Applicants who have lodged offshore partner visa applications and are now in Australia may face delays if biometrics are requested, as there is currently no facility to complete this requirement onshore.
Visa applicants who have lodged offshore partner visa applications and are subsequently granted entry into Australia should be aware of a critical processing step — biometrics.
If the Department of Home Affairs requests biometrics after the applicant has entered Australia, they must still arrange to provide them at an overseas location. Currently, there is no facility available for biometrics collection within Australia for offshore visa applicants.
The Department has also indicated that it is unlikely to waive the biometrics requirement, even if the applicant is in Australia. This means that failing to provide biometrics offshore may lead to significant delays in visa processing or prevent the application from being finalised altogether.
Applicants and advisers should plan accordingly and consider the implications of entering Australia before the biometrics requirement is fulfilled.