Hi there, sorry for the long post. We are just lost as to what are our options to escalate?
Some background information:
We are a family of 5: Main applicant, partner and 3 kids.
Main applicant was offered a RCOS for a Shortage occupation position on 8th May 2018.
On 4th June main applicant, partner and their 3 children submitted their online Tier 2 Shortage Occupation applications.
On 6th June the whole family attended their biometrics appointment and submitted their supporting documentation.
On 14th June the whole family received emails stating that the applications had been received at the decision making centre.
On 23rd June Partner received an email stating that a National Criminal Record Certificate was required in order to continue assessing the application. Partner submitted the required documentation on 25 June
On 29th June Partner used the paid email service to ask if the documents had been received. A standard response indicating that all applications are awaiting decision was received on the same day. Partner sent a reply to this email asking specifically again if the documents were received.
On 2nd July we received a reply indicating that Partner’s visa had been decided and that the remaining 4 visas (main applicant & 3 children) were awaiting decision.
On 3rd July, the remaining 4 applications were escalated.
On 4th July we received txt message from vfs indicating that the processed visa was received and that it would be dispatched to our nominated address for Partner
On 5th July we received approved visa for Partner. We also received an emailed response confirming that our case was escalated on the 4th July. As we received an approved visa (for partner) we acted on this assuming that the main applicant and dependants must be approved and will be received shortly. We booked flights for the 30th July and both resigned from our jobs. We set Friday the 27th July as the last day of school for our children. Our house was put up for rent.
On 9th July we requested current status and again received a generic response indicating that “your application is being considered and is currently awaiting a decision”. The email made no reference to the multiple applications we were enquiring about.
On 10th July we aimed to clarify that the main applicant was not yet decided and continued to seek escalation
On 13th July we received a generic response indicating that “all your application are being considered and is currently awaiting a decision”. We also received on this day an email from
visainfo.shefo@fco.gov.uk email address (I.e not the contact centre) saying : “ please be assured that your remaining applications are in their final stages and that a decision will be made as soon as possible over the coming days.”
On 18th July we again emailed for status update.
On 20th July we received another generic response indicating that “all your application are being considered and is currently awaiting a decision”
On 23rd July we sent an email that requested that the case be marked as urgent escalation. We also used the paid phone service to call and try to find out what is happening. We were told over the phone that they would re-escalate the case.
On 25th July we decided to visit the VFS centre which we had our biometrics appointment to see if anything could be done, since it was 7weeks since our biometrics appointment. They informed us that nothing could be done, however that they would send an email to the visa office escalating on our behalf.
On 26th July emails again for status update and again requested case to be treated urgently. Again we record a generic response informing us that “your application is awaiting decision” and that they escalated on 23.7.18 and that we’ll be contacted within 15 working days. We also received a voicemail from the VFS office informing us to bring Partners passport back into the VFS office.
On 27th July we took Partners passport back into the office and we were informed that the decisioning centre now realised their mistake of issuing the partner visa without completing the decision on the main applicant. We were told that now they would process all the applications together, as they should have originally. At this stage we cancelled our flights that we had booked. We called the contact centre again and we’re connected to Adriana. Adriana told us that it could take up to 30 days, and when I pointed out it was 36 working days already she told me that it was holiday season so there are not that many people in the office.
On 30th July emailed again and requested current status.
On 31st July we received yet another generic response indicating that “your application is being considered and is currently awaiting a decision”. Also, if it has been over 15 days that we can escalate the case.
On 1st August we again visited the VFS office to find out if they have any updates for us as yet. We also received the following email from the
visainfo.shefo@fco.gov.au address: “Due to it being our busiest period, I’m afraid we are unable to make a decision on your applications of your family, within our usual timescale. We cannot give a time scale for when a decisions will be made, however please be assured that we are continuing to work on the applications and will update you as and when we have any additional information”
This has been a long and hard journey for our family to date. At present our children are no longer at school, neither Main applicant or partner are working and we are sleeping on the floor of Main applicants brothers house due to our house being rented. We incurred costs by cancelling our flights, and from the numerous emails and phone calls. We are both mentally and emotionally drained by this process. We wanted this opportunity for our children but the emotional toll it is having on us parents is being reflected on our children.
Is there anyway you can please help us? We would like them to decision our applications as a priority so that we can move on with our lives. It is unsustainable for us to continue being unemployed, sleeping on the floor of main applicants brother’s house with the children out of school. We acted on the basis that an approved visa was received and now we are left with nothing.
