Parent visa application timelines (143 & 173)

[LindaH27]

50 minutes ago, tonys said:

Thank you,  I hope so...we've been waiting what feels an eternity. 

So with the grant, do I need to go to the high commission in London to pickup a visa or is it all electronic? I'll need to book flights, but that's another problem all in it's self. 

No I believe it’s automatically attached to your passport details online but I’m sure someone will confirm. Once flight is booked you’re assigned a place in quarantine but if caps change etc you could get bumped off the flight. I believe this happens more often in economy..Also I’ve heard it’s best to book direct with airline rather than through travel agent and that Singapore are quite good in not cancelling flights/ bumping people. 
its going to be pricey  though as each plane into Australia seems to be limited to 30 passengers or less because of the caps and depending on how many places are still left in  Quarantine.  

[Lady Jane]

1 hour ago, tonys said:

Thank you,  I hope so...we've been waiting what feels an eternity. 

So with the grant, do I need to go to the high commission in London to pickup a visa or is it all electronic? I'll need to book flights, but that's another problem all in it's self. 

You don't need to apply for any visa, it’s automatically added to your passport. 
Depending  where your heading to I would say Emirates and Singapore most reliable airlines from the UK. If you can, book business or first class to guarantee a seat, we did and it was worth it to get here without worrying about being bumped off as economy class passengers are replaced by business/first class customers.   We booked directly with Emirates which I believe it better to do. 
Our visa was granted the day after we paid 2nd vac, I’m sure this will be the case for most applicants. 
good luck 

Edited June 9, 2021 by Lady Jane

[tonys]

Thank you and yep we're thinking of going business/first just so we can get to Australia and be with the kids! Fingers crossed we can get a seat etc. once we have been accepted. 

[Lady Jane]

16 hours ago, tonys said:

Thank you and yep we're thinking of going business/first just so we can get to Australia and be with the kids! Fingers crossed we can get a seat etc. once we have been accepted. 

If there’s anything else you want to know once you get your grant, I’m happy to help. This forum really helped us. 

Edited June 11, 2021 by Lady Jane

[Sash123]

Hi everyone, this site has been so helpful to me in getting through the visa application amidst COVID restrictions I need some advice though. On 3/6/21 I received the second VAC request for my 143 parent visa. I paid it on 4/6/21 and haven't heard back since. It was an offshore application but I am currently in Australia on a visitors visa. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Most people on this site have said that their visa was granted the day after the second vac was paid. I'm not sure why mine is taking so long, can't help worrying. 

[143mag]

1 hour ago, Sash123 said:

Hi everyone, this site has been so helpful to me in getting through the visa application amidst COVID restrictions I need some advice though. On 3/6/21 I received the second VAC request for my 143 parent visa. I paid it on 4/6/21 and haven't heard back since. It was an offshore application but I am currently in Australia on a visitors visa. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Most people on this site have said that their visa was granted the day after the second vac was paid. I'm not sure why mine is taking so long, can't help worrying. 

Are you a parent or dependant? What was your date of application?

[Lady Jane]

2 hours ago, Sash123 said:

Hi everyone, this site has been so helpful to me in getting through the visa application amidst COVID restrictions I need some advice though. On 3/6/21 I received the second VAC request for my 143 parent visa. I paid it on 4/6/21 and haven't heard back since. It was an offshore application but I am currently in Australia on a visitors visa. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Most people on this site have said that their visa was granted the day after the second vac was paid. I'm not sure why mine is taking so long, can't help worrying. 

I think they have reached quotas for this financial year so hopefully it will be granted in July. 

[Esteban]

Hi everyone waiting for grant of visas.  After applying in March 2016 our visa was finally granted in December 2020.  On Friday 11th June we finally landed in Perth and are now on day 3 of our quarantine in the Westin Hotel in centre of Perth.  Flight was with Singapore Airlines and went ahead as scheduled, transit was through Singapore with strict covid regime in place as with Perth Airport unlike uk.  Police escort to hotel quarantine but very well organised.   Hotel is 5* with beautiful views over Perth and food is excellent and plentiful.  We have had 1st of three PCR tests yesterday and call from medical team today, all very polite and helpful.  My advice would be to take cutlery and plastic plates if you don’t like eating out of plastic containers, also cloths and cleaner and tea towel as nothing in room.   Deliveries can be made from Coles or Woolworths or family members.  Alcohol is not permitted to be brought into the hotel but you can purchase from the hotel itself.  I hope this information will help with your journey to your new life in Australia.  Best wishes and good luck to you all.
 

 

[NIK1]

7 hours ago, Sash123 said:

Hi everyone, this site has been so helpful to me in getting through the visa application amidst COVID restrictions I need some advice though. On 3/6/21 I received the second VAC request for my 143 parent visa. I paid it on 4/6/21 and haven't heard back since. It was an offshore application but I am currently in Australia on a visitors visa. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Most people on this site have said that their visa was granted the day after the second vac was paid. I'm not sure why mine is taking so long, can't help worrying. 

 

7 hours ago, Sash123 said:

Hi everyone, this site has been so helpful to me in getting through the visa application amidst COVID restrictions I need some advice though. On 3/6/21 I received the second VAC request for my 143 parent visa. I paid it on 4/6/21 and haven't heard back since. It was an offshore application but I am currently in Australia on a visitors visa. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Most people on this site have said that their visa was granted the day after the second vac was paid. I'm not sure why mine is taking so long, can't help worrying. 

May Know your application date?

[Sash123]

Applied in May 2015 for the parent visa then switched to the contributory parent visa in June 2016

[palaceboy1]

On 13/06/2021 at 06:23, Sash123 said:

Hi everyone, this site has been so helpful to me in getting through the visa application amidst COVID restrictions I need some advice though. On 3/6/21 I received the second VAC request for my 143 parent visa. I paid it on 4/6/21 and haven't heard back since. It was an offshore application but I am currently in Australia on a visitors visa. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Most people on this site have said that their visa was granted the day after the second vac was paid. I'm not sure why mine is taking so long, can't help worrying. 

We were similar to yourselves other than being off-shore . We paid our second vac in March 2020 but the visa was issued on 2nd June 2020. Quite a stressful time!!

[Lucy.DA]

Hi everyone, do you know how long is the processing time for visa 173 currently? I am considering between 143 and 173 in terms of processing time only. Thanks

[tonys]

On 13/06/2021 at 08:23, Sash123 said:

Hi everyone, this site has been so helpful to me in getting through the visa application amidst COVID restrictions I need some advice though. On 3/6/21 I received the second VAC request for my 143 parent visa. I paid it on 4/6/21 and haven't heard back since. It was an offshore application but I am currently in Australia on a visitors visa. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Most people on this site have said that their visa was granted the day after the second vac was paid. I'm not sure why mine is taking so long, can't help worrying. 

Hi @Sash123 I had a call from the department last week asking for the 2nd VAC in addition to the email. Speaking with the representative they indicated new approvals would be forthcoming in the first few weeks of July as all places for this 2020-2021 year have been fulfilled. Let's hope for some good news next month

[LindaH27]

1 hour ago, Lucy.DA said:

Hi everyone, do you know how long is the processing time for visa 173 currently? I am considering between 143 and 173 in terms of processing time only. Thanks

Absolutely no point in going for 173. It’s in the same queue as 143 and the queue is dealt with in strict date order. So they both take the same length of time but 143 would get PR as soon as granted, 173 is only a two year temporary visa so you would have to apply to top up to 143  at additional cost - so it would cost more as well. Best to go straight for 143. 
However new applications for either are probably going to take in excess of 10 years! 
60000 in the queue already and govt currently only allow 3600 per year. 

Edited June 14, 2021 by LindaH27

[143mag]

4 hours ago, tonys said:

Hi @Sash123 I had a call from the department last week asking for the 2nd VAC in addition to the email. Speaking with the representative they indicated new approvals would be forthcoming in the first few weeks of July as all places for this 2020-2021 year have been fulfilled. Let's hope for some good news next month

Lucky you, we are march 2016, still nothing. 

[Lucy.DA]

4 hours ago, LindaH27 said:

Absolutely no point in going for 173. It’s in the same queue as 143 and the queue is dealt with in strict date order. So they both take the same length of time but 143 would get PR as soon as granted, 173 is only a two year temporary visa so you would have to apply to top up to 143  at additional cost - so it would cost more as well. Best to go straight for 143. 
However new applications for either are probably going to take in excess of 10 years! 
60000 in the queue already and govt currently only allow 3600 per year. 

Thank you Linda. I first thought that getting 173 is much quicker as it is a TR. 

[LindaH27]

28 minutes ago, Lucy.DA said:

Thank you Linda. I first thought that getting 173 is much quicker as it is a TR. 

There are only two queues for parent visas. Contributory and non contributory. Contributory is 173, 143, 884 and 864. Non contributory is 103 and 804. Both have approximately the same numbers waiting in the queue. Both are dealt with in date order. 
 

 

[PiK]

On 12/05/2021 at 14:59, Johnson said:

PiK type Test in the subject line or anything really and you should get the auto-reply message back. Check your junk or spam folder too as it may have been filtered out of your inbox? It is working.

Thanks, I tried it with something in subject line and something in content and used another email and it seemed to work. But for some reason  not with my Yahoo email, which is listed as the contact email so abit strange. Thanks for the reply

[LindaH27]

Taken from The Guardian this morning !!

Zali Steggall has the independents’ question today and its to the home affairs minister Karen Andrews:

“Will you commit to broadening the definition of immediate family for travel exemptions to include parents and also prospective marriage visa holders? As if this definition remains unchanged and the government does not provide a clear roadmap, we do face the risk of a skills drain. I presented a petition to the House today and some of the signatories are in the House and they’re awaiting your response.”

Andrews:

I take on board the very serious issue that she has raised. And there are a couple of parts to it. The first part clearly deals with the definition and whether or not that should be broadened and allow me to come back to that in my answer now. The second deals with skills shortages here in Australia. 

And can I say that this government takes very seriously both of those issues. Now, in relation to the skills shortages issue, I do understand that the minister responsible is looking very closely at what we can do to address the significant skills shortage in a number of areas here in Australia. 

And I am very much prepared to work with the minister to make sure that we can do all that we can to ensure that Australia has the skilled workforce that it needs, not only now, but for the months and the years ahead. In terms of the question that you asked in relation to broadening the scope and the definition – all I’m able to say at this point in time is that there are a number of investigations that are taking place at this point in time. I would be more than happy to meet with you directly to pursue this further. Thank you very much for your question.

[LBee]

@Lady Jane once you booked flights, did you have any additional paperwork to complete.  My husband and I are planning travelling at the end of Sept, we got visa granted November 2020.  Any information would be great.

[BargeUK]

On 15/06/2021 at 19:21, LBee said:

@Lady Jane once you booked flights, did you have any additional paperwork to complete.  My husband and I are planning travelling at the end of Sept, we got visa granted November 2020.  Any information would be great.

You need to fill in an Australian Travel Declaration not more than 7 days but not less than 72 hours before you fly.  We also had to fill in a UK Travel Declaration (we flew in May) but I don't know if you still have to do that now that travel restrictions have been eased in the UK.  (Of course, I don't actually know if you are flying from the UK....)  You need a PCR test no more than 72 hours before the first leg of your flight - it has to be a private test with a Fit To Fly certificate.  We also printed out copies of our visas and the VEVO information just in case anyone wanted to see them.  Good luck with your arrangements - we found it a fairly stressful time but are now safely at our son's - just got here in time for the Melbourne lockdown!

[SusieRoo]

On 15/06/2021 at 19:21, LBee said:

@Lady Jane once you booked flights, did you have any additional paperwork to complete.  My husband and I are planning travelling at the end of Sept, we got visa granted November 2020.  Any information would be great.

When you arrive at airport check-in you will be asked for printed copies of your Australian Travel Declaration (with QR code), a Fit to Fly Covid test certificate and with Qatar Airways, a signed consent form. These all need to be paper copies and not digital or you will not be able to check-in.

Also, it’s worth researching other travellers hotel quarantine advice and packing any extra items you may need. This can be specific to which city you fly in to, as each state or territory has it own set of rules.

Personally I found hotel quarantine very tough, but others seem to fair much better. I think it depends on what type of person you are and what type of life you normally have.

[Lady Jane]

On 15/06/2021 at 17:21, LBee said:

@Lady Jane once you booked flights, did you have any additional paperwork to complete.  My husband and I are planning travelling at the end of Sept, we got visa granted November 2020.  Any information would be great.

You need Australian travel declaration, here’s the link 

https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/australia-travel-declaration

UK travel declaration ( not that anyone looked at it) here’s the link 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus

if you are flying to Perth or Tasmania you need to download a G2G app, here’s the link 

https://g2gpass.com.au/

a Covid PCR test done privately within 72 hours of first flight, here’s the link with more info 

https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/coronavirus-covid-19-restrictions/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-international-travellers/coronavirus-covid-19-faqs-international-travellers-to-australia

it’s best to have paper copies for all documents but it’s not mandatory, they will just ask you to forward the email to them at check in and they will print it for you ( Emirates) 

It is a bit stressful but read the info carefully and you’ll be fine. 
good luck 

[LBee]

Thanks @SusieRoo and @Lady Jane information much appreciated. We are going to Perth, it’s been a long journey to get here, but oh so worth it 

[kimboslice]

Finally made it to Australia.

It’s been a long and emotional journey but worth the wait.

We are on day 8 of our quarantine, very lucky with the hotel, balcony overlooking the Brisbane river. Food not the best but hey ho it’s only for 2 weeks and could do with losing weight.

Grandchildren FaceTimeing everyday, that’s what it’s all about.

Would like to thank everyone on pio for all the advice along the journey, it’s been over 5 years and couldn’t have done it without you all.

Stay in there and your turn will come.

Mark