One of the questions we are most frequently asked is “How long will it take to bring my fiancee to Australia on a subclass 300 prospective marriage visa?”. The answer to this question depends on where your fiancee lives. Processing times vary greatly from location to location, and from Embassy to Embassy.
Furthermore, much depends on the current backlog of pending cases and how quickly the required external checks are completed by outside agencies (i.e. medical checks, ASIO name/security checks). It should be noted that all fiancee, partner and marriage visa applications lodged offshore are processed by the Australian Embassies in the order in which they are received. In general, the waiting time for the Australian Embassy to make a decision on a subclass 300 or subclass 309 visa application can range from 6 to 8 months. However, we have seen family migration applications approved by some Embassies much quicker, sometimes within three to four months. For example, the Australian Consulate in Ottawa, Canada can process a straightforward fiancee or partner visa application within a few months while the Australian Embassy in Manila, Philippines can take up to 9 – 10 months to issue a migrant visa under the partnership policy.
Thus, the actual partner visa processing times will vary due to a variety of factors, with most complex cases which require a telephone or personal “face-to-face” interview with the applicant and/or their Australian sponsor taking longer to decide. Furthermore, processing times also depend on whether the application for the fiancee or partner visa is deemed “clearly approvable” meaning the immigration forms are accurate and contain all required information. This also assumes that the case does not generally raise any serious “red flags” and that the application does not require additional special clearances, investigation, or further administrative review. Complex cases can take the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) longer to bring to resolution and visa issuance. Many factors, such as the need for additional investigation and resolving incomplete applications, may dramatically influence the processing of individual cases.
Our professional Australian partner visa services are designed to ensure that each fiancee, partner or marriage visa application we handle is lodged in the prescribed manner, meaning it is complete, accurate, and easy to review so that the examining DIBP officials are encouraged to approve the application quickly and, possibly, without conducting an interview with the applicant and/or their Australian sponsor. We encourage you to take advantage of our professional expertise to avoid unnecessary delays in the processing of your immigration case. Start with a free no-obligation consultation today!