Tips to help speed up your Australian Pending Visa Application: Why are delays occurring and what can you do about it?
For individuals who have been navigating the visa process over the last two years, it will come as no surprise that the waiting times are extensive. The visa backlog has come about through a combination of stagnant processing during much of the pandemic and a flurry of applications for those individuals who were stuck in Australia.
Whilst this backlog has been acknowledged by the incumbent Australian Government, there is no quick fix. For those who have pending visa applications in the system, there are likely some questions you have about what is happening with your case and what the next steps will be. This article provides answers to some of the most frequently asked questions by visa applicants. Plus, we will share some tips to help you get through the Australian visa application process as quickly as possible.
Tips to avoid Australian Pending Visa Application?
1. Update your documentation
Given the significant length of time that an application might be pending in the queue for assessment, it is inevitable that some of the evidence provided to support the application will be out of date or have expired. This is particularly the case for documentation that has confined validity periods including:
Police clearances – valid for 12 months from the date of issuance
English language test results – valid for three years
Skill assessments – generally valid for three years
Aside from the above documents, what may not be obvious is the alternative evidence supplied as part of the application to meet the legislative criteria. For example, the relationship evidence supplied for a partner visa application, the training plan and dates for a training visa (subclass 407) or genuine need evidence for a sponsored work visa.
To ensure that your application is assessed quickly once allocated to a delegate, it is wise to upload updated evidence to your application. This will avoid the need for the delegate to make a request for this information, setting back your application whilst you gather these documents (particularly from third parties like police clearances).
2: Update the Department
A lot can happen in two years which is why you must ensure that you keep the Department apprised of any changes in your circumstances. If you are not being assisted by a migration representative, updating changes in your contact details and address could mean the difference between receiving a request to comment from the Department or even a decision and missing out on the opportunity to comment or appeal an adverse decision.
At its simplest, this could mean providing the Department with your updated passport. Without this, there is no way for your visa to be issued and linked if there is an expired passport on file.
Particularly in the partner visa context, if your relationship ends then this may impact your immigration status. Seeking immigration advice early and updating the Department ensures that you are not exposed to adverse action from the Department.
3. More is not necessarily better
There is a tendency for individuals to provide a multitude of documents addressing the same criterion or irrelevant documents (i.e. photos with your dog in a partner visa application won’t help). Similarly in writing submissions and supporting statements for the delegate, a dissertation on war and peace does not guarantee that your visa application will be successful.
Your evidence should be ordered, with clear labelling to make it easy for the delegate to review and assess. Opt for quality over quantity, choosing evidence that is the strongest and directly addresses the visa criteria. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for the delegate to make a favourable decision.
By following the above tips, your application will progress more smoothly and may jump ahead of the queue of others who are not as well organised.
How Can Agape Henry Crux Help You?
If you want to find out more about your visa matter or need advice on your Australian migration matter, contact us. You can book a Migration Planning Session with one of our immigration lawyers to seek professional advice by calling +612 8310 5230 or emailing us to book a time at info@ahclawyers.com.
We speak fluent English, Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Indonesian, Burmese, and Malay. If these aren’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.
This article/presentation (“publication”) does not deal extensively with important topics or changes in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you find this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact our office.