We are seeing significant delays and inconsistencies across a range of Australian visa categories.
Despite multiple escalations and advocacy by our industry body, including direct engagement with the Minister for Immigration’s office in Canberra, the Department of Home Affairs has made it clear that no priority processing will be considered, even in urgent or compassionate circumstances. Unfortunately, requests for escalation are being disregarded and, in some cases, considered as contributing to system congestion.
Key Updates by Visa Category:
Temporary Work Visas- Subclass 482 visa
Visa Type Non-Accredited Sponsors Accredited Sponsors
TSS (subclass 482) –
lodged before 7 December 2024 Over 9 months Already finalised
Skills in Demand Visas – Specialist: 2 to 8 weeks Specialist: 1 to 4 weeks
lodged after 7 December 2024 Core: 4 to 16 weeks Core: 3 to 8 weeks
Permanent Residence
There continues to be a noticeable slowdown in the grant of permanent residence visas, with processing times stretching beyond 18 months. While some business nominations are progressing, visa grants themselves are being delayed. This is resulting in the expiry of time-sensitive documents such as police clearances and medical examinations, which are then being requested again by case officers—further extending processing times.
400 Visas (Short Stay Specialist)
These visas are processed by the relevant overseas Embassy or High Commission and processing times vary based on the applicant’s location at lodgement:
- Europe and the Americas: 1–3 weeks
- Other locations: Often significantly longer. We are also seeing a marked increase in refusals for these applications.
As we approach the end of the financial year and with the upcoming Federal election, we anticipate that visa processing delays will persist, particularly as immigration becomes a heightened topic of public and political debate.
Ajuria Lawyers remains committed to keeping clients informed of any developments and changes in immigration policy and processing. We appreciate your patience during this challenging period and are here to assist wherever possible.
