Aussie Partner Processing Wait times

[simple1]

I can't say why, it's a gut feeling, but I would caution revealing the names of

Australian Government Employees without their permission on a Public Forum.

.

Agree. I would assume in breach of strict Oz Govt Privacy Laws, consequences for the posters 'nope', but not good internet etiquette.

[Luba]

I would love to post a name ...,

But I got no name and no contact..!! ?

[ozsamurai]

then just post a first name, boy that's a bit sensitive I think.

[Will27]

I can't say why, it's a gut feeling, but I would caution revealing the names of

Australian Government Employees without their permission on a Public Forum.

.

Agree. I would assume in breach of strict Oz Govt Privacy Laws, consequences for the posters 'nope', but not good internet etiquette.

I agree with the boy's here.

Posting full names on a public forum is not good form at all.

I also can't see what it achieves to be honest.

[Gopro]

I agree gents, first names only if you must..I don't think it achieves much.

[Stevo84]

We just got our visa 5 mins ago!!!!

Applied 12/12

Queue 06/05

Thanks for helping keep me sane guys!!! She will hop on plane in 3 days!!!

[Rimmer]

Some posts have been removed for privacy issues, please do not post officers names on a public forum, thank you.

[Luba]

We just got our visa 5 mins ago!!!!

Applied 12/12

Queue 06/05

Thanks for helping keep me sane guys!!! She will hop on plane in 3 days!!!

Way to Go Stevo"..??

That's good news mate.!!'

[Jireg]

Hi all,

Another update round - this time my full list and a few more metrics.

A-Q is Apply to Queue in weeks

Q-V is Queue to Visa in weeks

Days is days from Start until Approve

Weeks is weeks from Start until Approve OR Start until today (if not approved)

Last seen is the date I last saw a login / post (work in progress)

As you can probably guess, mine is the black line . Coming soon I hope! 4 1/2 weeks until her birthday so it'll be tight! (I have a guesstimate of 3 1/2 weeks to go).

Disclaimer: Some dates are guesses, but are ballpark. Generally approval date is 100%, Apply might be off a day or two and Queue has a couple of guesses where there was a blank. I am possibly missing some of the more recent ones, as you can imagine I have a greater focus above the black line - sorry guys!

[Stevo84]

One last piece of info for anyone that hasn't applied yet...

We applied for the marriage visa 309 2 months before we actually got married..

This is fine if you get married and send certificate before the case officer looks at application after 16 weeks...

I was always nervous about that but now we know that it works! And gets you here a few months earlier after the wedding

[Gopro]

We just got our visa 5 mins ago!!!!

Applied 12/12

Queue 06/05

Thanks for helping keep me sane guys!!! She will hop on plane in 3 days!!!

9 months to the date. Congrats

[think_too_mut]

Gentlemen, I have been holding this for days.

Another colleague, an Aussie, has his Thai wife in Japan for 5 years. Applied for her tourist visa for Oz in Tokyo Oz Embassy.

They (staff) tried the script what is needed on him, he asked for the Consul and said the questions are irrelevant ("How would you feel if someone asked you to produce pictiures and chats with your spouse of 5 years?). Here is , he said, the proof we live together (Japanese version of tabien ban), marriage ceritificate and please stamp the visa into her passport.

Done, the same day. It was a 3 months visa, they are still at Manly Beach in Sydney.

The difference is - in Japan visa procedures have not been outsourced to India, to "VFS", Visa Facilitating Service. Real Oz staff on hand.

[krisb]

Well its almost 10 and a half months for me.

Still nothing from the embassy other than an automatic email reply from the case officer.

Still hoping for it soon but seriously dont know what the hold could be.

Man.. I fill for you bro"..!!

Hope it's not to much longer for you .

Thanks its crazy how they wont even tell us anything.

Don't take it personally, but you are a number.

In a looooooong line with hundreds of others.

Silence is gold.

[krisb]

Gentlemen, I have been holding this for days.

Another colleague, an Aussie, has his Thai wife in Japan for 5 years. Applied for her tourist visa for Oz in Tokyo Oz Embassy.

They (staff) tried the script what is needed on him, he asked for the Consul and said the questions are irrelevant ("How would you feel if someone asked you to produce pictiures and chats with your spouse of 5 years?). Here is , he said, the proof we live together (Japanese version of tabien ban), marriage ceritificate and please stamp the visa into her passport.

Done, the same day. It was a 3 months visa, they are still at Manly Beach in Sydney.

The difference is - in Japan visa procedures have not been outsourced to India, to "VFS", Visa Facilitating Service. Real Oz staff on hand.

Good for them.

Pointless for the rest here mate.

Vfs in Bkk I have never once seen any Indians working there, in fact only Thais, and each and everyone working there was nothing but lovely.

Maybe you know something I don't when it comes to outsourced Indians, and their lack of skills?

[think_too_mut]

Gentlemen, I have been holding this for days.

Another colleague, an Aussie, has his Thai wife in Japan for 5 years. Applied for her tourist visa for Oz in Tokyo Oz Embassy.

They (staff) tried the script what is needed on him, he asked for the Consul and said the questions are irrelevant ("How would you feel if someone asked you to produce pictiures and chats with your spouse of 5 years?). Here is , he said, the proof we live together (Japanese version of tabien ban), marriage ceritificate and please stamp the visa into her passport.

Done, the same day. It was a 3 months visa, they are still at Manly Beach in Sydney.

The difference is - in Japan visa procedures have not been outsourced to India, to "VFS", Visa Facilitating Service. Real Oz staff on hand.

Good for them.

Pointless for the rest here mate.

Vfs in Bkk I have never once seen any Indians working there, in fact only Thais, and each and everyone working there was nothing but lovely.

Maybe you know something I don't when it comes to outsourced Indians, and their lack of skills?

It is not hard to know. You know it and many others, something has changed.

In May 2008 (my last interraction with Oz Embassy in BKK) I saw the visa waiting room capable to accommodate 100s of people - closed. The chairs were upturned.

What's happened? The clark said - the new goverment (Kevin Rudd, my observation) has cut the cost and found some other ways to service Australians in Thai.

That same day, I spoke to a acquaintee who was at the same building with me, he said he was, Oz security service, then being dispatched to Fiji, with his Thai wife and baby.

The smell was - if enough of Ozzies had complained about deterioration of Oz services, they would be happy.

[xen]

Gentlemen, I have been holding this for days.

Another colleague, an Aussie, has his Thai wife in Japan for 5 years. Applied for her tourist visa for Oz in Tokyo Oz Embassy.

They (staff) tried the script what is needed on him, he asked for the Consul and said the questions are irrelevant ("How would you feel if someone asked you to produce pictiures and chats with your spouse of 5 years?). Here is , he said, the proof we live together (Japanese version of tabien ban), marriage ceritificate and please stamp the visa into her passport.

Done, the same day. It was a 3 months visa, they are still at Manly Beach in Sydney.

The difference is - in Japan visa procedures have not been outsourced to India, to "VFS", Visa Facilitating Service. Real Oz staff on hand.

Good for them.

Pointless for the rest here mate.

Vfs in Bkk I have never once seen any Indians working there, in fact only Thais, and each and everyone working there was nothing but lovely.

Maybe you know something I don't when it comes to outsourced Indians, and their lack of skills?

It is not hard to know. You know it and many others, something has changed.

In May 2008 (my last interraction with Oz Embassy in BKK) I saw the visa waiting room capable to accommodate 100s of people - closed. The chairs were upturned.

What's happened? The clark said - the new goverment (Kevin Rudd, my observation) has cut the cost and found some other ways to service Australians in Thai.

That same day, I spoke to a acquaintee who was at the same building with me, he said he was, Oz security service, then being dispatched to Fiji, with his Thai wife and baby.

The smell was - if enough of Ozzies had complained about deterioration of Oz services, they would be happy.

I am not tying to be argumentative but From what i understand VFS is not outsourced to India but is done in Thailand by Thais and Aussies and /or Brits who they share the new offices and facilities with. I think you will find more Aussie Indians in Immigration in Sydney than in the Thai office .

And It was Johnnie Howard after 9/11 who contracted the service out to VFS to separate the embassy from the visa section using security justifications. It became near impossible to enter the Embassy after 9/11 unless you had a very good reason to do so and visa application wasn't one of them. VFS are a Swiss multi national company specialising in Visa processing amongst other "diplomatic" activities, operating in 115 counties their website informs me . I suspect all Australian Visa Processing is done by VFS . Makes sense if you want to track people or know where they are moving to for security / "anti terrorism" reasons to have one Visa Processing company contributing to the data base, i guess.

Here is the link to their website http://www.vfsglobal.com/about_us/company_profile.asp.

[Will27]

Gentlemen, I have been holding this for days.

Another colleague, an Aussie, has his Thai wife in Japan for 5 years. Applied for her tourist visa for Oz in Tokyo Oz Embassy.

They (staff) tried the script what is needed on him, he asked for the Consul and said the questions are irrelevant ("How would you feel if someone asked you to produce pictiures and chats with your spouse of 5 years?). Here is , he said, the proof we live together (Japanese version of tabien ban), marriage ceritificate and please stamp the visa into her passport.

Done, the same day. It was a 3 months visa, they are still at Manly Beach in Sydney.

The difference is - in Japan visa procedures have not been outsourced to India, to "VFS", Visa Facilitating Service. Real Oz staff on hand.

I just don't buy this story.

For a start, the Consul/Ambassador doesn't issue visas, Immigration does.

It's a tourist visa application, so the applicant doesn't have to produce pictures

and chats as evidence. But, if her husband is sponsoring her, of course they will

need to supply information. So I fail to see how the questions are irrelevant. They

would be irrelevant is she was applying without a sponsor (doubtful).

The applicant is the wife. They don't even have to speak with the husband but often

will as a matter of courtesy.

Also, unless things have recently changed, visas lodged in Tokyo are processed

in Seoul. Japan like their visa applications to be sent in the post so they can

then be forwarded on to Korea. Because of this, waiting times for a visitor visa

are around a month.

In your scenario, Aussie Joe walks into the Embassy with his Thai wife and hands

over a tourist visa application. The officer then asks for some extra information.

The husband doesn't agree so asks to see the Ambassador who then drops everything,

comes in, has a chat and then rubber stamps it and it's processed in a day.

I wouldn't have thought so.

[Gopro]

I still think he's a rambling hi-jack with no clarity to this posts.

Nothing hot under the collar,,, but it would be nice I_think too_ mut to post something of help here rather then "My mate said in japan"

[think_too_mut]

I just don't buy this story.

For a start, the Consul/Ambassador doesn't issue visas, Immigration does.

It's a tourist visa application, so the applicant doesn't have to produce pictures

and chats as evidence. But, if her husband is sponsoring her, of course they will

need to supply information. So I fail to see how the questions are irrelevant. They

would be irrelevant is she was applying without a sponsor (doubtful).

The applicant is the wife. They don't even have to speak with the husband but often

will as a matter of courtesy.

Also, unless things have recently changed, visas lodged in Tokyo are processed

in Seoul. Japan like their visa applications to be sent in the post so they can

then be forwarded on to Korea. Because of this, waiting times for a visitor visa

are around a month.

In your scenario, Aussie Joe walks into the Embassy with his Thai wife and hands

over a tourist visa application. The officer then asks for some extra information.

The husband doesn't agree so asks to see the Ambassador who then drops everything,

comes in, has a chat and then rubber stamps it and it's processed in a day.

I wouldn't have thought so.

The reason I posted what I did was the opening post of this tread. 20 lines of what is needed for success.

Wanted to tell it is over the top and not needed everywehere for the same thing - Australian Tourist Visa for one's wife.

The post I am quoting is quite reasonable. The friend who got that visa "in 1 day" did ask the clerk to get someone above and said the questions were irrelevant. That person said that 4 documents (marriage certificate, house papers from Japan, his and hers passport copies) were enough.

That was "in 1 day". The actual visa stamp came later but no more talk or more requirements. They applied in May, left for Oz July 1.

Those who said I am telling experiences from Japan, my buddies told me, forget one thing: I don't know any of you and your situations but I know him and what he did. He had the same starting point, same goal, but worked different in another country.

Why is it not 1 month for everywhere?

N.B: the guy (my friend) is a member of this Forum, he had read all what was said here and just shrugged it off.

[Gopro]

This is thread is about Partners Visas i.e for temporary residence then onto permanent residence = 9 month wait. + another 2 years.

Your tourist japanese visas approved in 1 day have no relative value to this thread.

If we were talking eggs for eggs, then you get can the same thing in Thailand in 9 days if your a tourist No sushi needed.

**disclaimer- no further trolling will be entered into

[Chris Lawrence]

Hi guys,

Just read the first and last two pages.

The Bkk visa section at the embassy still sounds a shocker.

I married my wife in Oz and went back to apply with her for a visa in 2005.

When I rang the visa section in Bangkok, they told me to go to the processing office, told me to employ a visa firm to write the application. They aren’t allowed to say this to an inquiry.

It didn't start out right and it went downhill from there. I spent a few times in the visa section at the embassy; I was able to speak to some of the women waiting for visa reply’s, generally they were waiting the longest with their partners back in OZ.

Sometimes you need to be proactive in getting these visa's looked at in a fair and reasonable time.

I am a letter writer and record everything that happens in a situation like this.

I also had to look close at what were my rights in being a part to this application.

In the end I had to use what had happened, grievances that had occurred during the process, getting names of people in Oz and at the embassy involved in the process and write to those of concern.

9 months waiting for an answer is too long. Sure this is a big decision by both people but to wait that long, unless their is real problems in the application, the process should take between 2-5 months.

It took us over 8 months but we had our son in Thailand, and for the medical x-rays could not be done until after our son was born.

Just don't give up, and I have always found a lot of power in the pen. I have also seen a few posts from Visa expert firms that sound very good on this site. I know when I got stuck I spoke to an ex-immigration officer for some support and guidance. Money well spent.

Just remember, these applications are a class based. If your girl is well connected with uni degree, and you walk in in a suit and have t's crossed and the i's dotted expect smooth sailing. If she is from the country the visa interview ladies will look down on her. These women doing the interviews are upper class. The one thing my ex-immigration guy told me was that I had rights, and I could ask to speak to an Ozzie in the Bangkok embassy. I know I might sound hard on the ladies at the embassy, but that was what I saw and experienced. I have dealt with people hiding the truth, in custodial institutions, drug and alcohol institutions and people in need of help; I saw two of these ladies, one with 19 years’ experience, and I was not impressed how they conducted themselves. All my working life I have been required to extract information, which I believe can be done in a civil and caring way.

Good luck

[krisb]

Hi guys,

Just read the first and last two pages.

The Bkk visa section at the embassy still sounds a shocker.

I married my wife in Oz and went back to apply with her for a visa in 2005.

When I rang the visa section in Bangkok, they told me to go to the processing office, told me to employ a visa firm to write the application. They aren’t allowed to say this to an inquiry.

It didn't start out right and it went downhill from there. I spent a few times in the visa section at the embassy; I was able to speak to some of the women waiting for visa reply’s, generally they were waiting the longest with their partners back in OZ.

Sometimes you need to be proactive in getting these visa's looked at in a fair and reasonable time.

I am a letter writer and record everything that happens in a situation like this.

I also had to look close at what were my rights in being a part to this application.

In the end I had to use what had happened, grievances that had occurred during the process, getting names of people in Oz and at the embassy involved in the process and write to those of concern.

9 months waiting for an answer is too long. Sure this is a big decision by both people but to wait that long, unless their is real problems in the application, the process should take between 2-5 months.

It took us over 8 months but we had our son in Thailand, and for the medical x-rays could not be done until after our son was born.

Just don't give up, and I have always found a lot of power in the pen. I have also seen a few posts from Visa expert firms that sound very good on this site. I know when I got stuck I spoke to an ex-immigration officer for some support and guidance. Money well spent.

Just remember, these applications are a class based. If your girl is well connected with uni degree, and you walk in in a suit and have t's crossed and the i's dotted expect smooth sailing. If she is from the country the visa interview ladies will look down on her. These women doing the interviews are upper class. The one thing my ex-immigration guy told me was that I had rights, and I could ask to speak to an Ozzie in the Bangkok embassy. I know I might sound hard on the ladies at the embassy, but that was what I saw and experienced. I have dealt with people hiding the truth, in custodial institutions, drug and alcohol institutions and people in need of help; I saw two of these ladies, one with 19 years’ experience, and I was not impressed how they conducted themselves. All my working life I have been required to extract information, which I believe can be done in a civil and caring way.

Good luck

Ok firstly,

Uni degree or no uni degree makes stuff all difference mate. No idea where you dreamed that one up from.

Secondly,

The women doing the interviews are not upper class, they are working class, and also include men...No sexual decrimination round there.

Thirdly,

9 months waiting for an answer is too long. Sure this is a big decision by both people but to wait that long, unless their is real problems in the application, the process should take between 2-5 months.

Are you suggesting this is how it is? or what you would like it to be?

And heres another...

When I rang the visa section in Bangkok, they told me to go to the processing office, told me to employ a visa firm to write the application. They aren’t allowed to say this to an inquiry.

I'm surprised you remember this tiny detail from 9 years ago! Perhaps the officer you spoke to thought perhaps you needed some help?

Sorry, and this one...

I know when I got stuck I spoke to an ex-immigration officer for some support and guidance. Money well spent.

I just don't get why you would pay an EX immigration officer for support and guidance?? How much did they charge you?

Mate, I'm just really confused by a whole lot of what you've written.

Including this also...

; I was able to speak to some of the women waiting for visa reply’s, generally they were waiting the longest with their partners back in OZ.

So you mean because their partners weren't there with them, they wait longer for an answer than those with a partner there??...that's just not really accurate information at all.

I think my favourite is this one!...

Just remember, these applications are a class based.

NFI.

[Luba]

Think too mut and Chris Lawrence

[GrantSmith]

Hi guys,

Just read the first and last two pages.

The Bkk visa section at the embassy still sounds a shocker.

I married my wife in Oz and went back to apply with her for a visa in 2005.

When I rang the visa section in Bangkok, they told me to go to the processing office, told me to employ a visa firm to write the application. They aren’t allowed to say this to an inquiry.

It didn't start out right and it went downhill from there. I spent a few times in the visa section at the embassy; I was able to speak to some of the women waiting for visa reply’s, generally they were waiting the longest with their partners back in OZ.

Sometimes you need to be proactive in getting these visa's looked at in a fair and reasonable time.

I am a letter writer and record everything that happens in a situation like this.

I also had to look close at what were my rights in being a part to this application.

In the end I had to use what had happened, grievances that had occurred during the process, getting names of people in Oz and at the embassy involved in the process and write to those of concern.

9 months waiting for an answer is too long. Sure this is a big decision by both people but to wait that long, unless their is real problems in the application, the process should take between 2-5 months.

It took us over 8 months but we had our son in Thailand, and for the medical x-rays could not be done until after our son was born.

Just don't give up, and I have always found a lot of power in the pen. I have also seen a few posts from Visa expert firms that sound very good on this site. I know when I got stuck I spoke to an ex-immigration officer for some support and guidance. Money well spent.

Just remember, these applications are a class based. If your girl is well connected with uni degree, and you walk in in a suit and have t's crossed and the i's dotted expect smooth sailing. If she is from the country the visa interview ladies will look down on her. These women doing the interviews are upper class. The one thing my ex-immigration guy told me was that I had rights, and I could ask to speak to an Ozzie in the Bangkok embassy. I know I might sound hard on the ladies at the embassy, but that was what I saw and experienced. I have dealt with people hiding the truth, in custodial institutions, drug and alcohol institutions and people in need of help; I saw two of these ladies, one with 19 years’ experience, and I was not impressed how they conducted themselves. All my working life I have been required to extract information, which I believe can be done in a civil and caring way.

Good luck

Ok firstly,

Uni degree or no uni degree makes stuff all difference mate. No idea where you dreamed that one up from.

Secondly,

The women doing the interviews are not upper class, they are working class, and also include men...No sexual decrimination round there.

Thirdly,

9 months waiting for an answer is too long. Sure this is a big decision by both people but to wait that long, unless their is real problems in the application, the process should take between 2-5 months.

Are you suggesting this is how it is? or what you would like it to be?

And heres another...

When I rang the visa section in Bangkok, they told me to go to the processing office, told me to employ a visa firm to write the application. They aren’t allowed to say this to an inquiry.

I'm surprised you remember this tiny detail from 9 years ago! Perhaps the officer you spoke to thought perhaps you needed some help?

Sorry, and this one...

I know when I got stuck I spoke to an ex-immigration officer for some support and guidance. Money well spent.

I just don't get why you would pay an EX immigration officer for support and guidance?? How much did they charge you?

Mate, I'm just really confused by a whole lot of what you've written.

Including this also...

; I was able to speak to some of the women waiting for visa reply’s, generally they were waiting the longest with their partners back in OZ.

So you mean because their partners weren't there with them, they wait longer for an answer than those with a partner there??...that's just not really accurate information at all.

I think my favourite is this one!...

Just remember, these applications are a class based.

NFI.

To be fair gents, I've seen this happen, mostly because the lady at the counter (who was very helpful to everyone before or after this bloke) was just not coping with the moronic behaviour of the farang (seems she's been trained well in the ways of being an Aussie public servent ).

A consular officer (Australian) came out and asked the bloke in question to follow her to another room. My business at the Consular section was done before old mate came back out so no idea what the outcome was. But I guess you could spin that scenario to suit your narative if you felt the need to.

But there were some whoppa's in the rest of the stories that like krisb, I got a right laugh out of. The pièce de résistance for me was this little chestnut:

"Just remember, these applications are a class based. If your girl is well connected with uni degree, and you walk in in a suit and have t's crossed and the i's dotted expect smooth sailing. If she is from the country the visa interview ladies will look down on her. These women doing the interviews are upper class."

In response to this though, you've got it backwards to downright incorrect, my friend. Having a connected/educated Thai wife/girlfriend is not going to help in speeding up the process, sure it will make the decision a lot easier if she has a skill set that is demand in Australia, but connections? Unless they're at the Australian Embassy I doubt it very much. I would wager that it is you, the Australian citizen, that would want to be well connected if you wanted to have her process expedited.

As for the ladies being "upper class", upper class of what? or did you mean, "up a class" but anyway, thanks for the laugh Chris Lawrence, we need more of that on a Monday (well you did write it on a Sunday)

[Lifeon]

Gents I am about to go through this process to bring my wife and kids to australia. We are trying to sort out the whole police check thing. She is in Thailand, has spent m o re than 12 months in Australia over the past 10 years. my question is, can she apply for a police check (australian) while in Thailand. I have spoken to the police who don't really have an idea, more too do with authentication of proof of identification documents. I just don't see the need to have to fly her to Australia just to complete a police check.

[ozsamurai]

The Australian Federal Police Check can be performed online, there is no need for her to be in Australia, but they don't post the results OS so someone has to collect and forward it. The cost is about $42. Stipulate 'for immigration' in the choices, fill the details. print it, sign it, scan it, attach it and wait for it. You'll see when you get there..

http://www.afp.gov.au/en/what-we-do/police-checks/national-police-checks.aspx

Oz

[Nav7544]

Hey guys my gf's partner visa sent yesterday approved 11th September thanks 4 all your help and support and good luck to all that are waiting, patience is a virtue !!!

[ozsamurai]

Let me be the first to say Congrats! Hope the next phase goes well too.

Oz

[xen]

The Australian Federal Police Check can be performed online, there is no need for her to be in Australia, but they don't post the results OS so someone has to collect and forward it. The cost is about $42. Stipulate 'for immigration' in the choices, fill the details. print it, sign it, scan it, attach it and wait for it. You'll see when you get there..

http://www.afp.gov.au/en/what-we-do/police-checks/national-police-checks.aspx

Oz

Could i add that I applied for the AFP check a few months ago and it took about 5 - 6 weeks to receive the results . So , once again a bit of patience is required .

[Gopro]

Hey guys my gf's partner visa sent yesterday approved 11th September thanks 4 all your help and support and good luck to all that are waiting, patience is a virtue !!!

Congrats Mate. How long was the wait?