July 1 is important date in Australian immigration. This is due to the fact that a number of legislative requirements (new or previously announced) come into effect. As we are just weeks away from this significant date, below is a number of useful hints and tips to assist you to be as ready and prepared to lodge as visa application as you can be.
- Do you know your visa expiry date?
July 1 generally creates traffic in all aspects when it comes to applying for an Australian visa. For example, it may be more difficult to secure an appointment to complete health checks or undertake the English language exam. Historically the number of applications lodged with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection is at its highest in June and December. Accordingly, it is important to be prepared and not leave anything till the last day to avoid being stuck in an unfavourable situation. Check the expiry of your visa and aim to submit your application (or instruct your agent to do so) well before expiry of your current visa. Keep in mind that frequent system outages are to be expected.
- Time of application Criteria
Many Australian visas have “time of application” criteria which may include age, English or skills requirement. It is important to be fully across time of application requirements applicable to the visa subclass you are making an application for. If the time of application criteria is not met, your application may be refused which in turn can create restrictions on the types of subsequent visas you may be able to apply for whilst in Australia.
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