@tanu
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Has anyone heard any updates on when the Department of Home Affairs will resume granting subclass 491 offshore visas?
Lately, I can mostly see 189 and 190 visa grants, while there seem to be very few (if any) offshore 491 grants being reported. Many offshore applicants, including those in priority occupations, have been waiting for a long time with no clear updates.
Does anyone have any information or recent grant reports for 491 offshore applications? Is there any estimated timeline for when offshore 491 grants might start moving again?
It would be great if anyone with recent grant experiences or reliable information could share. The uncertainty is becoming very stressful for many of us waiting offshore.
Has DHA done this before? Have they ever put offshore applications on hold like this?
This whole situation is becoming incredibly frustrating and stressful. It’s hard to watch people who lodged around the same time—or even later—receive their visas within 10 months while some of us are still waiting with no updates at all. It feels like we’re left in the dark, with no idea when our visas will be granted.
At this point, it makes you wonder what the benefit of being in a priority occupation is if there doesn’t seem to be any priority in processing. Is anyone else in the same situation, or has DHA done something similar in previous years?
@gregormendel, Is anyone else noticing that the Department of Home Affairs seems to be granting mostly onshore visas lately? From what I can see, many recent grants are for applicants who lodged their applications in 2026, while there are very few, if any, offshore grants being reported.
I lodged my application in June 2025 under a priority occupation, and I’m still waiting with no updates. It’s becoming really confusing, and I have no idea what’s happening or when offshore applicants can expect decisions.
Are there any other offshore applicants from 2025 still waiting? Has anyone received any information or noticed a similar trend?
Hey @gregormendel Hope you’re doing well. I have one doubt about documents actually when I submitted my application through my lawyer mistakenly i have sent one wrong document and she uploaded it i think. Basically i have uploaded all the correct documents during my skill assessment for retail pharmacist. But while lodging file i have already submitted my own degree certificate, all semesters mark sheets which is all together seven but the consolidated marksheet i have submitted incorrect. Which is my friend’s consolidated marksheet. Although my lawyer suggested me to write an official explanation letter with my own signature and she uploaded it with correct consolidated marksheet. But I am still worried and concerned about this situation. Will This effect my file? Also its been 11 months now i have been waiting for my grant and my status is still received. Nothing is been ask to submit no s56 nothing. Still waiting for priority occupation grant. Any idea how long it will take because this FY 2025-26 year is almost to an end. I have lodged my file on 25 june 2025. I am so stressed about this situation.
Hey, @gregormendel hope you’re doing well. Its kinda very frustrating when you come closer to your timeline and suddenly you see the changes in the overall timeline for priority occupation. Earlier it was 10 months. When I completed my 10 months waiting period then it goes up to 11 months now my waiting time is 10 months and few days up now it surges to 12 months and one month. I have no idea what is happening with me. I don’t think i will get my grant my Immi account status still showing received. My AHPRA reg is also expired i had to renew it again. I am just spending money not getting anything back. People who i know they all got their grants. Do you have any clue why this is happening?
@gregormendel I have noticed everytime I come closer to my timeline for visa grants suddenly timeline goes up. As previously it was 10 months 22 days for retail pharmacist occupation and my waiting time as of today is 9 months 11 days. Now i can see today’s grants is within one year or 11 months and some days. Which is very frustrating being an offshore without any job. Waiting time is going up everytime. I have no clue now when can i expect my grant as i can see on Immi account my status is still received and haven’t received any s56 or any other request. Proactively submitted my all Pcc and medical and other supporting documents. I am so disappointed with this time frame. Could you guide or provide me any idea when can i get my grant?
@gregormendel I have submitted my visa application on 25 june 2025 for retail pharmacist which is a priority occupation. I am offshore candidate. I can see some people got their grants within 6 months but i have not heard anything about my application and the status is still received. Any idea how long it will take for me to get my grant for 491 visa??