mvlm Posted April 28, 2022 Share Posted April 28, 2022 Hi there I have applied for visitors visa for 8 family members late March. Their flight is on the 15th of May and no changes to their applications yet. They have all been to Australia at least once, the past visas were approved in a matter of days but that was before Covid. I'm starting to get worried. If they don't get the visa they are likely to lose almost $50K in tickets as rescheduling might no be possible (they booked the flights before covid and have been rebooking it ever since the pandemic started). I'm going to wait until Monday when they should update the processing times and will try calling immi to see if I get any compassion from them and hope they can fast track the applications. Does anyone have any experience contacting them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrussell Posted April 28, 2022 Share Posted April 28, 2022 (edited) It is not good practice to pay for travel before visas are granted. It is a better strategy to pay a small deposit with the balance to be paid subject to visa grants. You are unlikely to be assisted in this matter by contacting immigration. Edited April 28, 2022 by wrussell added more 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvlm Posted April 28, 2022 Author Share Posted April 28, 2022 3 minutes ago, wrussell said: It is not good practice to pay for travel before visas are granted. It is a better strategy to pay a small deposit with the balance to be paid subject to visa grants. You are unlikely to be assisted in this matter by contacting immigration. that's what they've done mate, back in 2020... They got their visas approved and purchased the tickets but then covid hit. "You are unlikely to be assisted in this matter by contacting immigration." Do you have any experience contacting them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrussell Posted April 28, 2022 Share Posted April 28, 2022 Quote Do you have any experience contacting them? Yes, 30+ years, 19+ as a registered migration agent. There are some good people in a bad system, but for the most part you might as well talk to a brick wall. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil1712 Posted April 29, 2022 Share Posted April 29, 2022 6 hours ago, wrussell said: Yes, 30+ years, 19+ as a registered migration agent. There are some good people in a bad system, but for the most part you might as well talk to a brick wall. Have you seen any movement on offshore 491visa grants? Seems they have been forgotten about. Back in the day they were sold as a quick processing visa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 (edited) On 29/04/2022 at 14:59, Phil1712 said: Have you seen any movement on offshore 491visa grants? Seems they have been forgotten about. Back in the day they were sold as a quick processing visa Actually, the 491 visa was always "the one you go for when you're desperate to migrate to Australia but you can't qualify for a 189 or a 190". Applying for the 491 because it's quicker was always a bad idea, sacrificing a lot for the sake of impatience. It's like train travel in the old days. The 189 is first class, the 190 is second-class, and the 491 is third-class (the 482 is a carriage that's hooked on the back and might fall off before you reach your destination). I'm always curious when people say visas were "sold as" something. It suggests the Australian Government was out there, actively marketing to attract immigrants, and I'm curious about that. I know they did that for a few extreme-shortage occupations—but for the last 20 years, Australia has received thousands more migration applications than they can process, so I'm surprised if they are touting for business generally. Who was out there "selling" the 491 when you applied? Was it the State goverment or some agency? Edited May 1, 2022 by Marisawright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrussell Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 Quote Who was out there "selling" the 491 when you applied? Was it the State goverment or some agency? Do you have to ask? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 41 minutes ago, wrussell said: Do you have to ask? Cryptic as usual but yes, I'd like to know the specifics of who was actively marketing the 491 visa in the UK in recent years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrussell Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 I follow R G Menzies who said: If you can get it on one page I shall read it. I might have been too cryptic.When I was school they used to hand out 6 of best to those who could not precis War and Peace to 3 pages. I thought you wanted to ascertain whether it was THE department or some other party barking. It was not THE department*. * Department name Abbreviation Start End Department of Immigration DI 1945 1974 [9] Department of Labor and Immigration DLI 1974 1975 Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (I) DIEA 1975 1987 Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs DILGEA 1987 1993 Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (II) DIEA 1993 1996 Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs DIMA 1996 2001 Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs DIMIA 2001 2006 Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (II) DIMA 2006 2007 Department of Immigration and Citizenship DIAC 2007 2013 Department of Immigration and Border Protection DIBP 2013 December 2017 [3] Department of Home Affairs Home Affairs 2017 Present Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil1712 Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 4 hours ago, Marisawright said: Actually, the 491 visa was always "the one you go for when you're desperate to migrate to Australia but you can't qualify for a 189 or a 190". Applying for the 491 because it's quicker was always a bad idea, sacrificing a lot for the sake of impatience. It's like train travel in the old days. The 189 is first class, the 190 is second-class, and the 491 is third-class (the 482 is a carriage that's hooked on the back and might fall off before you reach your destination). I'm always curious when people say visas were "sold as" something. It suggests the Australian Government was out there, actively marketing to attract immigrants, and I'm curious about that. I know they did that for a few extreme-shortage occupations—but for the last 20 years, Australia has received thousands more migration applications than they can process, so I'm surprised if they are touting for business generally. Who was out there "selling" the 491 when you applied? Was it the State goverment or some agency? I don't believe I asked you the question 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvlm Posted May 1, 2022 Author Share Posted May 1, 2022 They have updated the processing times and now for the 600 - Tourist, 90% is under 37 days so will give them a call on Monday and hopefully they will be able to assist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvlm Posted May 3, 2022 Author Share Posted May 3, 2022 On 29/04/2022 at 08:11, wrussell said: Yes, 30+ years, 19+ as a registered migration agent. There are some good people in a bad system, but for the most part you might as well talk to a brick wall. I suspect the applications are in some sort of limbo. When they first applied for Visas back in 2020, most of them got approved within a week with some approved on the same day. I know everything was different before Covid but still. Could there be any problems with submitting the applications again, without withdrawing? Also, they submitted the applications as a group hoping it would speed things up but I wonder if it's doing the opposite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelbourneBrit Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 Hi all, I wondered whether anyone here might be in a position to offer any advice or guidance regarding my father's 651 eVisitor visa application. He applied on 14 March and was asked to provide more information (police check) on 18 March. He provided that to the Department on 25 March (clean with no convictions) and has yet to receive any further correspondence on his application. I even became an authorised recipient on 22 April and contacted my local MP in the hope of moving the process forward, unfortunately to no avail. My mother applied at the same time and received her application in a matter of minutes. Would appreciate any views as the past 8 weeks have been incredibly frustrating and stressful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvlm Posted May 10, 2022 Author Share Posted May 10, 2022 My family visas were granted today! I can now say it was definitely in some sort of limbo. I called immi twice last week and they kept saying there was nothing they could do bla bla bla. Today I called them again and asked to speak with a supervisor. He was very willing to help but said the only thing he could do was add a note to the application saying it was urgent. I don't know if behind the scenes he did something else but 4 hours later all 8 visas were approved! I wish I could thank him for whatever he did. Tip: if you're gonna cal immi do it at 9am sharp which is when they start. All three times I got through I did that and didn't wait a second in the queue. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna1312 Posted May 18, 2022 Share Posted May 18, 2022 On 10/05/2022 at 18:36, MelbourneBrit said: Hi all, I wondered whether anyone here might be in a position to offer any advice or guidance regarding my father's 651 eVisitor visa application. He applied on 14 March and was asked to provide more information (police check) on 18 March. He provided that to the Department on 25 March (clean with no convictions) and has yet to receive any further correspondence on his application. I even became an authorised recipient on 22 April and contacted my local MP in the hope of moving the process forward, unfortunately to no avail. My mother applied at the same time and received her application in a matter of minutes. Would appreciate any views as the past 8 weeks have been incredibly frustrating and stressful. Do you have any news ? Im on the same boat... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelbourneBrit Posted May 21, 2022 Share Posted May 21, 2022 no luck yet I'm afraid. How about you? Have you tried any other potential avenues to move yours forward? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvlm Posted May 21, 2022 Author Share Posted May 21, 2022 5 minutes ago, MelbourneBrit said: no luck yet I'm afraid. How about you? Have you tried any other potential avenues to move yours forward? Call them and ask to speak to a supervisor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna1312 Posted May 21, 2022 Share Posted May 21, 2022 I keep calling the immi they connect me with a specialist and everyone says that i have to keep waiting. My application is been assessed there is nothing i can do. I'm devastated... i applied 28 of march...and still further assessment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna1312 Posted May 21, 2022 Share Posted May 21, 2022 9 hours ago, MelbourneBrit said: no luck yet I'm afraid. How about you? Have you tried any other potential avenues to move yours forward? Nothing...i just applied for the 600 at the same time see if i have a better luck to this one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelbourneBrit Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 I've spoken to the specialist team too and told the application is still being processed. Good luck with your 600 application, please let me know how you get on, as we may head down the same route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna1312 Posted May 22, 2022 Share Posted May 22, 2022 3 hours ago, MelbourneBrit said: I've spoken to the specialist team too and told the application is still being processed. Good luck with your 600 application, please let me know how you get on, as we may head down the same route. Thank you...wish you good luck too .. if you have any news please let me know ... thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelbourneBrit Posted May 28, 2022 Share Posted May 28, 2022 good news, my father received approval this week. hope you also hear positive news soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna1312 Posted May 28, 2022 Share Posted May 28, 2022 38 minutes ago, MelbourneBrit said: good news, my father received approval this week. hope you also hear positive news soon. Im so happy for you!!! How long were you waiting after the request for more information? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelbourneBrit Posted May 30, 2022 Share Posted May 30, 2022 thanks! just over two months, so hopefully yours isn't too far away! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna1312 Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 I just got the visa !!!! 2 months and 1 day waiting. I wanna ask you should i withdraw the 600 application? I dont need that visa anymore!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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