TTTF

Hello all - Received a update from SBS, "couldn’t really read the emails sent by your members. I hope to be able to return to work to tomorrow and will begin reviewing these." The reporter has been away for last couple of days and has received the emails sent by members will be reviewing this soon. Hopefully we can except some positive outcome here. Thank you for all members who have contributed to this. Much appreciated.

Update: Thank you all who shared their stories with SBS. I have dropped him an email and the response is awaited. Encourage few more to write to SBS. Hope for the best.

Thanks @Maxzone....much appreciated.. Hopefully we get few more ..

Great, thanks. Did anyone else write to SBS? please let me know

Let me get this straight, there are two options here, Increase the level of patience you have and keep waiting/Struggling , get frustrated daily and keeping commenting on this blog just adding pages to it with out any result Share the stories with SBS and hope to see an positive outcome. At least we have got a chance here. There are couple of members happy to share their stories.. but their applications are pretty much very recent and will not make a strong case. Hence members who are waiting more than 12 months need to act to see something happening. No offence to anyone. but everyone was talking about help in this forum and now when it is there .. looks like we have got a quiet house.

I know.. the point is to share the story for something to happen.

It looks like one more queue awaits once it is finished here! https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/australian-citizenship-approvals-on-the-rise-after-hitting-15-year-low This story is covered by the same person, who has offered to cover our story - BY SHAMSHER KAINTH. SBS is covering these stories comprehensively ...They have provided us a opportunity, at least utilize it...encourage ppl to share the stories with SBS to see some action in the right direction or get answers from the authorities. Hopefully, 887 processing delays also gets covered one day like other immigration matters.

Based on the information on the IMMI website.. Bridging visa is just a temp visa which allows you to lawfully stay.. rest of the conditions do not change.. even though Bridging visa says no conditions.. the 489 conditions still apply. The reason it says no conditions because we all have applied 887 visa which is PR, which will have no condition and hence the bridging visa states no conditions.Bridging visa are always issued aligned to the visa applied or in processing. Logically one should be allowed to move around once being in compliance, but i dont think immigration regulations are that simple and it is not stated officially anywhere.. hence question mark? based on the available information conditions still applies for all members and one cannot move out. But the issue here is the assessment of compliance is almost taking the same time and hence they will need to reconsider this for individual cases. given the situation, it is 2 years to compliance and almost 2 years to assess that compliance.. which is the issue. Having said that, you can always approach immigration to check if you can move out.. but most of the times the answer is no. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/bridging-visa-a-010#About Your obligations You and anyone included in your application must: comply with all Australian laws comply with the conditions of the current visa comply with the conditions of your Bridging visa A when it comes into effect See the conditions that will and might be applied to a BVA.

The answer is no, 489 conditions still applies on bridging visa.

@Doman The context was given in order provide some background on what is 489 visa and hence a basic introduction... SBS has read the message correctly and are ready to cover a story. It is up to the members now how they want to take this from here who have been impacted. I do hope members here are fully aware of what is required in this invited pathway process in terms of meeting visa conditions. Taking in account that as a member of this group one would almost know everything of this transition process.:-) with so much discussion Appreciate your offer of help. I think members have to help themselves now.

ok

No worries... It will be only useful , if this opportunity is utilized effectively by group members. Hopefully we get some positive outcome from this.

To all those who are facing processing delays for their applications here is your opportunity to speak to SBS directly, they are ready for an consideration and happy to talk to some of you personally. You can contact - Shamsher.Kainth@sbs.com.au Here is the latest response from SBS: " Hi Team, I will have to speak to some of you who are in visa limbo to peg my story on a couple of cases. So, please get in touch with me when you/other applicants are ready to speak. If there are any concerns about the applicants being identified, I am happy to take those concerns into consideration." Hope you can Help yourself from here. Keep this forum posted. Context to this offer of assistance from SBS : Dear Shamsher, We hope you are doing well. We came across your profile on the "SBS website" and noticed that you work on articles related to immigration and being an active new reporter around issues faced by the applicants at various stages of their immigration process . We have case explained below, which requires some attention. Given your strong background in this space can we request you to cover an article on this issue . We are a group (750 plus members) 489 (Regional Skilled Visa) applicants spread across the regional areas of the country who have applied 887 visa (Permanent visa) in the years 2017/18 & 19. About 489 visa (Provisional Visa), · stay in Australia for 4 years from the date we grant you the visa · live, work and study in a specified region of Australia · travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid · apply for permanent residence, if eligible, through the Skilled—Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887) We wanted to get in touch with you regarding the delays we are facing in processing of our permanent visas, which in turn is having significant impact on our day to day life. During the time of the 489 application the processing timeline stated for 887 visa post completion of compliance to the 489 visa conditions was anywhere between 7 to 8 months. It has now increased almost 3 folds and currently is anywhere between 18 to 21 months as per the information available on the IMMI website. There has been limited information available why such increase has occurred in the time line for onshore applications. At the same time the offshore skilled visa applications are processed in much swift manner as compared to an onshore 887 visa application. We do appreciate that all the visa cases are to be dealt individually and time line can vary case to case basis. But here we have situation it has just gone one way towards the higher side of things. The impact it is having on the applicants and their family members is substantial, as the applicants and their family members face struggle, discrimination, eligibility questions in various walks of life due to this delay. Overview of the issue, · 489 visa is valid for 4 years, generally most the 489 visa conditions are to be fulfilled within these period · Upon compliance to the two year regional stay and one year full time work, the applicants become eligible to apply. Getting a full time work in regional areas is a real struggle for the applicants, some do two or three part time roles to fulfill the conditions · Most of the applicants are either near to close to their 489 visa expiry or it has already expired, all the applicants receive bridging visa till the permanent visas are processed Daily life situation, · Many of the applicants are on contract employment and the companies find it difficult to extend the contracts since our visa status is not clear · If the applicants try to apply new roles, they find them not eligible since they do not hold a valid residency status, even though they have full working rights as per immigration department. Most of the companies do not considered this as valid and it is very tedious task to make them understand and mostly end up losing out on the opportunity · When these applicants go for utility services such as a basic phone contract they find themselves as not being eligible for it due to visa constraints · Many of the family members struggle in educational sector since they do not have permanent residency to be eligible for educational cover · Some even face issues in extending their house leases due to the visa status as most agents demand the visa copy and bridging visa puts * mark on their housing applications · Financial services are mostly out of reach as banks do not consider such applicants where the PR is still in processing · Cannot plan any future travel or go out of the country as it will result in further delays They are even many other unique and harsh situation faced by the applicants in their daily life. All this struggle and anguish even after been in compliance to all the visa conditions and doing the hard yards of regional struggle. All these applicants have supported the regional economy across the country in all possible ways and contributed towards economic growth. What we expect, · Lesser processing time of applications, as it was promised to us when we applied the 489 visa ( which was 7/8 months of PR processing) · Clear and transparent information about the status of the processing of applications, with clear numbers of visa applications lodged, In processing and finalized on a monthly basis along with the total cap for 887 visa to be issued by the department on an annual basis The applicants have stood to their side of promise/statement of managing the visa conditions and being in compliance at all times, we find the department has been stretching out the timeline too far, which is impacting the daily life of these people. The applicants have serious ramifications for any breach of visa conditions, it does not seem to have similar result on the department for extending the processing timelines 3 folds in terms of services offered. The increase have significant impact on the applicants in different walks of life. All these visa applicants have done everything on their own without any government benefits or welfare payments. The only thing we demand is for the processing timeline to be reduced and clearing of applications in a swift manner. With the introduction of new regional visa 491 effective from November 2019, it will create two classes of visa holders in regional space. 1. A set of applicants who have struggled and worked their way through the process to find themselves stuck again in the processing delays 2. The second set would be the new regional visa holders in a much secured position with dedicated government support to achieve the objectives 3. We do not envy the situation and are actually glad that government has recognized the need to support people in regional areas as we understand the struggle one has to go through in a space with limited opportunities, but at the same time they should not disregard applicants who have independently achieved and complied with all the conditions and supported the government objective to support and uplift regional economic. We humbly request you to cover this story and help us to reach out to the department to get the necessary attention and resolve this delay and struggle for all the applicants. We look upon you with faith and hope. Your support is greatly appreciated by the group and the family members. Your inputs and insights will be really appreciated. Help us to get out of this situation. Look forward to hear back from you. Regards, Team 887

Dropped you a message, please check.

@Stellajane Did you hear back anything from them?

Further to above, SBS have responded back and are interested to hear back a couple cases to cover the story. Seniors group members/applicants stuck in this bureaucratic hole can assist to collect this stories and share them with SBS. Please note SBS have requested only Couple of cases, who can provide Name and contact details and explain their situation via email. please respond if you would like to share your story. We can discuss this further. In best interest of all we need to provide the cases which provides a clear and holistic view to the situation. Given that we have received some support, its best we utilize the opportunity correctly to reach a solution.

Here is the response from an expert ( MA/Media Professional/Lawyer) about the current situation, Do we have any direct contacts with the listed media agencies? Dear Team 887 Thank you for contacting me about your situation. As a migration law firm with specialists in the skilled visa area and interest in regional migration, we are aware of the difficulties you are facing, and we certainly sympathise. I am not in a position to write about this myself, but I would strongly suggest you reach out to media outlets such as SBS, the ABC (particularly ABC regional) or the Project, all of which have shown great interest in the situation of people such as yourselves who have fallen into bureaucratic holes in terms of their dealings with the Department of Home Affairs. I do hope you are successful in getting some publicity - and better, some action - for your group. Best wishes

Congratulations on the grant... It is great news.. but this does not tie up with the statement on the IMMI website "We are currently assessing applications submitted before July 2018" Cant really make out what exactly they are doing here. They state they are processing applications prior to July 2018 and a mid July 2018 is being accessed .

Happy to assist..

No denial professional help and expertise will be useful. but the lawyer will also ask the same thing prior considering the case.. what is the issue ? Answer - Processing Time.. Why is that happening ? Answer - Unknown.. Is it correct to keep increasing the time line as per the law - Answer Unknown ? What is the law monitoring the visa processing and service delivery ? Answer Unknown.. It is always beneficial to make the facts clear before going the legal way.. We can ask these questions directly to the department/minister .

Given the situation we need to still understand what is the legislation and receive a formal response on the delays happening. Legal cases is not what we want .. we simply want the files to be processed in a reasonable time without having major impact on our lives. It is very logical to asks relevant questions first directly and then assess from there based on the response. understand the frustration for all the applicants. But again we have stay grounded to reach to a amicable solution.

Media is not the solution here.. we should write an email to ministers ( In power and Opposition) and copy PM .. relevant details can be found on their individual electoral websites. I understand the question will be who will write the email and what is the risk involved.. we should create common email id say.. 887@Gmail.com and write the email. Given the fact the email will include hard facts .. an response will be received.End of the day we are part of the community and they have to respond to the issues raised by the community members. But prior to this we would need total count of no.of 489 applications and other relevant information. Plus we also have the request which is running parallel to achieve the objective on this topic.. which will show up the numbers and required support. I think last I saw it has received more than 2600 signatures. Even after this if no response is received.. we have a strong case to go to media and then they will have news to entertain us. since we have approached this situation in a methodical manner.

Prior going this path, we need to understand what is causing this issue, given the situation in hand we have one sided stories. To be fair on all the interested parties involved here, we need to write to relevant ministers as one group in a formal manner provide a count of total applicants and situation faced in daily life. Based on the response we can plan further. Also note there is an annual cap for 887 visa.. we do not know what it is in comparison to the 489 applications received by the department and how does that impact the processing of applications.

This is crazy and very unreasonable. Its time we take this escalation to next level and get the required attention and solution. I will not be shocked.. by the time a December 2019 applicant puts in the application the processing would 24 months. No point in complaining on individual basis.. we need to talk in one strong voice and get a fair outcome.

reaching out to the ministers, by visiting their individual website would be a option, which would consist of their contact info.. it will be more of a direct approach or copy them when you write to complaints at least get attention in a right manner.