LucasC

We just got our visas. I say we as in my wife (I'm Australian) and I say visas because we applied for 2 in the end. She got approved both the 600 and 651 visa. The reason we got it was because she applied for a cancellation of the 651 application after waiting 45 days. It then mysteriously vanished from her immi account. We called several times and finally got someone who actually seemed like they cared and tried to help. He recommended we cancel the cancellation as this would take up to a month and processed this request for us. This meant that someone looked at her account that same day and just processed everything. We're so happy. After 50 days, 4 different flight and hire car bookings and a lot of stress, we can finally return home and introduce our 18 month old boy to his Australian family.

Good idea. I saw that bit on BBC this morning and it wound me up. I might give it a go. I encourage others to do so too. https://www.simoncalder.co.uk/contact/ In other news we actually tried to cancel my wife's application this morning and apparently that's different too. You need to notify them in writing and who knows how long it takes to process it. Rather we've also applied for the 600 class visitor visa that costs £85 since you can't apply for 651 again whilst having an open application. I highly doubt we'll get the response we need so I'm starting preparations to make the 26 hour journey alone with my 17 month old boy.

Yes. Every few days for the last month. Also tried with the local MPs where my parents live. They can't do anything. We're going to try applying again and if that doesn't work I'll just travel alone with my infant son as his visa was approved immediately.

The visa processing times have been updated to 90% of applications processed in 30 days. We just called up since my wife's application has been 43 days thinking they might be helpful. Nope. Even after it's passed the won't help. They just say to sit and wait for a response. Has anyone on here waited for more than 43 days?

I'd like to know this too. My wife has received an exemption 2 days after her application however the application was made 39 days ago and still nothing. Now that the borders are opening to everyone, I'm guessing immigration will be dealing with loads more applications which might slow things even more.

I feel for you. We've been waiting since 9th Jan. We got a request for more information on Monday 31st for a photo of my wife's passport. Random request but I immediately obliged. Nothing has come back.

Hi all, i just noticed on the immi website they've updated the processing times. Perhaps they've got through the backlog of when the borders were closed and are getting back to normal. This is promising. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651

Hi all, This morning my wife got an email asking for a picture of her passport. I'm hoping that after adding it to the application that is is processed. We've changed our flights to 13th Feb. Has anyone else been asked to provide more information? And if so, did it take long to respond to what you gave them?

5 weeks! That's so disappointing. Ours is 3 weeks and counting. I wonder what the longest is anyone has waited here? I think I'll get my family to try the MP thing. Can't hurt, we've tried everything else.

We applied for the exemption straight after the visa application using the TRN but after 2 weeks still nothing. My son's visa was approved immediately without any exemption. So random. We were meant to fly out this Saturday but have had to push all plans and flights back 2 weeks. Let's hope that's enough time!

That's great news but such a shame about about the restrictions in WA. They were meant to open up on 5th Feb. Very disappointing they went back on their word. I bet a lot of travel plans are disrupted.

Do you mind me asking if you are both the same nationality? I'm thinking that because my son's was approved immediately (he's British) and my wife's (Greek) is still on the processing pile that they process nationalities in an order of priority. We're due to travel on 29th Jan but that's totally not happening. Lucky my employer is being flexible and my bookings can all be moved 2 weeks into the future. But how long can I keep doing that??

Thanks for sharing. So long as you're confident you entered all the details correctly I wouldn't reapply. We added a PDF of the confirmation of the exemption to the visa application but it makes no difference since it's linked to the TRN. It's disappointing that even though the exemption is granted and the TRN is linked to it that the visa isn't then automatically granted. It's bizarre.

Hi all, I've been following this forum for advice on my own situation so thanks to everyone for sharing. I thought I would share my own situation with you. I am an Australian citizen trying to return home from the UK for a visit with my Greek wife and infant son who is British. I applied for both evisitor visas on 9th Jan and my son's was immediately approved. I applied for exemption on the 10th Jan using the TRN from both visa applications and received approval of exemption for both on the 11th Jan. We are still waiting for my wife's evisitor to be approved. I have since tried sending an email to the evisitor heldesk email address that someone kindly provided but after 48 hours the application hasn't moved. I had no idea that the evisitor visa would take so long and given that it's been 8 days following a successful exemption I can only assume that we've slipped through the net into the 7 month processing pile :(