Pollyana

Changes to visa lodgement arrangements

From 18 November 2017, you will no longer be able to lodge an application in person at any offices of the Department for the following visa subclasses:
Partner category visas (subclass 820, 801, 309, 100 & 300)
Parent visas (subclass 804, 884, 864, 173, 143 & 103)
Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403).

You must lodge Partner visa (including Prospective Marriage visa) and Temporary Work (International Relations) visa applications online through ImmiAccount.
You must send Parent visa applications by post or courier to the following addresses:

Post application to:
Parent Visa Centre
Locked Bag 7
Northbridge WA 6865

Courier application to:
Parent Visa Centre
Wellington Central
Ground Floor
836 Wellington Street
West Perth WA 6005

http://www.border.gov.au/News/Pages/...onditions.aspx

Pollyana

New conditions for temporary visas

If you apply for and are granted a temporary visa on or after 18 November 2017, you will be subject to new visa conditions during your stay in Australia:

Visa condition 8303 prohibits activities that endanger or threaten any individual, or activities disruptive to, or violence threatening harm to, the Australian community or a group within the Australian community.

Visa condition 8304 requires temporary visa holders to identify themselves by the same name in all dealings with Commonwealth, state or territory government agencies. If you change your name, you must inform all government agencies of this name change as soon as possible. This includes the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Visa condition 8564 requires individuals not to engage in criminal conduct.

Pollyana

Visa integrity changes

Public Interest Criterion 4020 has been strengthened by increasing the period in which previous instances of fraud can be considered from 12 months to 10 years, for any visa applied for on or after 18 November 2017. Permanent Humanitarian and Protection visa applications are not required to meet Public Interest Criterion 4020 so are unaffected by this change.

In addition to existing visa application requirements, permanent visa holders who are being considered for cancellation of their visa will not be eligible to apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) on or after 18 November 2017.

Individuals will not be able to apply for a Bridging Visa E (BVE) if their last visa was cancelled because they:
breached condition 8303
breached condition 8564
were found to be a risk to the health, safety or good order of the Australian community or a segment of the Australian community, or the health or safety of an individual or individuals

mrsgreenstar76

Thanks for the info, Polly. I've stickied the thread so it has prominance for a while.

Pollyana

More info on Partner Visas

https://www.mia.org.au/communications/id/2807/


Partner & PMV visas - changes to application arrangements

The MIA has received confirmation from the Department of changes to Partner (SC 309/100 & 820/801) and Prospective Marriage (SC 300) visa application arrangements mooted at the MIA National Conference.

On or after 18 November 2017 the following changes will occur to Partner and Prospective Marriage Visa (PMV) application arrangements:

• Partner and PMV visas must be lodged online.

• Paper applications received after COB on 17 November 2017 at any office of the Department, Service Delivery Partner, overseas embassy or High Commission will be invalid.

The following policy will be applied to applications lodged before and after 18 November 2017 and not finally decided:

• Undocumented or poorly documented applications lodged by RMAs, eg applicatons that only meet the basic Schedule 1 requirements for lodging a valid application, may be refused without notice and without requests for further information.

• Where natural justice letters have been sent to RMAs, no follow up or subsequent reminders will be sent. The Department will decide the application on the information before it, unless an extension of time has been requested and granted.

• For applications lodged prior to 18 November 2017, the Department will provide only ONE opportunity to submit additional information and/or documents or respond to a natural justice letter.

These measures have been implemented by the Department because of the high level of incomplete and undocumented applications lodged and are aimed at freeing Departmental resources to address the second stage processing backlog.

The Department has also indicated that it will prioritise well documented and low risk applications in 2017 - 2018. AAT applications will also be remitted to one central office to speed up processing.

Dredoj

Hello, how are the timeframe for visa applications calculated by DIBP? For instance the visa 500 that says 57-77 days would literarily mean how many days? Thanks.

Pollyana

If it says most applications processed in 55-77 days, then thats what it means, between 55 and 77 days. Its not a cast-iron guide though, some applications will be quicker, some slower.

Dredoj

Thanks, but I am really curious as to how the days are calculated, is it working days only or the normal calendar days?

Pollyana

http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about/...ocessing-times

Two processing times are displayed in calendar days, indicating how long it is taking to finalise 75 and 90 per cent of applications submitted globally.

Dredoj

Thanks Pollyana.

Dredoj

Hello, I am really curious, I want to know if;
One, If I should count weekends and public holidays with the timeframe.
Two, if I should start counting from the day I uploaded the last supporting document?
Thanks.

old.sparkles

Try not to worry about exact time frames since there aren't any - each case is individual and takes as long as it takes, as long as DIBP need and no longer.

Waiting is frustrating, but you have a rough idea how long it will take, so try not to worry, make use of the time waiting to prepare yourself and your affairs.

Dredoj

Thanks.

Dredoj

Hello, I would like to know how long it takes for DIBP to take decision after providing the necessary requested information provided that the timeframe for such visa is remaining just a day or two? Thanks.

Pollyana

It takes as long as it takes. There is no set timeline. You just have to be patient like everyone else before you.