pinkstar Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 Evening all, I'm hoping someone can help me and give me some advice as i am very worried and stressed out and I'm beginning to lose hope! I booked flights to Australia last year for myself and my parents. We are visiting friends who emigrated from the UK to Australia 15 years ago so we are very excited to go. I applied for all of our e-visitor visa's at the end of December 2019. My visa and my mother's visa have been granted, however my dad's 600 visa is now under "Further Assessment" and we fly in two weeks time on 14th Feb!!! I had NO IDEA that my dad's criminal convictions which were from 40 years ago when he was a young lad would even be an issue. How wrong was i?! If i had known how much information was required and how long this process can take i would never have booked the flights until his visa was approved!! :( I applied weeks ago at the start of the month for a police certificate with ACRO and paid premium to have it within 2 working days. I only received the certificate 2 days ago as his records were so old they weren't even on the PNC and had to be transferred over from microfiche! As soon as i got the certificate i uploaded it straight away and pressed submit. I also included other supporting documents such as character witness statements, a letter of invitation from the friends we are staying with, a statement from myself and a copy of our flight tickets. What i want to know is, do all criminal conviction cases get referred to VACCU? Or do some get approved without going to this stage? I have read loads of posts where people have been waiting months and even years to hear back!!! Is there anyway our friends in Australia can contact their local MP and ask for help with his application? My dad hasn't had any convictions since 1978 and we are only staying for just under 3 weeks for a holiday! I really feel defated at this point and i know the chances of him getting his visa are very slim. I feel very stupid and naive that i didn't do my research into this. We live and learn!!!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 I am afraid there is nothing you can do. That includes contacting an Australian MP as the advice has always been when going to ANY country that you should not book flights until visas have been approved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted January 31, 2020 Share Posted January 31, 2020 Contacting an MP won't make a difference, the MP's are there to assist continuants and not potential overseas visitors (I don't think it's really an issue they would get involved in either to be honest). The only thing I can think of is if you've told them the date of your intended travel? Fingers crossed that it comes thorough for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinkstar Posted February 1, 2020 Author Share Posted February 1, 2020 I have attached a covering letter and told them the dates we are due to travel. I also sent an email to the helpdesk but got an automated reply so i don't think they have even looked at that. Is it worth giving the GSC a call or is there no point? I just feel so helpless at this point. I'm worried they won't even look at the application for weeks yet. Thanks for all your help and advice. I will keep you updated and let you know if we get it or not. Fingers crossed! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 1 hour ago, pinkstar said: I have attached a covering letter and told them the dates we are due to travel. I also sent an email to the helpdesk but got an automated reply so i don't think they have even looked at that. Is it worth giving the GSC a call or is there no point? I just feel so helpless at this point. I'm worried they won't even look at the application for weeks yet. Thanks for all your help and advice. I will keep you updated and let you know if we get it or not. Fingers crossed! Don't know if it's worth it or not - but you won't have lost anything by giving them a call Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinkstar Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 On 01/02/2020 at 10:16, ali said: Don't know if it's worth it or not - but you won't have lost anything by giving them a call I gave them a call but they couldn't help me and said i just have to wait. I fly this Friday 14th so i'm really hoping we get a decision before then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raul Senise Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 On 31/01/2020 at 05:51, pinkstar said: Evening all, I'm hoping someone can help me and give me some advice as i am very worried and stressed out and I'm beginning to lose hope! I booked flights to Australia last year for myself and my parents. We are visiting friends who emigrated from the UK to Australia 15 years ago so we are very excited to go. I applied for all of our e-visitor visa's at the end of December 2019. My visa and my mother's visa have been granted, however my dad's 600 visa is now under "Further Assessment" and we fly in two weeks time on 14th Feb!!! I had NO IDEA that my dad's criminal convictions which were from 40 years ago when he was a young lad would even be an issue. How wrong was i?! If i had known how much information was required and how long this process can take i would never have booked the flights until his visa was approved!! I applied weeks ago at the start of the month for a police certificate with ACRO and paid premium to have it within 2 working days. I only received the certificate 2 days ago as his records were so old they weren't even on the PNC and had to be transferred over from microfiche! As soon as i got the certificate i uploaded it straight away and pressed submit. I also included other supporting documents such as character witness statements, a letter of invitation from the friends we are staying with, a statement from myself and a copy of our flight tickets. What i want to know is, do all criminal conviction cases get referred to VACCU? Or do some get approved without going to this stage? I have read loads of posts where people have been waiting months and even years to hear back!!! Is there anyway our friends in Australia can contact their local MP and ask for help with his application? My dad hasn't had any convictions since 1978 and we are only staying for just under 3 weeks for a holiday! I really feel defated at this point and i know the chances of him getting his visa are very slim. I feel very stupid and naive that i didn't do my research into this. We live and learn!!!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated. It will depend on the seriousness of the conviction as to whether it needs to be referred to VACCU for assessment. If it goes to VACCU it could delay processing considerably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinkstar Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 14 hours ago, Raul Senise said: It will depend on the seriousness of the conviction as to whether it needs to be referred to VACCU for assessment. If it goes to VACCU it could delay processing considerably. Yeah i am hoping it doesn't go to VACCU. It hasn't so far, they have just requested more information which i gave them over a week ago. Just hope we get a decision in the next 3 days!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmileyD Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 Hope you were all able to fly. Ours went to VACCU in December. We are prepared for our long wait! The referral letter said up to 12 months to process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l4ur3n Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 On 09/03/2020 at 18:44, SmileyD said: Hope you were all able to fly. Ours went to VACCU in December. We are prepared for our long wait! The referral letter said up to 12 months to process. Hey @SmileyD have you had any communication or response from VACCU? My 186 application was referred there on 9th Dec 2019 and I have had no response Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmileyD Posted April 27, 2020 Share Posted April 27, 2020 On 10/04/2020 at 22:27, l4ur3n said: Hey @SmileyD have you had any communication or response from VACCU? My 186 application was referred there on 9th Dec 2019 and I have had no response Nothing yet. To be honest I’m going to assume that COVID-19 will delay it even more. Can’t even visit my partner while we wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l4ur3n Posted April 27, 2020 Share Posted April 27, 2020 4 hours ago, SmileyD said: Nothing yet. To be honest I’m going to assume that COVID-19 will delay it even more. Can’t even visit my partner while we wait! Same I have no communication from them at all, I think my case is just sitting in a Q somewhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmileyD Posted April 27, 2020 Share Posted April 27, 2020 Do you know if they notify you when they start looking at your case? I couldn’t find that info anywhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulhand Posted April 27, 2020 Share Posted April 27, 2020 5 hours ago, SmileyD said: Do you know if they notify you when they start looking at your case? I couldn’t find that info anywhere You will hear from "them" if, and only if, they want something from you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmileyD Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 Hi all, just want to let you all know our vida has been passed through VACCU. Sent to VACCU December 19 and Approved May 20. We were expecting much longer. We are so pleased but of course we are waiting on a 300 which is not getting processed at the moment with COVID-19 so still waiting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie87 Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 On 24/05/2020 at 19:46, SmileyD said: Hi all, just want to let you all know our vida has been passed through VACCU. Sent to VACCU December 19 and Approved May 20. We were expecting much longer. We are so pleased but of course we are waiting on a 300 which is not getting processed at the moment with COVID-19 so still waiting. Hi SmileyD that is fantastic news for you that it has been approved through VACCU! I was just wondering if you had applied for a visitor Visa 600 before applying for the 300 and had dealings with VACCU? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmileyD Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 Hi Ellie. we applied for 300 in March 2019. applied visitor 600 December 2019. both went to vaccu December 2019. only the 300 has been assessed by vaccu so far. not that any of that matters now as he can’t come to the country thanks to Covid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie87 Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 2 minutes ago, SmileyD said: Hi Ellie. we applied for 300 in March 2019. applied visitor 600 December 2019. both went to vaccu December 2019. only the 300 has been assessed by vaccu so far. not that any of that matters now as he can’t come to the country thanks to Covid. Hopefully not too much longer for you. It is so stressful I haven't seen my partner since Sept 19. May I ask if the reason sent to VACCU was a recent or serious offence? I am unable to personally msg you and completely understand if you don't want to answer on here Just looking for hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmileyD Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 It wasn’t recent. It was about 23 years ago. He got 2 six month sentences served concurrently for the one incident. It might have also helped that it was self defence that went wrong. So he didn’t instigate anything. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 5 hours ago, Ellie87 said: Hopefully not too much longer for you. It is so stressful I haven't seen my partner since Sept 19. May I ask if the reason sent to VACCU was a recent or serious offence? I am unable to personally msg you and completely understand if you don't want to answer on here Just looking for hope. Australia is expected to maintain its borders closed at least the rest of this year. Probably longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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