TIMING

The time involved in applying for a visa to enter Australia can vary, depending on the visa you apply for. Some visas can be applied for on-line (see www.immi.gov.au ). The temporary visas such as the “456” Business (Short Stay) and the “457” Business (Long Stay), once all the documentation has been gathered and the correct forms have been filled, can be applied for on-line and if complete, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), has 2 Processing Centres of Excellence which can provide a decision within a week. The majority of applications however, will take approximately 6-9 months for DIAC to provide a decision to either Grant or Refuse.

There are a small number of visas, including, but not limited to, Contributory Parent visas (2-3 years) and Parent visas (18-19 years).

DIAC require certified copies of Passports, Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Divorce Documentation, Death Certificates, and Educational Qualifications since leaving school with specific dates, all Certificate III, IV, Diploma/s, Bachelor or higher Degree/s, References, Statutory Declarations.

All of these documents must be copied, translated if in a language other than English and notarized by a Notary Public or similar.

It is obvious from the above that it is a “complex mine field”, just knowing what documents are required, to apply to which visa. The amount of time required can run into weeks before the application can be commenced.

Completion of the DIAC Forms can take 1 week.

Then the agonizing wait for DIAC to “pick” your file to review, which is the timing alluded to above.
Once picked, DIAC will either ask for more information, Grant or Refuse.

Professional advice should be sort from a Registered Migration Agent (RMA), to gain the maximum benefit, as timing is everything. It can make a difference of weeks, if not months, as the RMA’s knowledge of the correct visa, documents and forms can be paramount in the amount of time between the decision to move to Australia and arriving.