Sarahelle Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 Hey all, Today is a special day...I received an email from Immigration (first contact) asking me for my police checks so that my application can be 'decision ready' I'm all excited but is this good news?? Do they only request them if they are about to grant the visa? Also the email was from the Immigration Team and not actually a case officer. Has anyone else had this? Sorry for all the questions, I feel a big giddy. Thanks! Sarah x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlito235 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Hey guys. After reading various comments, I think it really does depend on who you get as a case officer, which is a bit crap really as it should be totally standardised (where they have everything they need, of course). I lodged at Melbourne on the 1st of May 2012, and within 2 weeks had been allocated a case officer who kept in touch throughout the whole process, advising me of what was happening. I got told that my case was decision ready and that as soon as I sent my AFP check in, it would be granted. When the AFP check arrived, I sent it in. Two days later, I had the visa, which was exactly 2 months to the day after putting the application in. Read some horror stories on here, and really hope people who are still waiting get some closure soon. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask - I'll help if I can. Cheers, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopylu Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 Hi Sarah Just wanted to let you know that I got my PR spouse visa today from the Brisbane office. It's taken 11 months and 9 days! It's a huge relief. I think that emailing the immigration minister and my local MP may have helped and also I was quite firm but polite with one of the DIAC helpline representatives about the fact that I had submitted a decision ready application and so why hadn't it been processed. He then spoke with a supervisor and suddenly a few days later the visa appeared. I was not asked for any further information and the only contact with a case officer was the letter telling me tha the visa had been granted. I hope that your application is successful soon. Lucy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahelle Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 That's great news, congratulations Lucy! Wow, 11 months for a decision ready application - I don't feel so hard done by now! It just shows what a quiet word to the right people can do, it was a good decision. Thank you, well I heard from Immigration a couple of weeks ago asking for my police checks so I'm hoping that once they come through and I send them off it won't be too much longer. Chris and I have been a De Facto couple for nearly 3 years now with all the waiting Thanks for letting me know and congrats again, Sarah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellbell Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Congrats Loopylu! Thats great. Unfortunately my pain continues! Now nearly 13 months. I rang them this morning and asked to speak to a manager. She informed me that they havent look at mine yet, but because it is now over 12 months I will have to redo my medical, kids medicals, UK police check, and get an Aus police check. Also my husband has to get police checks as he is sponsoring me...first I have ever heard of this. Just emailed Chris Bowen to ask if he can intervene in anyway... This really is beyond a joke now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopylu Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Congrats Loopylu! Thats great. Unfortunately my pain continues! Now nearly 13 months. I rang them this morning and asked to speak to a manager. She informed me that they havent look at mine yet, but because it is now over 12 months I will have to redo my medical, kids medicals, UK police check, and get an Aus police check. Also my husband has to get police checks as he is sponsoring me...first I have ever heard of this. Just emailed Chris Bowen to ask if he can intervene in anyway... This really is beyond a joke now... Hey Kellbell Sorry to hear you are still in limbo land. As well as my emailing the Immigration Minister, my husband also emailed the Federal MP for our constituency, Peter Dutton. His team were instrumental in getting my visa through quickly. My husband emailed Peter about 2 weeks ago and I had a call from one of Peter's team saying that they had contacted the higher powers in DIAC and they had received notification at the same time as me that my visa was going to be approved. I strongly recommend your husband contacting his local MP. If you submitted a decision ready application they should have processed it ages ago. I would point this fact out in any correspondence that you may have with your local MP. Tell him/her that they are trying to make you pay for medicals and police checks twice etc.. Don't hold back! Set out below is a copy of my email to the Immigration Minister which my husband used as the base for his correspondence with the local MP. I thought I would set it out for you to show you what worked for me.... Dear Mr Bowen I applied for my Partner Visa on 10 August 2011. At the time I was told that the application would take 6 – 9 months. When the 9 month deadline expired without hearing from DIAC, I contacted DIAC by phone to find out what was happening. I was then told that my application could take longer than 12 months. I have now contacted DIAC three times in the vain hope that this might speed up the process. My most recent contact was made today. I arrived in Australia in July 2008 on a Working Visa 457 as I am a specialist in Energy and Resources Law (sponsored by XXXXXX and currently on secondment at XXXX where I have just headed up the legal aspects of renegotiating the XXXX power arrangements which saved 500 Australian jobs in XXXX). The Visa 457 route was the quickest means to enter Australia and ensure that my employers had access to my skills which were (and still are) much in demand. My Visa 457 expired on 31 March 2012 and I am now on a Bridging Visa A. This means that I have to apply for a different visa (Bridging Visa B) and pay a fee if I wish to leave the country. I have elderly parents and am concerned that they may become ill and, due to the time to process a Bridging Visa B, may be prevented from returning to the UK quickly if required. I also have had to advise my employers that I am not able to travel overseas on business for an indefinite period until my visa situation is resolved. I have been married to my Australian husband, XXXXX, for over 16 years and we have three children XXX, XXX and XXX who are all Australian citizens. It is my salary that pays the mortgage and keeps them all fed and clothed. Not only am I related by marriage to Australians, but I also have a large extended family who are blood relations in Australia. I work full time, long hours and pay large amounts of tax. My husband is the main carer for our children and only has a low paid part time job. I am currently having to pay for two separate health insurance policies as I cannot join my family on their policy because I don’t have permanent residency. This is costing us an extra $150 a month. I also have limited access to good value banking products due to my visa status. I know other people from the UK (here in Brisbane) who have no connection with Australia who have been granted PR in a week. However, they were nurses…. Obviously, the family of Australians are a lesser priority when it comes to immigration policy. If there is anything that you can do to speed up my visa application, I will be very grateful. Hope things improve for you from now on. Loopylu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellbell Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Thanks for your reply Loopylu. I did ring my local MP's office this morning and spoke to a lady who was quite helpful and said she would contact her person in immigration. Did your husband have to do an Aus and UK police check as he was your sponsor? I have never read or heard anything about this...more time! I find it incredulous that the Manager in the immigration dep said they may need further proof of our relationship?! I would have thought 2 children would be proof enough?! But apparently not.. Happy that your fight is over! x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockDr Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 @kellbell: You shouldn't have to redo your UK check unless you've been living there since it was issued. I had three police checks over 12months old when my visa was granted, only had to redo the Australian one. I was lucky in that my medicals were still in date. iirc it is standard for the sponsor to have to do a police check only if there are children on the application, this is specified in the application paperwork (I'm assuming he's not their father? otherwise why are they included on the application as they should be Australian citizens?) Being married and having children is unfortunately not "proof" that you are still together. Those could apply even if you were separated... However it shouldn't be particularly difficult to get the evidence together if you are in a genuine and ongoing relationship. What evidence did you include with your application? Hope this all works out for you soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopylu Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Thanks for your reply Loopylu. I did ring my local MP's office this morning and spoke to a lady who was quite helpful and said she would contact her person in immigration. Did your husband have to do an Aus and UK police check as he was your sponsor? I have never read or heard anything about this...more time! I find it incredulous that the Manager in the immigration dep said they may need further proof of our relationship?! I would have thought 2 children would be proof enough?! But apparently not.. Happy that your fight is over! x That sounds good if your local MP's team have contacted DIAC for you. Perhaps they can also persuade DIAC to take your current medicals etc as I was told when I phoned DIAC that they would extend their validity where they expired due to DIAC's delay. No, I didn't have to get a police check for my husband but this was because my children were already Australian citizens and weren't on my application for PR. As far as proof of relationship goes, did you send in copies of joint bank accounts from previous years etc? I also sent in information that proved we had owned houses together and so forth. We also sent them a rogues gallery of photos of us together and also with the kids from over the 16 years of wedded bliss just to get the message across that we were committed to each other. The hardest thing for both of us to do was to provide our written statements about our relationship. I did find this rather an invasion of my privacy and we stuck to the facts rather than including statements of undying love etc.... All the best and fingers crossed for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thom1980 Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 Lucky you Loopylu!!! I applied for my onshore visa on 05/01/2012. As far as i am aware, they have everything that they need for a decision to be made. AFP check, UK police check, medical, evidence of relationship. They've not asked for anything else. Yet i am still waiting to be assigned a case officer. It's getting frustrating as i have limitations on my working conditions that they won't lift and now i have secured a full time job who want me to stay, i don't fancy losing the position. As everyone applying for this visa will know, securing work without yet having residency is rather difficult! Good luck to all those still waiting! Thom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockDr Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Lucky you Loopylu!!!It's getting frustrating as i have limitations on my working conditions that they won't lift and now i have secured a full time job who want me to stay, i don't fancy losing the position. Thom, which work restrictions do you have? and what form did you use to try to get them lifted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thom1980 Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Thom, which work restrictions do you have? and what form did you use to try to get them lifted? Hi RockDr, I can only work for an employer for 6 months, then i have to find a new job. Frustrating as my current employer want me permanent full time. This was as when we got married, i was on a working holiday visa, now they just say my wife can support me as that's her obligation as my sponsor. Bit imasculating from my point of view. I think the form was the 1005 form to apply for this to be restriction to be lifted, but as my wife earns enough not consider us not financial hardship, they wouldn't lift it. Just wish i'd get a case worker assigned so i could get things moving... Thom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thom1980 Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Does anyone have any ideas how long it will be before i get a case officer??? Thom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockDr Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Hi RockDr, I can only work for an employer for 6 months, then i have to find a new job. Frustrating as my current employer want me permanent full time. This was as when we got married, i was on a working holiday visa, now they just say my wife can support me as that's her obligation as my sponsor. Bit imasculating from my point of view. I think the form was the 1005 form to apply for this to be restriction to be lifted, but as my wife earns enough not consider us not financial hardship, they wouldn't lift it. Just wish i'd get a case worker assigned so i could get things moving... Thom Thought as much. It's not the financial hardship form that you need to be using, as you already HAVE work rights. If anything it would be the form at the bottom of this page http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/417/obligations.htm though not sure if that would work now you've transferred onto a bridging visa. might be worth a quick chat with a migration agent to get this right, as despite their shortcomings, DIAC aren't in the business of screwing up the careers of future permanent residents, it's just not in their best interests. Hope you can get this sorted soon, good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockDr Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Does anyone have any ideas how long it will be before i get a case officer??? Thom Onshore seems to be that you get the case officer once you've done your time in the queue (as opposed to onshore where they seem to assign CO's to check the application before it goes in the queue), so if they've got everything they need you'll never find out you have a case officer, you'll just get the visa grant. The only time you'll hear from a case officer is if they need you to supply more evidence or another police check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thom1980 Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Thought as much. It's not the financial hardship form that you need to be using, as you already HAVE work rights. If anything it would be the form at the bottom of this page http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/417/obligations.htm though not sure if that would work now you've transferred onto a bridging visa. might be worth a quick chat with a migration agent to get this right, as despite their shortcomings, DIAC aren't in the business of screwing up the careers of future permanent residents, it's just not in their best interests. Hope you can get this sorted soon, good luck! This is something i've argued with DIAC about. They won't budge. All they have suggested is applying for hardship again, which they have already rejected once and said they would again if my circumstances are the same, which they are. I just wish they'd hurry up and grant the visa. Their website said their service times were 6 months for people with EU Passports. Coming up nearly 8 months for me now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopylu Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 This is something i've argued with DIAC about. They won't budge. All they have suggested is applying for hardship again, which they have already rejected once and said they would again if my circumstances are the same, which they are.I just wish they'd hurry up and grant the visa. Their website said their service times were 6 months for people with EU Passports. Coming up nearly 8 months for me now. Thom I suggest that you get your partner to contact her local MP to see if they can exert any influence over DIAC. It worked for me. If you explain the job situation to the MP they will probably be sympathetic and do something for you. Cheers Loopylu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thom1980 Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 As in typical DIAC style of being non informative. I spoke with them this morning (approx 9:30am) with them to claim, and i quote: "As i have already been told, my application can take up to 12 months and i have not been assigned a case worker", Only to come home to the mail (approx 1:45pm) to have a letter from DIAC confirming that my partner visa has been granted as of yesterday! All i can say is, as useless as they are, I'm just glad to have my visa! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockDr Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 congratulations Thom, glad your wait is over... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thom1980 Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 Thanks, much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drfunk Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Hey peeps Just thought I would post my experience with the timeframe Lodged application in person @ Melbourne on 18th June 2012, Granted 23rd July 2012 - total time 4 weeks 5 days (was not expecting this at all) - straight from nothing to Permanent resident 801 visa (skipped 820) I'm from NZ, have been in de facto relationship with my Australian partner for over 4 years now. I did not use an agent, I simply read everything that was posted here (and on other forums) and made my application as easy as possible to go through, wrote a cover letter and put across everything in fairly large writing "This is a decision ready application". I had one folder with the cover letter, and all the silly immigration forms, as well as the required documentation (eg the 2 relationship statements, 3 DIAC 888 forms cert. copies of passports, birth certificates, police, med etc) My other folder had the evidence of the genuine and continuing relationship in chronological order (with a timeline and index page for ease of reference) starting from 4 odd years ago, included in this (just off top of my head) - Flight tickets (for me only) but listing my partner's address (which she owns) as my address 4+ years ago - Dated Photos of us together from facebook over last 4.5 years - engagement ring (bought 3+ years ago) - valuation and receipt of sale - car insurance over years showing both our names ?2 years ago - engagement cards sent to us from family and friends 3 year ago - christmas cards, birthday cards sent to both of us from friends over the years (some dated, some not) - emails to real estate agents about looking for a house for us to buy from 3 years ago - house bought (in my name only) 3 or so years ago, and again in 2012, but with my partner also clearly living at the same address as me - 2 overseas trips we did together (one to fiji 2 years ago, one more recently to NZ) - few trips in australia (facebook photos, tickets to sydney - all email generated) - gym membership in both our names paid by my credit card (only 2 weeks before application) - mobile phone bills from 1 year ago showing that I was paying both her phone bill and mine - joint bank accounts and joint mortgages for past year or so Had other stuff in it as well, it was fairly large folder, filled to the brim, I would say most of it was simply printed off the internet from various sources (mainly facebook and itineries, bills etc off my gmail account) Anyway, hope this helps someone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drfunk Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 One other thing - I have read in a lot of places that you "should" or "have" to register your de facto relationship (eg with the state government or whatever), or that this helps in some way. It may or may not help, but is definitely not needed. We have never "officially" lodged our relationship with anyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zo2Oz Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 Hi everyone. I had the amazing news last night that my visa was granted. I lodged my application on 9th July and it was approved for the 801 permanent visa on 7th August! Less than a month - I am thrilled! I sent off my application will all of my documents, form 80 and my police check. I had my medical done when I received confirmation email from Immigration. This website has been an amazing source of information and I would like to thank you all! Zo2Oz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopylu Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 Thanks for your reply Loopylu. I did ring my local MP's office this morning and spoke to a lady who was quite helpful and said she would contact her person in immigration. Did your husband have to do an Aus and UK police check as he was your sponsor? I have never read or heard anything about this...more time! I find it incredulous that the Manager in the immigration dep said they may need further proof of our relationship?! I would have thought 2 children would be proof enough?! But apparently not.. Happy that your fight is over! x Hi Kellbell Have you had success yet in obtaining your visa? Please let us know when you finally get it! Cheers Loopylu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellbell Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 Hi Kellbell Have you had success yet in obtaining your visa? Please let us know when you finally get it! Cheers Loopylu Hi Loopylu, no not yet, my wait goes on, now well into the 13th month...I have just sent off my Federal Police check that they requested as a result of me contacting my local MP, as it has gone over the 12 month mark, so we'll see what happens now. Happy for others but just do not get it at all. My application was front loaded, with plenty of proof, declarations from friends and inlaws. My only contact in 13 months has been one email asking for my passport number as they couldnt locate me on their database....:arghh: :arghh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.