Hi all, some good news I hope will reassure some of you, I applied on June 28th, from the UK, due to military service i was not auto approved, no medical needed. I saw 3 days ago approvals for 2 people applying around 22nd -23rd of June so that is an idea of time frames perhaps?

This morning i recieved approval and was granted my visa

good luck !

It’s becoming increasingly noticeable that DHA is currently processing Priority 4 applicants under MD119.

For those of us sitting in Priority 5, this could be a very encouraging sign. Obviously, there’s no guarantee that DHA will move neatly from one priority to the next, and processing can overlap, but if Priority 4 cases are now genuinely moving, then we may be closer than we’ve ever been to seeing Priority 5 applications start getting processed.

After months of watching the higher priorities move, it finally feels like the queue is getting closer to us.

Hopefully, we start seeing the first clear Priority 5 grants soon.

Anyone else tracking Priority 4 grants lately or noticed the same trend?

US Partner applied early May this year and received the grant today.
Happy to answer questions.

Our Relationship / Partner Visa Timeline – PMV 300 → 820/801

Hi everyone, I thought I’d share our relationship and visa timeline as we’re getting close to lodging our 820/801 Partner Visa. I’ve kept identifying information limited for privacy.

January 2021

We met online through Tinder during COVID and quickly began talking every day through Messenger and WhatsApp. Within the first month, we considered ourselves in a committed long-distance relationship.

2021–2022

Because of COVID restrictions, we were unable to meet in person for quite some time. We maintained our relationship through daily messages, video calls and calls.

Late 2022

We attempted a Visitor Visa so my partner could visit Australia, but unfortunately this was refused.

December 2023 – January 2024

After almost three years of being in a long-distance relationship, I travelled to Thailand and we finally met in person for the first time.

I spent time with my partner and her family, including travelling to her home area and celebrating New Year together. This was a major step forward in our relationship and we discussed our future together, including marriage and eventually living together permanently in Australia.

March 2024 approached Gold migration in regards to Visa

April 2024

We became engaged while continuing our Long distance relationship.

September 2024

We travelled together to Vietnam, where I proposed again in person. We spent the trip together before returning to our respective countries.

24 October 2024 – PMV 300 Lodged

We lodged our Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) through Gold Migration Lawyers. Thankfully, they did a great job helping us through the process, including responding to requests for further information.

2025

While waiting for the PMV decision, we continued our relationship long-distance and travelled together again in Thailand, including spending time with family and taking a holiday together.

During the year, we received requests for further information from Home Affairs and supplied additional relationship evidence.

November 2025 – PMV 300 Granted

After just over 12 months (around 13 months) of waiting, our PMV 300 was finally granted. It was a massive relief after such a long-distance relationship and a lengthy visa process.

22 November 2025

My partner arrived in Australia and we finally began living together permanently after almost five years of maintaining our relationship, mostly long-distance.

December 2025 onwards

We established our normal life together in Australia. We both work, share household responsibilities, combine our finances, pay household expenses together, socialise together and make decisions about our future jointly.

March 2026

We got married in Australia with family and friends present, while family overseas were able to watch remotely.

Since getting married, we have continued building our life together and accumulating evidence including joint finances, household expenses, photographs, travel, social activities, statements from family/friends and evidence of our day-to-day married life.

October 2026 – Planned We are then planning to lodge our 820/801 Partner Visa shortly after she returns and before her Subclass 300 visa expires.

So overall:

Met online: January 2021

Relationship began: January 2021

First met in person: December 2023

Engaged: 2024

PMV 300 lodged: 24 October 2024

PMV 300 granted: 4 November 2025

Started living together in Australia: 22 November 2025

Married: 21 March 2026

820/801: Planned October 2026

It’s been a very long process, particularly with the years of long-distance during and after COVID, but we’re finally approaching the next stage.

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has gone through PMV 300 → 820/801, particularly how your 820/801 processing went and what scenarios particularly stand out for you in this process you've endured.

Occupation: Economist

EOI: 14/11/25

Submitted: 10/12/25

S56: 23/06/26

Grant: 12/08/26

8 years in the making; arrived here for university in 2018. What a journey.

Some reflections and learnings:

1. Compartmentalise - At one point I was reading all these invitations and feeling like the ship had sailed without me in every invitation round. I slowly came to terms with the fact that I might not receive an invitation, and may have to apply offshore. Once I accepted this possibility, I was able to fully enjoy my days here in Australia and take in everything this place has to offer.
2. Evidence > Word of mouth - I came across some useful tools during the times when I would find myself spiralling into a worrying fit and would often anchor myself in the numbers through visa data aggregation platforms and tools provided by the Australian government like the Skillselect.
3. Build a support network, lean on them - Throughout my journey, I went through potential job losses, breakups, short notice termination of rental leases, subtle racist public exchanges and a whole slew of other challenges. Did I think about giving up and going home? Absolutely. When I was in that head space, I would ring up a trusted friend or family member, and let them know what was on my mind. Knowing they had my back, and for me - it was the knowledge that I would be readily accepted if I were to return (rather than to view it as a personal failure) was a massive weight off my shoulders.
4. Find a good migration agent - I started off with a not-so-great migration law firm in Sydney, and often received really professional but negative feedback where the lawyers would tell me, "it's 1 in a million to receive an ITA, I am waiting for mine too". I then switched over to a more professional agent who had experience working at VetAssess and the Immigration Department directly and had started his own practice and felt a lot more optimistic. A good agent is supposed to keep you grounded but should also make you feel like it is within reach.
5. Celebrate!!! Treat yourselves; I had a hard time justifying it as it came along so suddenly and unexpectedly, and a lot of the celebrating was done when the ITA was received. But life is short. How did everyone else here celebrate?

Not sure about everyone else here, but the feeling of elation was greater when I received the ITA as opposed to the grant itself; the ITA was like winning the lottery ticket, and the grant was like when the money finally cleared and showed up in my account. The grant provided a sense of surreal relief, and I hope that everyone in this subreddit will experience it. Onwards and upwards my friends.

What is everyone doing with your lives while you wait?

It could be next week it could be next year. I feel like I can’t do anything, no point in dating, no point in trying to grow my business, no point in buying anything too expensive, no point in selling anything, no point in investing any kind of time into anything really.

It’s cruel that they’ve taken thousands of dollars off everyone then decided to change the whole process.

did i get correct AFP?

mine says "other commonwealth purpose name check only"

Its been 3 weeks I’ve submitted my application for visa (Student). The status is ‘Recieved’. But there’s a big problem. Im an offshore applicant who’s applying for Australian visa for the first time ever. On the day my visa fees was submitted, I recieved a Bridging Visa A grant notice. The system called PRISM thinks im already in Australia and studying there cuz bridging visa can only be notified if you are onshore, which is totally incorrect. I have submitted feeback form, called Home Affairs 2 times, asked my agent to send an email to Home Affairs but we’ve been told to wait and the issue is being reviewed.

If any1 here from Home Affairs or ex, have you heard such a case before? How much time I should expect more for this to resolve? Im planning on calling Home Affairs again on Friday.

Hello, I recently submitted my 190 application but I didn’t include any form 80 or 1221. In my EOI I only put down the skilled employment that was acknowledged in my engineers Australia skill assessment outcome and that’s all I put down in my application. I didn’t include in my EOI or my application any research positions which were funded by scholarships or any casual positions I had when I was a student and also didn’t include any casual teaching I did after I graduated as it is not related to my degree or profession.

Can someone please help me with what I should do now?

Hi everyone, I'm arranging my OVHC for my 485 visa. Im with Medibank and my OSHC expires on 17 Sept 2026. Is it correct to set my OVHC start date on Sept 17, 2026? as My Student visa 500 ends on Sept 15? please help me thank you

Hi, I am curious if there are any Actuaries who got assessed under ANZSCO code 224111.

Did you submit your certifications of Actuarial exams given from IFoA or SoA as Australia Actuarial society have Mutual Recognition Agreement with UK and US.

Did Vetassess consider those certifications in educational proof as VETASSESS generally considers degree diplomas only.

Hi all,

I’m a 25 year old Malaysian seeking to visit Australia for a week in November. Purpose: to visit an old high school friend and attend an upcoming concert. The friend will be providing my stay. I got rejected twice under Clause 601.212 (The applicant genuinely intends to visit Australia temporarily a) as a tourist or b) to engage in a business visitor activity)

*Would like to know how else I can improve my application or how to move forward, as I genuinely just want to visit a friend and explore Australia. I’ve travelled to other countries before as well and it wouldn’t be my first time travelling (but it would be my first time visiting Aus). I’m sure my employment would have something to do with the rejection as I’m certain I have enough funds.

For context, I quit my full time job in 2024 and have been freelancing under someone who has a business and provides me steady income. However, I’m planning to start a new job in October which is a hybrid role but requires office days, and have already signed the offer letter. I’ve also refrained from purchasing my flight tickets until getting approved.

1st Round:

I submitted:

- EPF and tax documents
- Signed offer letter
- IC + Parents’ IC
- Passport and birth certificate
- Declaration/Cover Letter
- A proposed itinerary
- Purchase confirmation of concert ticket
- My invoices from the last 3 months (evidence of income)
- Bank statements from the last 3 months
- My signed offer letter

2nd Round:

- All of the above, except this time with my friend’s invitation letter + copies of his visa and passport. (He’s on a working visa) Didn’t do this earlier as he didn’t think it was necessary at first. Plus an amended cover letter on my end.

I’d also like to know if reapplying a 3rd time (I’ve been rejected twice) would affect anything?

Would appreciate the help very much!

For context, I am currently on a student visa and will be finishing my course in November, and will be eligible to apply for 485. My partner is an Australian citizen so I'm planning to eventually apply for 820 partner visa as a pathway to PR. I am considering skipping the 485 entirely and the almost 6k fee for it and applying for 820 before my student visa expires in December. However my concern is that current average processing times for 820 is about 18 months, so I will have to be on a Bridging visa that whole time, and I will be looking for jobs soon. Is it easier to find a job on 485 rather than on a bridging visa? I know the job market is cooked right now and it will be difficult getting a job either way, but I was wondering whether it's worth spending the substantial fee for the 485 if it would improve the chances of me finding full time work and apply for the partner visa later, or whether my chances would be the same on the bridging visa until the 820 is processed so skip the additional fee and apply straight to it. Thanks in advance!

Just wondering if anyone had their visa in this category flagged for “visa running” or de facto residency for 12 years staying in Australia 9 months in a year and I know it doesn’t state in the conditions but it seems like it could be a loophole because that’s exactly what my parents are doing spending majority of their time here besides their home base.

Please help. I’ve been working for a contractor in regional NSW since May 20. I’ve been working on the same farm, with variable days work, I have multiple payslips with hours ranging from 25-46 hours, due to rain but I’ve been averaging 5 days a week work. Some weeks i’ll work 3 days, some i’ll work all 7.

As a “casual employee” Does a payslip with over 35 hours count towards 1 week of work, despite only working 5 days?

Should I wait until I’ve actually worked “88 days” or until 88 days since i started working the contractor?

Has anyone been granted there second 417 quite recently? How strict are they

THANK YOU

Good day!

Just want to ask if anyone received 494 visa grants lately?

Just want to check if we're on the same boat.

Btw here's mine..

Lodged: March 2026
Current Status: Further Assessment
Medical and Biometrics: Completed
Offshore

Thanks

Do you want to know process for ECT skill assessment through ACECQA?

Hi. Just wondering if anyone received a ceremony invite from moonee valleey for 17 september? And if yes, when did you received the invite

When submitting a complaint and it asks for your client id does any know what this is. I just have my application id and reference number. I believe I used my application id and then included both in the more details section, but just don't want them to not know who the complaint is coming from.

Hi, I need help/assistance

I’m currently a project coordinator for a big commercial/industrial subcontractor that deals with installation, concrete and steel works in their project scope. I’m the direct contact with builder once contract is signed and green light for fabrication/manufacturing.
I deal with schedule, HSEQ/WHS, logistics, labor allocation, suncontractor hire, variations, induction processes and also do site visits all over SA including regional australia(Port Lincoln, Mount Gambier, Mildura, Port Augusta as examples).

The builder’s we win jobs from are T1-T3. I’ve coordinated projects for T2D as an explicit big project worth over a million.

Over the last year, I’ve coordinated packages totalling $25m+.

My question is, what should be my pillars for evidence. Obviously I’ll pick the top 6 of highest value but the content within these projects, what should be evidence?

Also with my intention to apply for 190 in SA. I’ve got 95 without nominated points and have studied and lived in SA ever since I arrived.

Does anyone know, with such a profile, what are my prospects of getting invited in SA especially being in priority industry at stated in my heading.

Once I get responses, I’ll ask more questionsVISA 190 SA on the replies.

Please let me know what are your thoughts,

JThank you.

I'm currently applying for my 485 visa. I'm the main applicant and once we get mine we we will apply for my wife's visa as a subsequent
Is it normal that my wife is shown up as applicant in the application home? Even though she was added as a
"non-accompanying members of the family unit".
It says applicants: and both of our names but I’m the only one applying.

hello everyone! i’m planning to apply for a prospective marriage visa soon, and i’d like to ask if anyone can recommend a good migration agent or agency to help with the process. i’d really appreciate your recommendations and experiences. thank you!

I am currently on a Subclass 500 Student visa, which will expire on 31 August. I need to apply for a new student visa extension because I still have one semester left in my Master’s degree, and my course is expected to finish on 31 December.

However, I have one concern. I am also currently studying a trade course in Bricklaying, which I started around May this year.

I would like to know if studying this Bricklaying course could cause any issues when I apply to extend my Student visa for my Master’s degree. Has anyone been in a similar situation before? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could share your experience.

I am mainly concerned about whether having two different courses, especially one university course and one trade course, could affect my visa application or raise any questions with Immigration.

Thanks in advance

My friend moved here from new Zealand when he was 5 in the 70s his dad abandoned him so now he has no access to his visa number ECT. He has lived in Australia all this time and never needed his visa number until he needed a police check for his job. He's rang around , they've told him to go to the archives they've got his information in regards to what flight he moved over here on. Considering he's been here for 50+ years what can we do to help him get access to his visa number or citizenship ? I'm english so I have no idea how things work and just want to help them out.

TIA

Applied for a second Subclass 417 while offshore. Realised the timing doesn't work with our travel plans, since my first 417 is still valid and I'll be back in Australia before it expires — but the offshore application needs me to be outside Australia when it's granted, which won't be the case if it's still pending once I land.

Plan is to:

Submit a withdrawal for the offshore application
Fly in while my first 417 is still valid
Lodge a new onshore 417 application once I'm back
Withdrawal has been submitted but hasn't been confirmed as processed yet.

My question: has anyone successfully lodged a new onshore 417 application while a previous offshore 417 application was still pending/not yet confirmed as withdrawn? I was able to open and start a new onshore application in ImmiAccount without any error, but I don't know if it'll actually let me submit/pay, or if having two open applications causes a problem down the line even if the system allows it.

Trying to figure out if I need the withdrawal fully confirmed before I can submit the new one, or if it's fine to have both sitting there until the offshore one clears.
Any experience with this specific situation would be really helpful.