How to speed up your visa application – General Immigration
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One of the most time-consuming parts of the visa application
process is waiting (sometimes seemingly endlessly) for a decision
to be made.
While the time it takes for your visa application to be
processed is out of your hands, there are steps you can take before
submitting your visa that would give you the best chance of
receiving a decision sooner rather than later, within the timeframes provided by the Department of Home
Affairs.
Key reasons that cause delays
- Missing documentation
- Character and/or health issues
- Submitting multiple visa applications for the same type of
visa
Steps for speeding up your visa application – getting it right
the first time
‘Check twice, submit once‘ is the approach
recommended by the Department in applying for visas and speeding up
the process.
It would be best to submit your visa application without any
missing documents. This ensures that the application is
‘decision-ready’.
- Check through what the documents required are
– check if any of the documents need to be official, original,
translated and/or witnessed - Allow yourself ample time to collect the required
documents – documents such as police checks can sometimes
take a while - Check that all documents contain correct and current
information – go over the spelling of names and dates (in
dd/mm/yyyy format) - Ensure that you only submit each type of visa
once – if you realise you made a mistake in the
application after submitting it, you can notify the Department and
provide the correct information. Likewise, you can update your
contact and address details. - Ensure your contact details are up-to-date -
please consent to receiving electronic communication from the
Department by entering your email address into the visa application
form. In the event that the Department requires further information
from you, they will be able to reach you in a timely manner - Engage an immigration expert to ensure that all
documents are included and comply with the requirements for the
visa – our qualified lawyers can provide you with
personalised advice regarding your documents. Click to schedule a consultation.
How about character and health issues?
Character
All visa applicants to Australia must be able to demonstrate
that they meet the character test. Providing all
required police checks with all your names and aliases included is
a helpful first step. If you have a past conviction or record on
your police check, you must declare it where it is asked on the
application form.
Sometimes, supporting and explanatory documents can be submitted
at the time of application to provide more context.
If you want expert advice and assistance with navigating a past
criminal record, please schedule a consultation with one of our
immigration lawyers.
Health
Similarly, you must be honest when making completing the health
questions in your visa application form. If you have or had a
significant medical condition, you must provide documentation to
explain how you meet the health requirements despite your
condition.
Where a health examination is required by the Department of Home
Affairs, ensure that you book an appointment in a timely
manner.
Our qualified immigration lawyers will be able to provide you
with advice on the types of documents you should provide where you
have or had a significant medical condition.
If you follow all the above steps, you will be in the best
position to receive an outcome on your visa application more
quickly.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
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