DIAC warn that there will be lengthy and inconsistent processing times for ENS and RSMS applications, due to the “rush” of applications lodged before 1 July 2012.
9,000 extra applications (about 20 to 21,000 persons) were lodged just before 30 June, and DIAC predict that this will extend the processing time from 4 to 5 months, to around 9 months.
This does not apply to decision ready applications, as they receive priority over the normal “pipeline” applications lodged by self-represented applicants, or agents who are not authorised to lodge applications as decision ready.
Indeed, the priority offered to ‘decision ready’ applications already meant that pipeline cases actually were taking more than 4 to 5 months to allocate to case officers. A 9 month pipeline has significant issues for pipeline cases.
The recent influx of applications has meant that the DIAC do not have enough case officers even for decision ready applications, so pipeline applications will suffer significant delays.
The Migration Place is experienced and authorised to lodge decision ready applications, and we are still enjoying turnarounds on 457 applications of less than a week.
It is clear that anyone wanting quick turnaround on ENS or RSMS applications, needs to lodge the application as decision ready.
Please contact us to ensure your visa is prepared and lodged as decision ready.
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