The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) has announced a new update to the visa processing times for all visa applications. The new schedule of processing times – “Global visa and citizenship processing times”, will be updated monthly and do not include:
· visa subclasses closed to new entrants
· visa subclasses capped and queued
The new visa schedule does not differentiate applications from low-risk or high-risk countries, but instead publishes two different processing times for 75% and 90% of ongoing applications. Here are some of the current processing times listed:
| Visa type | Description | 75% of applications processed in | 90% of applications processed in |
| 457 | Temporary Work (Skilled) | 86 days | 6 months |
| 186 | Employer Nomination Scheme (Direct Entry Pathway) | 9 months | 11 months |
| 186 | Employer Nomination Scheme (Transition Pathway) | 8 months | 9 months |
| 187 | Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Direct Entry Pathway) | 11 months | 12 months |
| 187 | Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Transition Pathway) | 8 months | 9 months |
| 189 | Skilled - Independent | 4 months | 6 months |
| 190 | Skilled - Nominated | 4 months | 7 months |
| 489 | Skilled - Regional (Provisional) (Skilled Regional - GSM) | 5 months | 6 months |
| 489 | Skilled - Regional (Provisional) (State/Territory Nominated visa classes - GSM) | 5 months | 7 months |
| 887 | Skilled - Regional | 7 months | 10 months |
| 300 | Prospective Marriage | 12 months | 17 months |
| 309 | Partner (Provisional) | 11 months | 15 months |
| 100 | Partner | 15 months | 23 months |
| 801 | Partner | 16 months | 20 months |
| 820 | Partner | 18 months | 20 months |
| 802 | Child | 7 months | 8 months |
| 101 | Child | 9 months | 15 months |
| 143 | Contributory Parent (Migrant) | 32 months | 33 months |
| 173 | Contributory Parent (Temporary) | 32 months | 32 months |
| 188 | Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) (Business Innovation) | 16 months | 18 months |
| 892 | State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner | 15 months | 17 months |
| 600 | Visitor (Sponsored Family) | 41 days | 58 days |
Source: DIBP
Australian citizenship application processing times
Last updated: 14 March 2017
| Australian Citizenship application type | 75% of applications processed in | 90% of applications processed in |
| Conferral (lodgement to ceremony*) | 10 months | 12 months |
| Descent (lodgement to decision) | 63 days | 4 months |
| Evidence (lodgement to decision) | 5 days | 12 days |
You can view the schedule of visa processing times here, or visit the individual visa pages to view the current processing times (example below).
Source:
https://www.border.gov.au/about/access-accountability/service-standards/global-visa-citizenship-processing-times
This information is accurate on 17 March 2017
Comments from Principal Migration Agent and Lawyer Chris Johnston
The change in processing time standards may be a better reflection of current visa processing times. However the current structure:
· does not improve increasingly slower processing times
· does not account for the processing times of the remaining 10% of applications
· does not disclose if the estimated processing time resets after a request for further documents is made for an application
It is good to have the processing times updated monthly so that applicants can adjust their expectations. However more importantly we hope that the processing times do not increase as time goes by.
On Employer Sponsored Visas
The longer processing times now place pressure on Australian businesses to plan well ahead for their operational requirements which require a skilled overseas worker. 90% of the 457 visa applications are processed within 3 to 6 months while the RSMS 187 and ENS 186 visas are taking up to 12 months to be processed.
On Partner and Family Visas
The longer processing time places pressure on relationships, especially for offshore applicants who are waiting to reunite with their Australian partners in Australia. Partners in such predicaments will have to wait for 15 months before being able to start their lives together in Australia. It is essential that the relationship remains genuine and ongoing until the visa is approved. This means that partners will have to engage in a long-distance relationship over the course of 15 months or so.
On Business Innovation and Investment Visas
The current published processing time is 18 months for 90% of the subclass 188 Business Innovation and Investment visas. This is perhaps a big area of concern because business and investor migrants tend to bring benefits to Australia such as:
· investment capital
· creation of job opportunities by establishing businesses
· economic development
Applicants may spend 6 months to prepare the large quantity of information and documents required before submitting an application, and will now have to wait another 18 months before being able to invest in Australia. The long wait exposes business owners and investors to risks of uncertainty, and may put off potential applicants planning to make Australia their new base for investments and business.
Do you need help with an Australian visa application?
At Work Visa Lawyers we are experienced in assisting applicants in all matters relating to Australian visa applications. Our areas of expertise include Skilled Migration visas, Business Skills Migration visas, Employer Sponsored Work Visas, Partner and other Family Migration visas as well as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Review, Judicial Review and Ministerial Intervention.
If you require further information regarding your Australia visa options you can contact us through:
(08) 8351 9956 or +61 8 8351 9956
or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
