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Hi Annette, It was 4 months. This was during peak Covid last year and we were advised by the CO that it will be a wait. Hopefully your wait will be shorter. All the best Ronel

Congratulations! Almost there!

And there it is https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/alantudge/Pages/Securing-and-Uniting-Australia-as-part-of-the-Government’s-economic-recovery-plan-.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0Qv-vDafKcxz2RFIeoRFaJBuzTF3Q8gIrsNhZ0OTuqRlD9I0OQf2rei-I 13500 places for business visa.

Hi there, Our full application went in in Sept 2018. We only got a case officer in May 2020. That was 20 months waiting. It was COVID-19 at that point and we were advised that there will be a wait for the actual grant of the visa. So from first contact of the case officer to actual grant of the visa was another 4 months. The total time from application to grant was 24 months. I have to say, during this whole time the status on our application remained “initial assessment”. With the current applications in the cue and available spaces for the 188 visa (only 6700 per year if I remember correctly) the wait time is around 28 months for applications made this year. This was our calculations, and turned out to be pretty accurate for ours and other people we know of that also applied. There is a budget speech on 6 Oct 2020, were announcements around immigration numbers will be made. Hopefully they will assign more spaces to the 188 visa (good for helping the economy recover) which will see the processing times come down. I hope this helps.

We applied from South Africa. Also going to NSW but rural. Hopefully Port Macquarie.

That is great news. The wait is almost over for you too!

Hi All, Our 188a visa was granted on 25 September 2020. From start to finish took 24 months. Good luck to all still in the queue. Hang in there. Ronel

Here is some good news for us all https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/travel-restrictions-0 188 visas now exempt from travel restrictions.

Hi @Rishi@18, Ours also still states initial assessment.

Hi All, Just for interest sake, I have found this doc many moons ago. It somewhat explains why some applications will take longer than others depending on the state to which was applied. Each state gets only a number of places. Vic being the highest, with the highest number of applications as well. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files/2019/fa190100048-document-released.PDF

Hi Jay, Good question don’t know really. We are seeing it as positive. But until the grant of the visa, we will keep the champagne on ice.

Hi @EMADELDIN, We received all communication via email, but could also see it in our immi account.

Hi @3together, We applied for the 188A. So no investment requirement on this visa. I know this thread was started for the 188B, but I wanted to share our progress as they seem to share the same processing queue.

Hi all, We submitted medicals and PCC monday, and received comments this morning. It stated they are not in a position to finalise the application due to current processing priorities and restrictions in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their final note was “Rest assured, as soon as I am able, I will finalise the application”.

Hi @arif2019, We are from South Africa. It was 20 months from application date to 1st contact from CO.

Hi @Rishi@18, No, nothing. Just that we had 70 days to submit. I have contact with a lady who has also applied and got a request for further information(PCC, medical and further info on assets) . After handing in got letter 2 weeks later that stated all is good, but they can’t issue visa until this covid-19 situation has relaxed. They will do so as soon as it is allowed. I expect to see the same. Will let the group know as we progress. We are going for medicals tomorrow.

Hi @Rishi@18, We have done them both before, but have to redo them now.

Hi @Jay No, just those two things. We have submitted fresh financials after financial year end every year since we submitted our application. So I guess they would have asked for that had we not done so already.

Hi All, We have kept an eye on this group and everyone’s trails and tribulations for almost 2 years now. Hoping to one day also post here. The day has finally arrived. We have applied for the 188a visa in Sept 2018 for Rural NSW. We received a request for more information this morning. Just PCC and health examination. Will keep you posted on any further developments.