavailable due to low volume of applications.

HI Aya, did you hear any news now?

I'm on the same boat - Applied last March 2018, still no news - and the processing time have now jumped to 27 months!