887 Visa - What's the update?

[Zarus007]

24 minutes ago, Kapeel said:

Big Congratulations. 

Do you mind sharing with us whether, you are single applicant or family with kids? Thank you

Thankyou..

Family with 3 years old son

[Hope]

6 minutes ago, Zarus007 said:

Thankyou..

Family with 3 years old son

I have applied on 2/7/18 

But i haven’t heard anything yet 

could this be a reason that i had a baby in the mean time? 

I am bit furious 

[Nadine]

6 minutes ago, Hope said:

I have applied on 2/7/18 

But i haven’t heard anything yet 

could this be a reason that i had a baby in the mean time? 

I am bit furious 

Hi Hope

We too applied on the same day as you did and all our paperwork was submitted, and CO Sophorn still requested paperwork that was submitted in the beginning. I think they misplace our information and we are the ones who have to wait. I feel your frustration, as we have ticked all the boxes and more, and have no intentions of moving to the city as both my husband and I are employed by regional businesses. It would be nice to be able to move on in life, but waiting for our VISA is frustrating.

[MZH]

1 hour ago, Zarus007 said:

Got PR today... direct grant

Applied: 5 JULY 2018 NSW

Afp updated

Case officer: wilson

 

Congrats mate.  Enjoy your grant. 

[Honey]

1 hour ago, Zarus007 said:

Got PR today... direct grant

Applied: 5 JULY 2018 NSW

Afp updated

Case officer: wilson

 

Congratulations

[ALFRED KWARAMBA]

Congratulations. I applied 21 April 2018. First contact was 31May , 2nd 30June (new form 80) ..submitted 30 June ... Still waiting 

[Kapeel]

58 minutes ago, Zarus007 said:

Thankyou..

Family with 3 years old son

Thanks mate, enjoy your freedom.

Glad to hear such news after a while

[Nomz]

28 minutes ago, ALFRED KWARAMBA said:

Congratulations. I applied 21 April 2018. First contact was 31May , 2nd 30June (new form 80) ..submitted 30 June ... Still waiting 

Applied on 5 th April, still waiting

[X76804]

ok

[Rantan]

2 hours ago, Nadine said:

Hi Hope

We too applied on the same day as you did and all our paperwork was submitted, and CO Sophorn still requested paperwork that was submitted in the beginning. I think they misplace our information and we are the ones who have to wait. I feel your frustration, as we have ticked all the boxes and more, and have no intentions of moving to the city as both my husband and I are employed by regional businesses. It would be nice to be able to move on in life, but waiting for our VISA is frustrating.

Hi Nadine,

Same here, all our paperwork was submitted and well sorted by our agent. We have applied on the 25th of June 2018. After 13 month we got a message from CO that they request another English test, although my wife had a valid one with way above requested level uploaded and 3 years in the country. Our agent tried twice to send them a message to clarify and called as well but no response. She has done the test again in less than 28 days and uploaded. Nothing heard since then! By the way, we got the info that emails to "adelaide.gsm.team10" obviously not going through and land somewhere.

We have also no intention of moving to the city and like to stay regional, but it is so nerve-wracking not be able to move on with life and really settle.

All the best everyone!

Edited September 9, 2019 by Rantan

[TakeItOnTheChin]

4 hours ago, Zarus007 said:

Got PR today... direct grant

Applied: 5 JULY 2018 NSW

Afp updated

Case officer: wilson

 

Congrats, fantastic news, 14 months is the magic number

[TTTF]

On 9/5/2019 at 11:33 AM, TTTF said:

Happy to assist..

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

 

 

[Dee]

30 minutes ago, TTTF said:

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

 

 

Thank you so much for collating this; I will be happy to be part of this but i have applied for 887 in March 2019.

[TTTF]

Just now, Dee said:

Thank you so much for collating this; 

No worries... It will be only  useful ,  if this opportunity is utilized effectively by group members.

Hopefully we get some positive outcome from this. 

[TTTF]

6 minutes ago, Dee said:

Thank you so much for collating this; I will be happy to be part of this but i have applied for 887 in March 2019.

ok

 

[Doman]

31 minutes ago, TTTF said:

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

 

 

@TTTF, Thanks for the initiative and your time on preparing this. I am sure it will have some positive outcome. I think it only needs a bit of polishing to make sure its readable, understandable and justifiable to people who are not very familiar with 489 Visa and its pathway to 887 Visa.

In your introduction, you have explained about 489 Visa saying that "stay in Australia for 4 years from the date we grant you the visa". I am afraid if someone read this, he/she might think that we have to stay in regional area for 4 year. They might say that we already knew that we are going to stay in regional area for 4 years, so why we are complaining about the life style condition/situation? Appreciate you explained further in detail later in your dot points and raised the issues with the visa expiry and delay in processing time. I still suggest the introduction should be very clear and give a right impression to the reader.

Thanks again and appreciate your effort. If you need any help, please let me know.

 

[KC01]

18 hours ago, Zarus007 said:

Got PR today... direct grant

Applied: 5 JULY 2018 NSW

Afp updated

Case officer: wilson

 

congratulations 

[TTTF]

16 minutes ago, Doman said:

@TTTF, Thanks for the initiative and your time on preparing this. I am sure it will have some positive outcome. I think it only needs a bit of polishing to make sure its readable, understandable and justifiable to people who are not very familiar with 489 Visa and its pathway to 887 Visa.

In your introduction, you have explained about 489 Visa saying that "stay in Australia for 4 years from the date we grant you the visa". I am afraid if someone read this, he/she might think that we have to stay in regional area for 4 year. They might say that we already knew that we are going to stay in regional area for 4 years, so why we are complaining about the life style condition/situation? Appreciate you explained further in detail later in your dot points and raised the issues with the visa expiry and delay in processing time. I still suggest the introduction should be very clear and give a right impression to the reader.

Thanks again and appreciate your effort. If you need any help, please let me know.

 

 

@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. 

 

  

[Stellajane]

42 minutes ago, TTTF said:

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

 

49 minutes ago, TTTF said:

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."

Please note that sending your story or contacting Shamsher can be done anonymously. There is no direct need to go public yourself as Shamsher has stated in his email back to TTTF.  It is just really important that we share the issues we are confronted with so SBS can make a solid story about it if we want to get heard. It is up to us to provide him with as much information as we can - not the other way around. 

[Stellajane]

I noted on the tracker that X-Man (who applied 5/7/18) would have received his grant today already? Could anyone confirm if that is correct? Thanks.

 

[Dee]

Hey Guys - whats your opinion can we send our kids to study to non-regional (melbourne/sydney etc.) areas while waiting for PR. Any thoughts????

[Stellajane]

1 minute ago, Dee said:

Hey Guys - whats your opinion can we send our kids to study to non-regional (melbourne/sydney etc.) areas while waiting for PR. Any thoughts????

Sorry @Dee, that is definitely a no there. All applicants will need to comply with the conditions of the 489 as long as the 489 is your primary visa.

Unless you are on the bridging visa after your 489 has expired (whilst still waiting on your 887) then your bridging visa is your primary visa and then it is possible.

[Dee]

5 minutes ago, Stellajane said:

Sorry @Dee, that is definitely a no there. All applicants will need to comply with the conditions of the 489 as long as the 489 is your primary visa.

Unless you are on the bridging visa after your 489 has expired (whilst still waiting on your 887) then your bridging visa is your primary visa and then it is possible.

O God that's unfair; i will also check with my MARA consultant but i always thought kids would be able to go to any uni....

[TTTF]

3 minutes ago, Stellajane said:

Sorry @Dee, that is definitely a no there. All applicants will need to comply with the conditions of the 489 as long as the 489 is your primary visa.

Unless you are on the bridging visa after your 489 has expired (whilst still waiting on your 887) then your bridging visa is your primary visa and then it is possible.

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

[Stellajane]

8 minutes ago, TTTF said:

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

Sorry @TTTF, when on your bridging visa after your 489 has expired one can move to non-regional as there are no more conditions to comply to on a bridging visa.

Should your answer not be 'till bridging visa' rather than 'on bridging visa'? Or on which information did you base your answer?