The Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection has made organisational ImmiAccounts available to overseas agents, enabling them to lodge online visitor visa applications on behalf of clients. Information on the organisational ImmiAccounts, and how to register, is available on the Australian immigration website.
By having an organisational ImmiAccount, agents will not need to create a new ImmiAccount for each new client.
Agents will need to provide the Organisation Registration Number (the company or organisation number as it appears in the relevant authority’s register) and registered name. Once the registration form has been submitted, the application will be processed by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in Australia. The processing time for visitor applications for South Africa, Botswana and Namibia passport holders is 20 working days for tourist visas and 10 working days for business visas. Business and tourist visas for other nationalities require 20 working days’ processing time, after which the agent will be notified of the decision by email.
“We have previously had a faster processing time for South African passport holders of approximately 10 working days. Unfortunately, due to a number of factors, the current processing time is longer, however, it is still within the global processing standard,” the Department said.
Required supporting evidence often forgotten at the time of lodgement:
• Unabridged birth certificated for minors
• Form 1229s for minors travelling without both parents
• Travel insurance for over 75s
• Medical examination for over 75s (done prior to the lodgement of the visa)
• Evidence of funds
• Passport biographical page copy
An airline ticket is not a visa requirement. “We recommend that clients do not make unalterable or non-refundable travel arrangements until they have confirmation that they have been granted a visa to travel to Australia,” the Department said.
