Security checks

[AladdinsHeart]

Hi, Our security checks will reach the 6 month mark on March 8, we were told these were sent off in June/july by immigration and then during a phone call we found out they weren't actually sent off until september....4 months after we lodged the application. Just wondering if these should definately be completed by 6 months and if they aren't can we call immigration and lodge a complaint? A principal migration officer did contact us and told us he would follow it up if we haven't heard by this date, should we call them just to remind them to follow it up as it's almost our 10 month mark and 16 months apart and we don't want to have to wait anymore................

Thank you for any advice

[Sheelagh Blanckenberg]

Hi AlladinsHeart

I would be contacting the PMO to find out what is happening and to ascertain how much longer you may need to wait.

[AladdinsHeart]

Thank you Sheelagh, I called and asked them to follow up for us.............have to wait and see. Also we sent a new NOIM a month ago and its still not there but apparently mailed can take quite alot of time to work its way through their mail system in Dubai. I have to call again next week to check and pray its there so we dont need to get another one signed which will be our 4th.

[downundervisa]

Best bit of advice I could offer (in addition to what Sheelagh has already said) is to remember that nothing is gained by getting angry with Case Officers. Don't do the "I'm a tax payer, and I'm paying your salary" thing! Keep your cool. They have a lot of power, and getting angry can make your application go to the bottom of the pile. Always be polite and patient.

[AladdinsHeart]

I understand that it is ASIO who is now holding us up and each time I call immigration I am polite and don't get angry with whoever I speak too. Luckily it has been the same lady the last 3 times and she has asked me to call again next week to check again and see if the NOIM has arrived there. We are trying to be patient but after being apart for 16 months and waiting on the visa for 10 months it's all getting a bit too hard to wait much longer. We provided a well put together application which was done by a migration lawyer but we had to cancel them due to the costs which we just could not afford paying. I feel that if the security check was sent off when it should of been that we would of had it completed by now. It was made even harder when we had questions that our case officer at the time didn't even reply too even if sent by our agent and all of which we had to pay for each time they were sent. Thank you for the advise and being friendly and helpful unlike some visa forums, will let you know what happens.

[Robert]

The depth of security check may vary depending on the nationality or the circumstances of the visa applicant. I had a client with a Muslim surname, a highly qualified chemocal engineer, working in the heartland of Saudi Arabia. It took 4 years for the visa grant aftre all the requirements have been met and several renewal of health clearance. The client and I agreed it must be a long drawn security clearance that dealyed visa grant. My client was a gem of a person with indefinite patience often refraining me from raising concerns with DIAC over the delay. Luckily he was not in a hurry to give up his well paid job in Saudi. He made his first entry last week.

Second case: My malaysian Chinese Architects; application for RRV has is yet to be concluded even after 3 moths of submission for a visa that should only take about ten days. he is involved with a Mega civil building project in Teheran with some Iranian contractors. Once again we came to the conclusion that his involvement with Iranaians big time business man that would had application refered to the ASIO security people. In the application we listed the Iranian companies and the directors to evdience his "business ties with Australia" that is of beneifit to Australia.

This idicates there is no standard time frame for security clearance.


Robert K Chelliah
www.austmigration.com.au

[AladdinsHeart]

Immigration has advised me today that the checks take several months to complete,its been 6 months which is also stated on the ASIO guidelines, however our application wasnt sent off for these for 4 months after we lodged. In approximately a week we will reach the 10 month mark of processing. We submitted a complete application which should of made it easy to process but we feel ripped off that it has been delayed due to the checks being sent off so long after lodgement. It is affecting both of our lives and our health and we did lodge an application for compassionate and compelling circumstances but it was denied and we are finding it increasingly difficult being separated for over 16 months now.