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All subclass 485 and 476 visas moving to internet applications from 13 November 2020

The days of paper-based Australian visa applications appear numbered as more applications move online to the Department of Home Affairs’ ImmiAccount.

A new instrument has come into effect since last Friday and will require all Subclass 485 – Temporary Graduate visa and Subclass 476 – Recognised Graduate visas to be lodged through ImmiAccount. Additionally, some humanitarian visas will also move to internet applications as well.

Previously, 485 and 476 visa applications could be posted or couriered to Immigration. This is generally not advisable as lodging a valid visa application is almost guaranteed through the internet, tragedies paying by BPAY notwithstanding.

For subsequent 485 and 476 visa applicants, who are those applying to be granted the same visa as the one held by their member of the family unit, paper applications were exclusive. From Saturday, they will finally move online.

ImmiAccount warns that any drafted 485 or 476 visa applications will need to be lodged before the scheduled shutdown or they will be discontinued and cannot be accessed afterwards. This is because they are likely to roll out new application forms that will take into account amendment to the regulations and the creation of concession periods. The existing internet application forms for these subclasses are legacy forms created well before ImmiAccount. Their latest builds are dated 29 June 2013.

As with some other subclasses, there are provisions to lodge paper-based 485 or 476 visa applications if the applicant cannot make an internet application. This can only happen when Home Affairs approves a paper application by an authorising email, which is defined as an email sent by an officer of the Department, authorising an applicant to make an application in an alternative place, or an alternative manner. These provisions will be available only in exceptional circumstances, such as if ImmiAccount is down for a prolonged period and the applicant’s visa is about to expire. Where this is the case, the paper application must:

be lodged according to the directions in the authorising email,

attach a copy of the authorising email to the application, and

be submitted before 11:59pm (AEST or AEDT when applicable) on the day after the day on which the authorising email was sent.

This fallback does not apply to all visas. For instance, in the same instrument, no provision exists for:

Subclass 887 – Skilled - Regional visas,

Subclass 189 – Skilled – Independent visas,

Subclass 190 – Skilled – Nominated visas,

Subclass 489 – Skilled - Regional (Provisional) visas (closed to new applicants), and

Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visas.

Visa applicants for the above subclasses will want to ensure they lodge well ahead of any scheduled maintenance or pressing deadline to avoid any disasters, such as if their visa expires or their invitation to apply for a visa lapses.

Lastly, according to the Perth Parent Visa Processing Centre, permanent parent visas, perhaps the last great holdout for internet applications, will be moving to ImmiAccount in the future. They will join the Subclass 870 - Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa.

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