Partner Visa Processing Times Afghanistan compared to USA.
Does Australia discriminate Partner visa processing times based on Nationality?
Julian Hill MP, has stated: “In 2021, if your husband or wife is from Afghanistan, it takes 43 months on average to get a 309 visa; if they are from the USA, it’s 7 months.” Source: Julian Hill MP to ANAO
It is correct to say that the average processing times from Washington USA, in March 2021, when they finalised 163 visa applications, was 7 months. It was 4 months and 10 months on the two months either side of that. Processing times can vary a lot based on the quality of the application, and the time it takes to carry out security checks.
Those figures are from a FOI request, which unfortunately had no average information for applicants from Afghanistan in 2021. The only source of data showing average processing times from Afghanistan is from Julian Hill. That was a document FOI document in 2020, reputedly saying that the average processing time for subclass 309 visas at the Dubai office was between 30 and 42 months. This was the Freedom of Information Request FA- 21/01/00319. The processing times for Dubai in that report were shown as:
Subclass 309 visa applications at Dubai office in:
- 2019: 75% took up to 18 months and 10% took over 25 months.
- 2020: 75% took up to 30 months and 10% took over 42 months.
In March/April 2021, partner visa processing was transferred from Dubai to Jordan.
Partner and Prospective Marriage Visas average processing times.
Partner and Prospective Marriage Visas average processing times from:
Washington, USA
- January 2021 – 4 months average. 92 visas.
- February 2021 – 4 months average. 42 visas.
- March 2021 – 7 months average. 163 visas.
- April 2021 – 10 months average. 190 visas.
The USA is also much faster than applications from the United Kingdom.
London, United Kingdom.
- January 2021 – 17 months average. 84 visas.
- February 2021 – 21 months average. 106 visas.
- March 2021 – 24 months average. 354 visas.
- April 2021 – 16 months average. 282 visas.
Source: FOI Request FA 21/05/00157
Partner Visas from Afghan nationals were originally processed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
In March 2021, it appears that Dubai transferred its partner visa case load to Amman in Jordan.
Dubai processed only 137 subclass 309/300 visas over the first 4 months of 2021.
Amman processed 89 subclass 309/300 visas during April 2021, with an average time of 16 months. Unfortunately the current information does not give a breakdown for each nationality.
Unfortunately the information in the FOI request, for Dubai, shows “Processing times are not available” for most months, other than March 2021, where it states that 10% took over 81 months, with no details for earlier times, and for April 2021 it stated “No Visa Decisions”. (Having transferred processing to Amman.)
The Australian High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan will process all new partner, child and family migration applications lodged by clients who live in Pakistan or Afghanistan from 1 December 2011, except for applications made by Afghan nationals. Note: Afghan nationals who live in Afghanistan or Pakistan should still lodge all partner, child and other family migration applications with the Australian Consulate-General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. These applications will continue to be processed in Dubai.
With that same claim of racism, another news report stated:
People from India and China waited about 18 months on average, but those from the United States and United Kingdom waited less than a year for provisional partner visas to be processed.
Yet the above FoI report shows:
- In the first 4 months of 2021, the averages for India were: 16, 15, 20 and 14 months.
- In the first 4 months of 2021, the averages for China were: 19, 13, 15 and 14 months.
- In the first 4 months of 2021, the averages for UK were: 17, 21, 24 and 16 months.
- In the first 4 months of 2021, the averages for USA were: 4, 4, 7 and 10 months.
- In the first 4 months of 2021, the averages for Canada were: 7, 21, 11 and 12 months.
Looking at the above, the averages in February 2021 were:
- USA 4 months.
- China 13 months.
- India 15 months.
- Canada 21 months.
- UK 21 months.
Is it racism against the Canadians and British to process visas faster in India and China?
Or are there other reasons?
A well worded and complete application will be processed faster than a poorly worded incomplete application. That’s logical, and in fact stated on the immigration website. But some people want to ignore quality, and just process them in order regardless. “Partner visas should be processed in the order they’re received” Mr Hill said.
I would hate to wait for an extra year or so just because the one in front of me was not able to prove their relationship, and we all had to wait, while they try to locate proof of something that they may never actually be able to prove.
Some actual examples:
Subclass 309 Grants in August 2021.
Indian. Processed in India in 19 months.
Indian. Processed in India in 5 months.
Is it the differences in those two application that cause the delays or the nationality? Being the same Indian nationality.
Should the Indian whose application as finalised in 5 months have had to wait until the one that took 19 months was finalised, just because the other one applied earlier?
Subclass 309 Grants in May 2021.
Indian. Processed in New Delhi in 5 months.
British. Processed in UK in 4 months.
Malaysian. Processed in Malaysia in 4 months.
How can this be explained? Different nationalities, but all about the same time!!
Donations Welcome | Thank you to those who have sent me a coffee, it is very much appreciated. Donations ai-8 |
Some Visa Applicants might find an Experienced Australian Migration Agent of great assistance. - ai16