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

[squiz]

Not done police check or medical yet. my wife is 35 weeks pregnant so the case officer said to get the medical done as soon as she feels up to it once the baby is born. Probably do the police check about the same time. It was nice to speak to someone, just makes all all a bit more real. No rush for us as we are aiming for around this time next year.

[Aprilfool]

Not done police check or medical yet. my wife is 35 weeks pregnant so the case officer said to get the medical done as soon as she feels up to it once the baby is born. Probably do the police check about the same time. It was nice to speak to someone, just makes all all a bit more real. No rush for us as we are aiming for around this time next year.

 

We aren't in any rush either but like you say it makes it feel real when you know someone is on your case!! Congrats on the baby! Exciting/busy times ahead! We got Medicals and police checks out the way quickly as, my husband wasn't a bit of monkey in his youth n I was worried sick something would come up on his police check! It didn't! Phew! Also our daughter who is 9 was very stressed about the medical so just wanted to get it done so she didn't continue to freak out about it!! Even found google searches about them on her iPad bless her!!

[Aprilfool]

We have a case officer!! Woohoo!

 

 

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[Backtoback]

We have a case officer!! Woohoo!

 

 

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Congrats! One step closer…. did they call you?

[Aprilfool]

Congrats! One step closer…. did they call you?

 

No my husband got an email x

[Keep me in oz]

I learned so much from peoples stories on this site, so here is mine which I hope you can learn from too!

 

In May 2014 I applied for an onshore partner visa, my partner and I had only been living together for 8 months but due to financial reasons preventing us from obtain a property together we figured we had a good enough reason for the Department to grant our visa.

 

In March 2015 this visa was declined. We immediately lodged an appeal with the Migration Review Tribunal and supplied further supporting evidence.

 

In June 2015 I found out, from this site or one similar, that I could also apply for an offshore visa whilst the decision was being made on my declined application. Although an expensive option, we chose to lodge this as it would save us the pain of selling up and departing Australia should the tribunal not work out in our favour. So in June i went overseas on holiday, after applying for a bridging visa allowing me to depart and return to oz and successfully applied for a 309 offshore visa.

 

I immediately received an email asking me to provide scans of my fingerprints for identifying purposes. After asking my migration agent, checking the information on the Department's website and even asking an Australian immigration officer at the airport, I returned to Perth with the intention of providing my fingerprints in my local immigration office.

 

On Monday morning I called the Department to book an appointment in order to provide my fingerprints. To my absolute shock and horror they informed me that I was required to provide this information offshore. I explained to them that I had already returned to Perth and was told my application would never be processed unless I flew offshore again to provide my fingerprints (keep reading it gets better).

 

So bearing in mind I only had permission to leave and return to Australia for the next 7 days, the validity of my bridging visa, I immediately flew back offshore to provide my fingerprints. An expensive trip I could have done without. I provided the Department with my fingerprints and was advised my application would now be processed.

 

Still in June 2015 I returned to Perth to await my application to be process and for a hearing with the MRT.

 

Meanwhile, I lodged a formal complaint with the Department and subsequently the Commonwealth Ombudsman about the lack of information provided in the Departments request for my fingerprints... I was like cmon guys if you had written the words 'this must be done offshore' it would have been as clear as day that I needed to provided them whilst overseas!

 

After a couple of months of waiting I finally got a response from them... so it turns out I could have had my fingerprints could have been provided in Perth and they sent me back overseas incorrectly... can you even imagine my emotions when receiving that email??!?! They did apologise though! Pfffft!

 

Anyways on to the compensation claim, so as a result of incorrect information which directly casued me to be at a financial loss, I lodged a compensation claim though the CDDA scheme.

 

In Feb 2016 I was contacted by the Department of immigration in London about my 309 offshore visa, It was ready to be granted but as its an offshore visa I had to go overseas in order to allow this. In March 2016 I travelled overseas again and was granted my 309 Visa.

 

Also in March 2016 I was given $1900 in compensation by the Department for the incorrect advice on my fingerprints. At least they paid for my airfare, accommodation, and taxis hey! Oh and my leave from work!

 

On March the 15 I heard from the Tribunal, they had decided to overturn the decision on my onshore application. Thank you MRT!

 

In May 2016 I was contacted by the Department of immigration asking me to provide new medicals and police clearances. I immediately advised them that I had current and valid ones on their systems as I did them all as part of my offshore visa application. After a few days of confusion on their part and some processing errors I was granted the 801 onshore permanent resident visa! This was all done slightly before the 2 years after my lodgement date too so that is a bonus!

 

Complicated I know but if any of you can learn from this or have any questions please feel free to ask away

[CelinaOz]

I learned so much from peoples stories on this site, so here is mine which I hope you can learn from too!

 

In May 2014 I applied for an onshore partner visa, my partner and I had only been living together for 8 months but due to financial reasons preventing us from obtain a property together we figured we had a good enough reason for the Department to grant our visa.

 

In March 2015 this visa was declined. We immediately lodged an appeal with the Migration Review Tribunal and supplied further supporting evidence.

 

In June 2015 I found out, from this site or one similar, that I could also apply for an offshore visa whilst the decision was being made on my declined application. Although an expensive option, we chose to lodge this as it would save us the pain of selling up and departing Australia should the tribunal not work out in our favour. So in June i went overseas on holiday, after applying for a bridging visa allowing me to depart and return to oz and successfully applied for a 309 offshore visa.

 

I immediately received an email asking me to provide scans of my fingerprints for identifying purposes. After asking my migration agent, checking the information on the Department's website and even asking an Australian immigration officer at the airport, I returned to Perth with the intention of providing my fingerprints in my local immigration office.

 

On Monday morning I called the Department to book an appointment in order to provide my fingerprints. To my absolute shock and horror they informed me that I was required to provide this information offshore. I explained to them that I had already returned to Perth and was told my application would never be processed unless I flew offshore again to provide my fingerprints (keep reading it gets better).

 

So bearing in mind I only had permission to leave and return to Australia for the next 7 days, the validity of my bridging visa, I immediately flew back offshore to provide my fingerprints. An expensive trip I could have done without. I provided the Department with my fingerprints and was advised my application would now be processed.

 

Still in June 2015 I returned to Perth to await my application to be process and for a hearing with the MRT.

 

Meanwhile, I lodged a formal complaint with the Department and subsequently the Commonwealth Ombudsman about the lack of information provided in the Departments request for my fingerprints... I was like cmon guys if you had written the words 'this must be done offshore' it would have been as clear as day that I needed to provided them whilst overseas!

 

After a couple of months of waiting I finally got a response from them... so it turns out I could have had my fingerprints could have been provided in Perth and they sent me back overseas incorrectly... can you even imagine my emotions when receiving that email??!?! They did apologise though! Pfffft!

 

Anyways on to the compensation claim, so as a result of incorrect information which directly casued me to be at a financial loss, I lodged a compensation claim though the CDDA scheme.

 

In Feb 2016 I was contacted by the Department of immigration in London about my 309 offshore visa, It was ready to be granted but as its an offshore visa I had to go overseas in order to allow this. In March 2016 I travelled overseas again and was granted my 309 Visa.

 

Also in March 2016 I was given $1900 in compensation by the Department for the incorrect advice on my fingerprints. At least they paid for my airfare, accommodation, and taxis hey! Oh and my leave from work!

 

On March the 15 I heard from the Tribunal, they had decided to overturn the decision on my onshore application. Thank you MRT!

 

In May 2016 I was contacted by the Department of immigration asking me to provide new medicals and police clearances. I immediately advised them that I had current and valid ones on their systems as I did them all as part of my offshore visa application. After a few days of confusion on their part and some processing errors I was granted the 801 onshore permanent resident visa! This was all done slightly before the 2 years after my lodgement date too so that is a bonus!

 

Complicated I know but if any of you can learn from this or have any questions please feel free to ask away

 

Oh my goodness, you have been through a long visa journey - at least you made it through and out the other side - eventually! Phew. Good of you to put it on here to help others.

[ajdto]

thats good

[CelinaOz]

OMG OMG OMG!!!! We've just had our visa granted (both 309 and 100), after 3 months and 5 days - cannot quite believe it!! Wow. X

[Aprilfool]

OMG OMG OMG!!!! We've just had our visa granted (both 309 and 100), after 3 months and 5 days - cannot quite believe it!! Wow. X

 

Holy moly! Omg! That's fantastic! Amazing news congratulations!!

 

 

 

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[CelinaOz]

Thanks - still in shock it was so fast! X

[Aprilfool]

Thanks - still in shock it was so fast! X

 

I'm in shock for you and excited at the same time hoping a few of us get quick results!!! Well done there was obviously no disputing it! Who was your CO? We have someone called V.

 

 

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Edited May 26, 2016 by snifter
CO name

[CelinaOz]

I'm in shock for you and excited at the same time hoping a few of us get quick results!!! Well done there was obviously no disputing it! Who was your CO? We have someone called V.

 

 

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We have WP as our case officer. Totally stunned as haven't seen anyone get it that quickly - having a cocktail to celebrate as we're on holiday in Portugal - good timing! Hopefully this means a few others will get a quick turnaround too.

Edited May 26, 2016 by snifter
CO name quote

[pompom15]

Wow - Congrats CelinaOz!! Still waiting here at almost 11 months Our case seems so straight forward, so hard to watch them all coming in in front of us! Fells like they're just doing nothing with it. Medicals expired on the 9th of May & no mention of that from anyone either.

[Backtoback]

We have WP as our case officer. Totally stunned as haven't seen anyone get it that quickly - having a cocktail to celebrate as we're on holiday in Portugal - good timing! Hopefully this means a few others will get a quick turnaround too.

 

 

Wahoo, congrats!! I check Immi account every day but we are still a few months behind everyone, as we only submitted 12/04 or thereabouts....so impatient though!

[Aprilfool]

Does anyone have any experience with non-migrating children???!!!! We have just been contacted by our CO requesting my husbands son who is 15 and doesn't live with us to have a medical.

Not sure what to do as we have a very strained relationship and haven't seen him in 18 months. He would point blank refuse to a medical and so would his mother!

It's only just come through and we don't have direct contact with our CO so will have to ring dept of immigration on Monday to ask!

I'm really worried this could impact on our visa now!

 

 

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[Angela3043]

Submitted my PMV 300 on 6/04/16 so not long before yours Backtoback...nothing yet! Received e-mail acknowledgement of receipt but nothing on my Immi account.

[Guest]

Does anyone have any experience with non-migrating children???!!!! We have just been contacted by our CO requesting my husbands son who is 15 and doesn't live with us to have a medical.

Not sure what to do as we have a very strained relationship and haven't seen him in 18 months. He would point blank refuse to a medical and so would his mother!

It's only just come through and we don't have direct contact with our CO so will have to ring dept of immigration on Monday to ask!

I'm really worried this could impact on our visa now!

 

 

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I'd not panic.

 

Lots of people have refusals for non migrating people refusing to undergo a medical. I am not sure if there is a form or you simply write and inform your CO that there is no contact and that requesting a medical would be an issue etc. Or if the person refusing the medical (or the person with parental consent) writes something. But whichever it is, its workable and you should get through it fine.

 

In the first instance, I'd reply to the email your CO sent and enquire what actions you need to take after explaining the circumstances. Often phoning Aus immi means a long time on hold and you still don't speak to the person you need (a lot of CO work part time for example and you are not calling them direct but Aus immigration) or you speak to someone who isn't well versed in the ins and outs of the visa process and gives you incorrect info (which does happen). If the CO email is not a direct one, this sort of thing will get passed on to them as its not a general enquiry and relates to something specific requested.

[Aprilfool]

Submitted my PMV 300 on 6/04/16 so not long before yours Backtoback...nothing yet! Received e-mail acknowledgement of receipt but nothing on my Immi account.

 

Angela we applied 10/3 and we have only had a our CO just over a week. It was a 10 week wait xx it's horrible waiting!

 

 

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[Aprilfool]

@snifter thank you for your reply x we have messaged him and his mother via Facebook and at least asked so we can go to the CO and say we've at least asked!

It's frustrating as we don't have a direct email with our CO they email us on the family migration email which says do not reply to! So the only contact we can make us by ringing immigration!

 

 

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[QPRMARK]

Great news, congrats........

 

 

OMG OMG OMG!!!! We've just had our visa granted (both 309 and 100), after 3 months and 5 days - cannot quite believe it!! Wow. X

[QPRMARK]

I'm in a similar position, Ex refused them to have medical, but got written confirmation from her as to reasons why etc.

 

There's no more I can do now........

 

Does anyone have any experience with non-migrating children???!!!! We have just been contacted by our CO requesting my husbands son who is 15 and doesn't live with us to have a medical.

Not sure what to do as we have a very strained relationship and haven't seen him in 18 months. He would point blank refuse to a medical and so would his mother!

It's only just come through and we don't have direct contact with our CO so will have to ring dept of immigration on Monday to ask!

I'm really worried this could impact on our visa now!

 

 

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[skippy79]

Does anyone know the new fee for the spouse visa? it's now $6865, but heard it's going up as of July 2016 :sad:

[The Raillys]

OMG OMG OMG!!!! We've just had our visa granted (both 309 and 100), after 3 months and 5 days - cannot quite believe it!! Wow. X

You are now the fastest! Congratulations!

[pompom15]

Woooohoooo, after a phone call to Oz house & a letter uploaded to Immi to explain our circumstances (kids cant go to school etc) we heard from our CO. She's got a view to grant early July, just wants a new police certificate. SO SO happy. Just got pack the hubby & kids off for a few days to Bali so she can grant. It looks we'll get our grant at approx. 12 months