Many people stated they phoned or e-mailed CO and were informed that 'internal checks' were going on.Just wonder what really is meant by 'internal checks'...(1) Checking on application contents OR (2) External checks ie security etc by DIMIA in collaboration with other agenecies??? In case it is the latter one then what's the use of PCCs? Or is t meant to have a double check.

Any thoughts please!

I think it was Welshtony who described internal checks as "checking the integrity of your application" which covers a lot, i.e. application contents plus external stuff. We have been, or maybe still are going, through this recently. My partner was born in Yugoslavia although has lived and worked in UK for over 16 years. Our CO has said internal checks are ongoing and it is out of her hands, which I assume means she's waiting for a response from the Serbian authorities. Of course because he's lived here for more than 10 years that wouldn't have been covered by a PCC. So I think, judging by the timelines and peoples' country of origin, that you'd generally not be slowed down by internal checks if you were born and bred in the UK.

Hope this helps!

I got the same reply and still waiting. If I knew this before, I would have gone for 136 instead of 137 type. I have more than enough marks but still applied for 137 thinking that I will get it within 5-6 months time.

Surely they'd still have had to do the same internal checks no matter what visa class you are in? Just depends where you were born, where you lived, and then particular countries that have had wars recently are scrutinized even closer due to the war criminal tribunals.

Then for what they asked police reports for??? Unbelievable!

I know. Well, the way I understand it is pccs cover the current country and countries that you lived in the for the past 10 years, but perhaps you haven't lived in your country of birth for over 10 years and there has been a war there or terrorist activities or whatever, so not covered by pcc but still they'd want to investigate if you have any political or criminal ties to your country of birth. So that's why additional stuff is necessary in addition to pccs, I guess. Not sure if actual military activity/war crimes would show up on a regular pcc either.

I try to think of it this way: try to see the bigger picture, when we are living in AUstralia, we don't want to be living next door to war criminals that weren't detected by immigration procedures. Helps a little with the wait, putting it in perspective.

Hope you get your visa soon.

Thanks happymum. I got the point.As a matter of fact,I lived in 3 countries including Australia in past 10 years and had to apply for PCCs from three countries.Luckily got them within 4 weeks of applying but paper work,paying fees and coordinating with police authorities were tedious job.Most diffulties I had with PCC from my native country. I had to go to the police stations covering the addresses where myself and spouse were born.Then another police station and finally district police.Each time they told us to wait in order for them to have time to go through paper based records.................

All this made me wonder why internal checks when you have to have police checks as well.