defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
Sep 11th 2009, 9:05 am
#16
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Re: defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
ok I got through to a manager on the phone and have some information:
1. The letters are sent by a department that dont deal directly with the department you speak to when you call/visit in person (why doesnt this surprise me!). Therefore they have a record of several e-mails and calls they have placed with the letter department but they have no way of knowing if the other department is actioning these e-mails or when a letter will be sent out.
2. My temporary visa is still fine and is still on course to be considered for a permanent. In their system they can see a letter has not been sent out and therefore no decision can be made on rejecting my permanent one until they have at least released a letter to me.
3. They said there is a huge backlog which is why i haven't had the letter and why once I supply evidence the final decision will be over 8 months after that day!!!!!
4. They said there isn't much I can do to speed up receiving the letter as I cannot speak to the people who send it.
Thanks very much for the advice though everyone. I really hate this process and it definately takes away a lot of the fun of living in oz.
1. The letters are sent by a department that dont deal directly with the department you speak to when you call/visit in person (why doesnt this surprise me!). Therefore they have a record of several e-mails and calls they have placed with the letter department but they have no way of knowing if the other department is actioning these e-mails or when a letter will be sent out.
2. My temporary visa is still fine and is still on course to be considered for a permanent. In their system they can see a letter has not been sent out and therefore no decision can be made on rejecting my permanent one until they have at least released a letter to me.
3. They said there is a huge backlog which is why i haven't had the letter and why once I supply evidence the final decision will be over 8 months after that day!!!!!
4. They said there isn't much I can do to speed up receiving the letter as I cannot speak to the people who send it.
Thanks very much for the advice though everyone. I really hate this process and it definately takes away a lot of the fun of living in oz.
While they may be right and there may be delays in sending out the letters, this is the first time anyone on BE has been told that. Others who have phoned have discovered the letter has gone to the wrong (old) address or similar. No-one on BE has waited this long to receive the PR paperwork request. With helplines being notoriously unreliable, I wouldn't be taking their word for something so important. Get someone with more clout and more avenues of enquiry to take up your case before you find that they ghave assumed you aren't interested in PR and closed the case.
Sep 11th 2009, 9:43 am
#17
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Re: defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
To be honest (and talking as one who went through the Spouse route myself) I would be contacting a good agent and get them to speak to DIAC. You should have receieved the letter and request for info by now - as JAJ says it should be with you shortly before the 2 year anniversary of lodging the application.
While they may be right and there may be delays in sending out the letters, this is the first time anyone on BE has been told that. Others who have phoned have discovered the letter has gone to the wrong (old) address or similar. No-one on BE has waited this long to receive the PR paperwork request. With helplines being notoriously unreliable, I wouldn't be taking their word for something so important. Get someone with more clout and more avenues of enquiry to take up your case before you find that they ghave assumed you aren't interested in PR and closed the case.
While they may be right and there may be delays in sending out the letters, this is the first time anyone on BE has been told that. Others who have phoned have discovered the letter has gone to the wrong (old) address or similar. No-one on BE has waited this long to receive the PR paperwork request. With helplines being notoriously unreliable, I wouldn't be taking their word for something so important. Get someone with more clout and more avenues of enquiry to take up your case before you find that they ghave assumed you aren't interested in PR and closed the case.
Sep 11th 2009, 10:40 am
#18
Devil's Advocate
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Mandurah
Posts: 2,269
Re: defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
My OH should have got letter in May, turned up in July. Submitted in Aug. On another matter got an automated email saying normally 5-8 months but currently < 3 months. But maybe they're so busy they haven't got time to update their automated email message!
Sep 11th 2009, 11:01 pm
#19
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Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 677
Re: defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
B) Don't believe what they told you on the phone
If it has been more than 24 months since the date of application for your 309 visa and you haven't had the 2nd stage letter, then definitely start kicking up a stink (have your other half get in touch with her Federal MP).
Good luck!
Steve
Sep 12th 2009, 1:46 am
#20
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Posts: 200
Re: defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
Thanks very much for the information everyone.
We are going to see our MP early this week to try and get this sorted out.
Checked my records and they definitely had the right address at the time when it should have been sent. Would find it incredible if they have assumed I didn't want a visa without even sending me a letter. I wouldn't put it past them though.
Can't decide if they are the worlds most incompetent department or if there is something more sinister going on.
Not going to get an agent as I don't believe in having to pay crazy fees to an agent to resolve a fundamentally unfair situation.
We are going to see our MP early this week to try and get this sorted out.
Checked my records and they definitely had the right address at the time when it should have been sent. Would find it incredible if they have assumed I didn't want a visa without even sending me a letter. I wouldn't put it past them though.
Can't decide if they are the worlds most incompetent department or if there is something more sinister going on.
Not going to get an agent as I don't believe in having to pay crazy fees to an agent to resolve a fundamentally unfair situation.
Sep 12th 2009, 12:08 pm
#21
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Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 677
Re: defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
Thanks very much for the information everyone.
We are going to see our MP early this week to try and get this sorted out.
Checked my records and they definitely had the right address at the time when it should have been sent. Would find it incredible if they have assumed I didn't want a visa without even sending me a letter. I wouldn't put it past them though.
Can't decide if they are the worlds most incompetent department or if there is something more sinister going on.
Not going to get an agent as I don't believe in having to pay crazy fees to an agent to resolve a fundamentally unfair situation.
We are going to see our MP early this week to try and get this sorted out.
Checked my records and they definitely had the right address at the time when it should have been sent. Would find it incredible if they have assumed I didn't want a visa without even sending me a letter. I wouldn't put it past them though.
Can't decide if they are the worlds most incompetent department or if there is something more sinister going on.
Not going to get an agent as I don't believe in having to pay crazy fees to an agent to resolve a fundamentally unfair situation.
Good luck next week!
Steve
Sep 12th 2009, 1:27 pm
#22
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 200
Re: defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
Thanks Steve,
Would be very interested to know how you found out it went to the wrong address. Was it via the phoneline?
One of my big problems is the phoneline cant tell me if a letter was sent nevermind to which address so if you were able to find out this info over the phone it would be interesting.
Cheers
Matt
Would be very interested to know how you found out it went to the wrong address. Was it via the phoneline?
One of my big problems is the phoneline cant tell me if a letter was sent nevermind to which address so if you were able to find out this info over the phone it would be interesting.
Cheers
Matt
Sep 12th 2009, 11:20 pm
#23
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Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 677
Re: defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
Thanks Steve,
Would be very interested to know how you found out it went to the wrong address. Was it via the phoneline?
One of my big problems is the phoneline cant tell me if a letter was sent nevermind to which address so if you were able to find out this info over the phone it would be interesting.
Cheers
Matt
Would be very interested to know how you found out it went to the wrong address. Was it via the phoneline?
One of my big problems is the phoneline cant tell me if a letter was sent nevermind to which address so if you were able to find out this info over the phone it would be interesting.
Cheers
Matt
Do you have any contact with whoever's living at the old address? It might be worth asking them nicely if they've had any mail from DIAC for you?
Cheers
Steve
Sep 13th 2009, 12:14 am
#24
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Victoria
Posts: 44
Re: defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
I sent them a change of address form in February then a few months later, phoned the DIAC helpline and asked if they had my new address. A very helpful woman confirmed that they did and also mentioned my 2nd stage assessment was due in July and would I like her to see if the notification letter had been sent. It hadn't but I received it a few weeks later, sent the relevant stuff back, and got my permanent visa granted on 30th August, around 5 weeks after the assessment date. This was the Melbourne office btw.
Sep 13th 2009, 12:16 am
#25
Melbourne Rock City
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,266
Re: defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
Interesting Thread
Question: Im guessing DIAC will not send such letter to people who are on 457`s ?
Question: Im guessing DIAC will not send such letter to people who are on 457`s ?
Sep 15th 2009, 11:51 pm
#27
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Thread Starter
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Posts: 200
Re: defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
Update:
Managed to get hold of an extremely helpful person at DIAC who then got the manager of the second stage defacto department to phone me. There is still confusion about why I hadnt got my letter (as they have always had my correct address and it never arrived) but becausse it is so late they are going to process the 2nd stage really fast. Got my letter already and sent off for the police check. When it comes back will submit relevant info then am apparently getting a final decision in october!
Managed to get hold of an extremely helpful person at DIAC who then got the manager of the second stage defacto department to phone me. There is still confusion about why I hadnt got my letter (as they have always had my correct address and it never arrived) but becausse it is so late they are going to process the 2nd stage really fast. Got my letter already and sent off for the police check. When it comes back will submit relevant info then am apparently getting a final decision in october!
Sep 16th 2009, 12:15 am
#28
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,817
Re: defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
Update:
Managed to get hold of an extremely helpful person at DIAC who then got the manager of the second stage defacto department to phone me. There is still confusion about why I hadnt got my letter (as they have always had my correct address and it never arrived) but becausse it is so late they are going to process the 2nd stage really fast. Got my letter already and sent off for the police check. When it comes back will submit relevant info then am apparently getting a final decision in october!
Managed to get hold of an extremely helpful person at DIAC who then got the manager of the second stage defacto department to phone me. There is still confusion about why I hadnt got my letter (as they have always had my correct address and it never arrived) but becausse it is so late they are going to process the 2nd stage really fast. Got my letter already and sent off for the police check. When it comes back will submit relevant info then am apparently getting a final decision in october!
Sep 16th 2009, 1:46 am
#29
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Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 677
Re: defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
Update:
Managed to get hold of an extremely helpful person at DIAC who then got the manager of the second stage defacto department to phone me. There is still confusion about why I hadnt got my letter (as they have always had my correct address and it never arrived) but becausse it is so late they are going to process the 2nd stage really fast. Got my letter already and sent off for the police check. When it comes back will submit relevant info then am apparently getting a final decision in october!
Managed to get hold of an extremely helpful person at DIAC who then got the manager of the second stage defacto department to phone me. There is still confusion about why I hadnt got my letter (as they have always had my correct address and it never arrived) but becausse it is so late they are going to process the 2nd stage really fast. Got my letter already and sent off for the police check. When it comes back will submit relevant info then am apparently getting a final decision in october!
Cheers
Steve
Sep 16th 2009, 6:04 am
#30
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Joined: May 2007
Location: malta
Posts: 306
Re: defacto resident visa - follow up letter after 2 years
very great news indeed... all the best of luck for the rest of the process 