Changes to Australian Visa Service Delivery in China

From 3 September 2012 the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is changing the way immigration services will be delivered in China.

The two key changes include the:

• Introduction of Australian Visa Application Centres (AVACs) in Beijing and Shanghai
• Changes to visa processing locations.

Introduction of AVACs

Two AVACs operated by VFS Global Pty Ltd, will be opened in Beijing and Shanghai on 3 September 2012.

The AVACs will:

• accept visa applications and charges
• handle basic enquiries from clients before application is lodged
• return passports
• provide an online application tracking facility.

The introduction of AVACs will provide more convenient access to immigration services for clients through greater access to information, extended service hours and streamlined processing.

Changes to visa processing locations

In addition to the introduction of AVACs, there will also be changes to where certain visa applications are processed in China from 3 September 2012.

Consolidating visa processing for certain visa applications into processing centres will enable a greater level of consistency in processing and decision-making and will improve the service the department provides to clients in this region.

Impact on clients

These changes mean from 3 September 2012, clients who reside in provinces within the Beijing and Shanghai catchment areas applying for an Australian visa should lodge their application at an AVAC in either Beijing or Shanghai.

Clients submitting their visa application by post or courier will generally be required to send their visa application directly to the AVAC in the location of the relevant processing office.

The exception to this will be clients lodging an Adoption (subclass 102) visa or Resident Return (subclass 155/157) visa who should submit their application to the Australian visa office at the Australian Consulate Guangzhou.

Clients in the Guangzhou catchment applying in person for an Australian visa should continue to lodge their application directly with the Australian Visa Office at the Australian Consulate in Guangzhou.

Temporary Residence (Non-Business) visas should be submitted directly to the AVAC in Beijing.

There will be no change to the current lodgement and processing arrangements for Government officials applying via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) or their local Foreign Affairs Office (FAO), Australian Destination Status (ADS) travel or Australian citizenship by Descent applications which should continue to be lodged directly with the nearest Australian Visa Office.

Applications will continue to be assessed and decided by the Australian visa office. Staff at the AVAC will have no involvement in the decision–making process or have any knowledge of the application outcome.

More Information

Specific details about visa lodgement and processing arrangements will be provided on the department's website in the coming weeks.