Australian Embassy, China

澳大利亚驻华大使馆

Embassy address: 21 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Sanlitun, Beijing - Telephone: 5140 4111 - Fax: 5140 4204

1. Information ⇒ 2. Checklist ⇒ 3. How to Apply ⇒ 4. After You Apply

4. After You Apply – Non-Business Temporary Residence

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On this page: Processing times; Verification checks; Health assessment; Contacting us and Notifying you of the decision

Processing Times

The current average processing times for Non-business temporary residence visa applications lodged in China is 8 weeks. Applicants are encouraged to lodge their applications as early as possible prior to their date of intended travel to allow as much time as possible for processing.

Please also note that each application presents different issues that can vary the processing time. Some factors that may delay processing beyond the average processing time include:

An incomplete application being lodged or requested documents not being submitted promptly;
• Additional checks becoming necessary, including additional interviews:
• Medical issues requiring further tests or treatment, such as tuberculosis;
• Any character issues in relation to the applicant that may require a formal character assessment; and
• changes in the circumstances of the applicant.

Do not make any travel plans, purchase tickets or make any similar decisions in the expectation that you will receive a visa outcome within the average processing time. The average processing time is a guide only.

Verification Checks

Many applicants for visas will be subject to verification checking, which may include telephone interviews, third-party telephone checks, document examination, checks made with document issuing authorities, face-to-face interviews and site visits.

Health Assessment

If you are required to undertake an x-ray or medical examination, our office will contact you in relation to this at some stage after you lodge your application. Once contacted by our office to do so, you should make your own arrangements to attend an approved immigration panel hospital (it is recommended that you telephone the panel hospital to confirm whether or not an appointment is necessary). You should ensure that you bring the following documents to your appointment at the panel hospital:

1. Form 160 Radiological report on chest x-ray of an applicant for an Australian visa (for applicants aged 11 years or over);
2. Form 26 Medical examination for an Australian visa (for applicants under 11 years old);
3. Applicant's current passport (or photographic Id if no passport available);
4. Two passport-sized photographs per applicant; and
5. Copy of the letter from the relevant Visa Office acknowledging the lodgement of your visa application.

After you have undertaken your examination, our office will contact you should any follow-up action be required. If a medical issue is identified and follow-up is required, the process may take several weeks to a number of months to complete. For more information and for a list of immigration panel doctors in China, please visit the Health Requirements page.

Contacting Us

Should you need to contact us subsequent to lodging your application, please contact your Case Officer directly via email. Your Case Officer’s contact details are contained in the Acknowledgement Letter that would have been sent to you within a week of the date of application. If you do not have a record of your Case Officer’s email address, please email the relevant Visa Office.

Under the Privacy Act 1988 DIAC can only provide information about a visa application to the applicant, an authorised person or an appointed migration agent. If you have not already done so in your visa application form, you can authorise another person, such as your sponsor, to receive communication in respect of your application by completing and lodging Form 956 - Appointment of a migration agent or exempt agent or other authorised recipient.

If you have further documents or materials in support of your application that you wish to mail, courier or hand in to our office, in order that these reach your Case Officer without delay, please ensure that you clearly write your application file number (if you know it) on the envelope/package.

If there are any changes in circumstances relating to your application following lodgement, you are obliged to inform this office about them. If you wish to provide any other relevant information in support of your application, please do so in writing. You may use Form 1022 Notification of Changes in Circumstances for this purpose.

Additionally, if you wish to notify our office of any incorrect information that you may have given in your visa application, please do so in writing. You may use Form 1023 Notification of Incorrect Answer(s) for this purpose. Your notification of incorrect information will be taken into account when assessing your visa application.

Notifying You of the Decision

For legal reasons, all advice of visa decisions is made available only to applicants and/or their agents. If refused a visa, applicants are notified of this by a letter giving reasons for refusal and information about review options.

1. Information ⇒ 2. Checklist ⇒ 3. How to Apply ⇒ 4. After You Apply

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