SUMMARY: Spouse Visa Processing times OFFSHORE-UK. Please add your Stats.

[Guest moroney]

well i am so happy 2day that i got that email that told me that i had been granted my visa

i sent it on feb i think that they take too long in sorting everthing our case was very straight forward

[Peach]

I still say your best bet is to phone an agent...

[Guest FedUp]

I'm running the risk of bringing this back on topic...

 

Here's the start of my timescales...

 

Application received at Australia House 18th May 2010 (with PCC and Form 80, no meds)

Fee charged to Credit Card 18th May 2010

Medical carried out 19th May 2010

Case Officer emailed me to acknowledge application and request additional evidence 24th May 2010....

 

At least that's a quick start. My spouse visa application was recieved on the same day but I haven't heard anything yet...not even an aknowledgement... I have no more nails to bite

[boganbear]

6 weeks from submitting the application to getting permission. It could have been sooner but there was a technical hitch with my x rays. we thought it would take 6 months so when it did arrive we sorted everything out to move in 6 weeks too which gave us an extra month to have a holiday in Oz/freebie holiday with the family before having to look for a house/jobs

[Quinkla]

In my case there was usually several days delay between Royal Mail saying they'd delivered something and my CO acknowledging that she had it..

Oh dear. My application was delivered on a Monday and the acknowledgement e-mail was sent on Tuesday. The track and trace didn't catch up with this until the Thursday. My CO responded to e-mails promptly - usually within half an hour.

[Peach]

Oh dear. My application was delivered on a Monday and the acknowledgement e-mail was sent on Tuesday. The track and trace didn't catch up with this until the Thursday. My CO responded to e-mails promptly - usually within half an hour.

Sounds like you were using Recorded, rather than Special Delivery. SD guarantees delivery by 1pm the following day and as fleabo says is handled seperately to 1st class mail.

[Quinkla]

Sounds like you were using Recorded, rather than Special Delivery. SD guarantees delivery by 1pm the following day and as fleabo says is handled seperately to 1st class mail.

No, it was Special Delivery. They do guarantee delivery for the next day (but 1st tends to take the same amount of time) and I'm not convinced that SD is handled separately at any stage other than delivery. Same post office, same collection, same plane. And since the post to Australia House is presumably taken round in a sack in a van, I'm guessing that apart from having a separate sack the handing is basically identical. Perhaps someone reading this is a Royal Mail insider and could confirm.

 

The Track and Trace seems to take a few days to catch up - trying to enter the code too soon generates a message to say that information is not available, please try later. I couldn't get conformation of delivery until 3 days after the delivery.

[Peach]

Just like the application process we all have widely different experiences )

[emmaroo]

Hi

 

Hope I don't irk anyone asking this question as it is " off topic" but hey ho!

 

We almost have our application ready to go but medicals are not until July, so my question is can we submit application and then wait for medicals to follow or should we wait until medicals done?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Peach]

If you have your application ready I'd send it in. If you CO is happy with the rest of your evidence, she'll send you an email requesting your medical & police cert (if either haven't already be done). It then takes around a month from the date of your medical for them to be sent and acknowledged at Australia House.

[Guest christinenpete]

If you have your application ready I'd send it in. If you CO is happy with the rest of your evidence, she'll send you an email requesting your medical & police cert (if either haven't already be done). It then takes around a month from the date of your medical for them to be sent and acknowledged at Australia House.

 

That's good to know, thanks Peach.:smile:

We are in a simular position, getting our docs certified this week, police check has been sent off and Pete's dreaded medical booked for June 7th.

 

It's all slowly coming together...:err:

[emmaroo]

If you have your application ready I'd send it in. If you CO is happy with the rest of your evidence, she'll send you an email requesting your medical & police cert (if either haven't already be done). It then takes around a month from the date of your medical for them to be sent and acknowledged at Australia House.

 

Good to know Thanks Peach.

 

I did not know that it took so long between having medical done and Australia House receiving so in that case I think I will try and bring forward medical date.

 

Thanks again :notworthy:

Emma

[Guest]

My application was handed in on the 26th of April, and CO was assigned on the 27th. Since then I have heard nothing (app was front loaded).

 

Hoping someone can answer my question - once you have a CO assigned, do they contact you via email if they need more info or is there somewhere online I am supposed to be checking? (Just paranoi setting in that I am missing something). I emailed my CO with our travel outline and dates for Australia, as our flight is booked already, and I didn't receive even an email to acknowledge that my email was received. Is that usual practice?

[Peach]

You get an email that looks something like this, with any additional questions/requirements (I didn't front load) or you get one telling you everything is complete and your visa has been put forward for finalisation which will take 3-4 months:

 

Method by which notification delivered: E-mail

 

14 January 2010

 

File Ref: XXXXX

 

 

Dear Mr XXXXX,

 

I am writing to confirm receipt of your migrant visa application and to

advise you of your file reference number (shown above).

 

It is essential that you quote your file reference number in full and my

name in future when corresponding with this office about this visa

application via any medium, ie letter, facsimile, e-mail or telephone.

 

In order to continue with the processing of your application, you need to

provide further information marked with an ‘X’ below. Please ensure that

you provide all requested information in the one envelope, addressed to me,

and that your file reference number (shown above) is also quoted on the

front of the envelope. (**Note: If this request for further documentation

includes a request for medical documentation, these will be forwarded

direct to the Australian High Commission by the panel doctor).

 

It is important that you provide this office with the requested information

within 28 days of the date of this letter. If the additional information

requested above is in relation to health and character requirements, and

you are unable to provide that information within the time frame prescribed

above, you must provide evidence that you have taken the appropriate steps

to obtain this information. If you do not respond within the given time

frame, a decision on your application will be made based on the information

contained on your file at that time.

 

If you have been requested to provide a ‘certified copy’ it must clearly

marked and dated as an authentic copy of the original by an authorised

person, ie solicitor, Justice of the Peace, Notary Public or Magistrate.

 

If you have been asked to make a statutory declaration your declaration

must be witnessed by a solicitor, Justice of the Peace, Notary Public or

Magistrate. The statutory declaration must be written on the letterhead of

the witness. The witness must confirm that they have sighted your photo

identification confirming your identity.

 

 

Health and character requirements

 

X Undertake health examinations. You should undertake;

 

· a radiological examination if aged 11 years or over; and

· a medical examination regardless of age; and

· a HIV test if aged 15 or over.

 

All medical examinations and x-rays must be completed by panel

doctors and radiologists designated by the Australian Government.

 

· Form 26 – Medical Examination

· Form 160 – Radiological Examination

· Instructions on completing these forms

can be downloaded from our website at www.uk.embassy.gov.au.

 

Current contact details for panel doctors and radiologists in the

United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are also listed on the

website www.uk.embassy.gov.au under the same link. Please note that

the department is currently in the process of reviewing eligible

panel doctors and radiologists and it is likely that the list will be

amended at the beginning in 2010. Please ensure that you check our

website for any changes.

 

All applicants must present their passport to the panel doctor when

undertaking medicals. A passport is the only acceptable means of

identification for the panel doctor. If you do not provide your

passport to the panel doctor your medicals(s) will be invalid and you

will be requested to undertake them again.

 

Panel doctors are not authorised to return your medicals directly to

you. The Australian government requires that all medicals for

applications being processed in London are sent by the panel doctor

directly to the Migration Branch in London. Your medical results will

be logged and matched with your application.

 

X You must provide ORIGINAL police clearance certificate(s) for any

country lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years. Provide the

following police clearances;

 

For the UK

 

Persons who require a UK police clearance should apply for a ‘Police

certificate’ issued by ACPO (The Association of Chief Police

Officers). The Police Certificates will cover applicants who have

lived or currently reside in England, Wales, Scotland, the Channel

Islands, and the Isle of Man. There is also the capacity for police

certificates to be issued for Northern Ireland.

 

Apply – Application forms and guidance on how to apply for the police

certificates for residents and non-residents can be located online at

www.acpo.police.uk

 

OTHER

 

X The agent should complete Form 956 – Appointment of a migration agent

or exempt agent or other authorised recipient.

 

 

I aim to finalise the processing of your visa application as quickly as

possible. During this period, it is important that you contact me to

advise of any change in your personal circumstances that may affect your

application (such as travel to Australia, pregnancy, a change of marital

status or a change of address).

 

PLEASE NOTE:

As a guideline for yourself, current processing times for Family Migration

visas at the Australian High Commission London are approximately 3-4 months

due to our current workloads. This timeframe can vary however depending on

various factors including the complexity of the application. We therefore

recommend that you do not take any irreversible action during the

processing of your application (such as leaving your employment, purchasing

airline tickets, or selling your property) until and unless it has been

confirmed in writing that your visa has been granted.

 

I would also like to take this opportunity to advise you that, if we

confirm in writing that your visa application has been approved, you will

be required to enter Australia by a particular date, known as the ‘initial

entry date’. This date will be linked to the expiry of your health and

character clearances, which are usually valid for 12 months. The

requirement to enter Australia by a particular date does not mean that a

person is required to stay in Australia following initial entry.

Therefore, if a visa is granted to you and you are not able to migrate

wholly to Australia by your initial entry date because, for example, you

need to sell your house, you must still enter Australia by the initial

entry date. You can then depart and return to Australia at a later date,

so long as your visa is multiple entry and is still valid. However, if a

visa is granted to you and you do not enter Australia by the initial entry

date, you will have breached a condition of your visa and your visa will be

liable for cancellation.

 

If you have sent your documents to the office via special delivery or

registered mail, you can confirm receipt of this at the office through the

Royal Mail website (http://www.royalmail.com/portal). We aim to action all

mail received within 10 working days of receipt.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

XXXXX

Family Migration

DIAC London

Australian High Commission

Australia House

Strand

London WC2B 4LA

[Guest]

Thanks Peach - I got that letter, but without the request for anything extra. It went from the 'It is essential to quote your file reference number' paragraph to 'I aim to finalise the processing' - so that should mean they need nothing else from me (happy days) and I just need to sit and wait patiently (not so happy days)! Thanks!

[mrsb]

It then takes around a month from the date of your medical for them to be sent and acknowledged at Australia House.

 

Blimey, how come yours took so long?

Mine was done on the tuesday and received by Aus house on the friday, 3 days as told by the receptionist. :smile:

[Peach]

It depends on the mood of the Panel Doctor. ) You got lucky (I'm told by my agent), the blood results usually take a week to come back, then the panel doctor has to review and sign off on your medical results as a whole (in my case another week). Then it got sent special delivery and signed for the next day - and into the black hole of my case officers desk. It was month from when I'd had them done (in total) before she acknowleded them.

[Guest]

Phew, finally after 2 months of information gathering I have passed all my info for the Defacto Visa to my agenct - hopefully ready to submit next week and then comes the nailbiting 4 month (+) wait! POI has been invaluable throughout this time trawling through the posts and getting some valuable information!

 

I'm sure I'll spend the next few months constantly on here checking if other people have got their visas and getting myself more and more wound up! Hopefully by the end of the summer I'll be joining some of you guys that have got your visas and are heading down under........:smile:

[Guest]

Phew, finally after 2 months of information gathering I have passed all my info for the Defacto Visa to my agenct - hopefully ready to submit next week and then comes the nailbiting 4 month (+) wait! POI has been invaluable throughout this time trawling through the posts and getting some valuable information!

 

I'm sure I'll spend the next few months constantly on here checking if other people have got their visas and getting myself more and more wound up! Hopefully by the end of the summer I'll be joining some of you guys that have got your visas and are heading down under........:smile:

 

Goodluck with your application I hope it goes smoothly, I thought the gathering info part was stressful but now I am waiting I find it harder because at least when I was gathering the info I was in control and felt like I was doing something now I have no control and patience isn't one of my virtues :wink:

[Guest rachandjon]

Yeah, the waiting is definitely worse! I am now on three months and almost three weeks. We keep holding on to the hope that our CO said we would find out before the 4 month period. Peach - did your contact your CO? Any luck?

[Peach]

I spoke to her at length, begged, pleaded, even lied. All she would say is "the terms of your visa application have all been met and you will receive your visa grant early in July". :wub:

[Guest DaveBecs]

My front loaded defacto application was rec'd by Australia house on 31/03. I have emailed my CO for an update on monday, he advised me today, that he is currently processing my visa application, but due to the volume of cases. He is unable to finalise it at the moment, but will be in touch as soon as the case is ready to be finalised.

Fingers crossed applications are starting to move now. I know I havent been waiting any where near as long as some of you, but I want to be able to start things moving!! x

[fleabo]

I spoke to her at length, begged, pleaded, even lied. All she would say is "the terms of your visa application have all been met and you will receive your visa grant early in July". :wub:

 

It drives you crazy Peach. You find yourself questioning your own integrity as a human being. It takes the fun and excitement of the experience and spits it out on the pavement with a snear.:notworthy:

[wakeboard1980]

A friend of mine has had her spouse visa approved today. She lodged it in January, not sure of the exact date

[Guest rachandjon]

I spoke to her at length, begged, pleaded, even lied. All she would say is "the terms of your visa application have all been met and you will receive your visa grant early in July". :wub:

 

Oh dear, Peach. I guess your CO is sticking to the July date because you said you weren't travelling until later. But it must be killing you! :arghh: