❗491 Visa Delays – Frustrated & Seeking Guidance Despite the...
@loopywalrus4199 (1D ago| Updated 1D ago)❗491 Visa Delays – Frustrated & Seeking Guidance Despite the re-election of the same government, there has been little to no improvement in visa grant timelines—especially for the 491 visa, which continues to be much slower compared to the 190. Many of us have put in years of effort, qualifications, and financial investment into this process, only to now face uncertainty, silence, and emotional distress. It’s honestly heartbreaking to see so many genuine applicants falling into frustration, anxiety, and even depression due to these prolonged delays.
We're not asking for shortcuts—just transparency, fairness, and hope. The regional migration pathway is important for Australia’s growth, but it’s becoming a mental burden for many of us waiting endlessly without updates. 🙏 If you’ve gone through a similar experience, or have any advice, insights, or updates, please do share. Whether it’s from your own journey or through your agent, your guidance can help others feel less alone. Thank you in advance. Let’s support each other while we wait. 💬🤝
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Waiting for 17 months or more myself. If there is any consolation there are many thousands more that are waiting even longer some exceeding 24 months. The frustrating part is when there is no fairness in the process where some get very fast grants and some are put in an eternal wait. Ultimately no matter what we think or feel they are going to give the grant when they decide to do so and there is nothing anyone can do.
I have my own plans and important decisions (both personal and work) in limbo while I eternally wait daily hoping today is the day the wait would end. This is a feeling unique to us waiting for this silly visa grant and no one else can understand why this matters. To wait 2 years for a 5 year work visa (which is what the 491 is) is just abhorrent. Its not even a PR visa like 190 or 189.
But it's a case to case basis right if the occupation is in demand I suppose the wait time is lesser?
What you are referring to is the priority occupation. Yes they get the visa grant very fast max 2-3 months. I don't even consider them for this discussion because they will never ever wait 2 years
What I was referring to is the adhoc manner in which they are granting for non-priority occupations like us. Even today there are thousands of June 2023, July 2023, Aug 2023 etc applications and yet they have gone ahead and granted some as far as Dec 2023 and Jan 2024. There are applications that were lodged after I did and some of them already got the grant. This is the unfairness I was trying to tell...