This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Minutes for BIIP program processing'.



Freedom of Information Request – FA 23/03/00888 
Current automatic reply for the inbox of business skills Adelaide email inbox and business 

innovation email inbox.  
When emailing this mailbox, include your file number in the subject line as well as your application 
identifier.  Your file number is in the format BCC20XX/XXXX 
Information included in this auto-response relates only to the following Skilled visas: 

Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 188) (Provisional)

Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 888) (Permanent)

Business Talent (subclass 132)

Business Skil s (subclasses 890891892 and 893)
Enquiries about other visas may be saved to your departmental record but wil  not be actioned further.
You should direct your enquiry to the relevant business area.
Please read this auto-response careful y as most questions you may have wil  be answered in the
following information.
Application status enquiries
Status enquiries will not receive a further response.
We wil   also not acknowledge receipt of documents. This automatic response is confirmation that 
we have received your email.
We are unable to provide updates on the status of individual applications; however; this email
provides information about average processing times and priority processing arrangements.
Processing times
Updated processing times are available on the Department’s website
at: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/global-visa-processing-
times.
Visa processing times are updated monthly, providing you with an indicative timeframe for
processing applications.
Applicants should be aware that the processing time for some visa applications may exceed the 
average processing time. This is because each visa subclass contains applications that have a 
different processing priority. Your visa may also take longer to process if:

information required for your application is incomplete or missing, or

your application is complex
Processing priorities
As you may be aware, the processing of certain Skil ed visa applications is subject to both Migration 
Program planning levels and priority processing arrangements set by the Minister which determine 
the order in which the applications are processed.
Reducing the number of on hand visa applications is a priority for the Australian Government.  The 
Department of Home Affairs processes applications in line with the Government’s commitment to 
supporting economic recovery and addressing skil s shortages.




The Department must process applications in accordance with planning levels and processing 
priorities. 
As you may be aware, the planning level for the Business Innovation and Investment Program for 
2022-23 is 5,000 visa places.  This planning level ensures that the 2022-23 permanent Migration 
Program is focused on addressing immediate workforce shortages, while stil  providing visa places to 
business and investor migrants who have innovative ideas that may help Australian businesses to 
increase productivity. 
The Department continues to process all valid Business Innovation and Investment visa applications, 
in line with annual planning levels and in accordance with the new processing priorities to support 
economic recovery and address skil s shortages. 
Information regarding Migration Program planning levels is available at: 
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/migration-program-planning-levels 
Information regarding the processing priorities is available on the Department’s website at: 
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/skilled-visa-processing-
priorities. 
The current processing priorities came into effect from 28 October 2022 and apply to applications 
lodged with the Department on or after this date.  They also apply to applications that were lodged 
with the Department before this date and are not finalised including those in the final stages of 
processing. 
Providing documents 
This information is for applications being processed by BIIP Program Delivery South Australia 
(Adelaide Business Skills) only
If your business or investment activity is located in the People's Republic of China, Macau, Hong 
Kong or Taiwan you must send your documents to the Australian Consulate General Hong Kong. 
You should provide all supporting documentation as soon as possible after lodging your application as 
sending a request for further documents is at our discretion.  We are not required to request further 
documents before making a decision on an application
Required documents for Business Innovation and Investment visas 
Application checklists and information about required supporting documentation is available on our 
website: 

Subclass 132 applications

Subclass 188 applications

Subclass 888 applications
Provide a selection of documents and supporting evidence that are specific to your claims and the 
visa criteria. Providing excessive or irrelevant supporting material, or submitting incomplete
documentation, wil  extend the processing time of your application. 
How do I provide the documents?
Documents should be provided through ImmiAccount where possible, or via email to:
business.skil x.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx where ImmiAccount is unavailable.
You must provide either clear, colour scans or photos of documents.




Documents provided electronical y do not need to be certified copies, but you should be aware we 
can later request original documents if required to assess your application. 
Our website has instructions about using ImmiAccount including how to attach documents and 
acceptable document formats. This information is also relevant to providing documents via email. 
Documents cannot be provided via links to cloud and file sharing services and information presented 
this way is not before the Department for the purpose of considering an application. 
Using ImmiAccount to provide documents 
If you submitted your application through ImmiAccount for one of the following subclasses you should 
attach all documents to your application in ImmiAccount. 

Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 188) (Provisional)

Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 888) (Permanent) for applications lodged after 1 July
2018
Successfully attached documents wil  show as 'Received' in ImmiAccount. Please do not email
duplicate copies to us.
If you reach the attachment limit for an applicant, you can attach more documents to other clients
included in the application.
Using email to provide documents
If you are unable to provide document via ImmiAccount, please provide documents by email to:
business.skil x.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Your Application ID and File Number must be included in the subject line of your email. The file
number is the number commencing BCC20XX/XXXX  and was provided in the email acknowledging
your application was received by the Department.
Requesting additional time to provide information
Departmental officers can only provide an extension of time to respond to an invitation to
comment/provide further information before the original timeframe for response expires and the 
amount of additional time that can be provided is prescribed in legislation.
Consequently, consistent with visa processing arrangements, requests for further time to respond wil
be considered when the application is reviewed by a departmental officer and not when the request is
received. At that time the officer wil  decide whether to issue a further request for information to 
provide more time for the application to provide requested information.
Factors relevant to the officer’s decision wil  include, but is not limited to, the documentation provided 
evidencing the attempts made to obtain the necessary information. Where possible this information 
should be attached to the application in ImmiAccount.
Health and Character
If you are unable to provide a police clearance or undertake a medical examination then you should 
provide evidence via ImmiAccount/email, such as receipts, that clearly show you have either:
1. Applied for the required police clearances; and/or
2. Made appointments for medical examinations; or
3. Explain you have been unable to do so. For example if your passport is with a government agency 
and you are unable to make an appointment for a medical examination.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
  
Providing evidence that you are seeking to satisfy health and character requirements assists with the 
processing of your application for a visa. 
  
Where you have provided evidence through your ImmiAccount/via email in relation to your attempts to 
obtain medical appointments and/or police clearances you do not need to request an extension of 
time to provide the clearances - we wil   take this into account when we next review your application. 
  
If you have not been requested to undertake a medical examination, there is no need to 
contact a visa medical services clinic in Australia or an overseas panel clinic at this time. 
When your application is assessed, you wil  be advised if a medical examination is required. 
  
Bridging Visas  
Lodging a Bridging Visa B (BVB) application 
If you are planning to travel and wish to lodge a BVB application, it is recommended that you lodge 
your application well in advance of anticipated travel dates otherwise we cannot guarantee your 
application wil  be approved by the time you need to travel. 
  
If you do travel offshore before you are granted a BVB, your BVB application may be refused and you 
wil   have to apply for another visa to enter Australia. For further information, please refer to our 
website:  Explore visa options (homeaffairs.gov.au) 
  
Repeat BVB applications 
Do not lodge repeat BVB applications if you are stil  awaiting a decision on a lodged BVB application. 
Lodging multiple applications causes unnecessary delays and wil  not result in your application being 
assessed any faster. 
  
Dependents under 18 years 
Any child under the age of 18 years included in a BVB application must have consent from anyone 
who has the legal right to decide where the child lives and is NOT travelling with the child. 
  
Please ensure the following are provided as part of the application: 
•  Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years, or a 
statutory declaration giving their consent for the child to travel on this visa, and 
•  a document with the signature and photo of the person who completed the form or declaration (i.e. 
passport or driver’s licence) 
  
Failure to provide these documents at time of lodgement wil  result in delays with the processing of 
the BVB application. 
  
Refer to our website for information on required documents, in particular Step 2 - “Gather your 
documents” of the Step by Step instructions: Subclass 020 Bridging visa B (BVB) 
(homeaffairs.gov.au) 
  
Holder of a BVC needing to travel offshore urgently 
As compelling compassionate circumstances are not covered under the Bridging Visa regulations, 
there are no grounds under which a holder of a Bridging Visa C wil  be eligible for a grant of a 
Bridging Visa B.  
  
You wil   be able to travel out of Australia on a Bridging Visa C, but this visa does not allow you to re-
enter Australia and you wil  have to find a suitable visa if you need to return to Australia. Please visit 
Department of Home Affairs site for options. We cannot advise or assist with these alternative visa 
options. 
  
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Information for clients unable to make their first entry to Australia (Initial Entry Date)  
If you have been granted one of the visas listed above and you are unable to make your first entry 
into Australia by the date specified in your Grant Notification letter, please refer to the attached 
Facilitation Notice.  
  
We understand there wil  be circumstances where visa holders can’t arrive in Australia by the first 
entry date.  General y you can arrive in Australia after the first entry date, as long as it is before the 
“Must not arrive after” date. You wil  find the “Must not arrive after” date in the visa Grant 
Notification letter sent when the visa was granted (see example below). 
  
Example: 
 
  
You do not need to be granted an extension to the initial entry date but you must enter Australia by 
the “Must not arrive after” date. 
  
You may wish to carry a copy of the Facilitation Notice when travelling. You may need to show 
it to your travel provider or the airline when checking in at the airport, and to the border officer 
on arrival in Australia.  
  
This notice should be sufficient evidence for a travel provider to be satisfied that the visa holder can 
enter Australia as the holder of a Skil ed Migration visa.  If you show this letter to the airline, but stil  
have a problem checking-in for your flight, ask the airline representative to contact the Australian 
Border Operations Centre (BOC) to resolve the issue. 
  
You can only enter Australia while the visa mentioned above is valid. Information about your visa 
validity period is contained in your visa grant notification. You can check your visa details in VEVO: 
www.homeaffairs.gov.au/vevo 
  
This office cannot assist with facilitation requests for other visa subclasses. You wil  need to contact 
the processing office that granted your visa. 
If you are a Migration Agent or Legal Practitioner 
Emails requesting a pre-lodgement assessment or migration advice wil  not receive a response. If you 
are a Registered Migration agent or Legal Practitioner and require information on complex policy or 
procedural issues, please refer your enquiry through the online form. 
  
If you are an Intending Migrant 
Emails requesting a pre-lodgement assessment or migration advice wil  not receive a response. For 
further information on Skil ed Migration to Australia, refer to the Working in Australia page on the 
Department’s website. 
  
You can find information about who can help you with an application for a visa here. 
 
 
 
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Current automatic reply for the inbox of business innovation email inbox.  
 
Thank you for your email to the Business Innovation mailbox. 
  
Pre-lodgement & general enquiries sent to this mailbox will not be responded to, please refer to 
Immigration and Citizenship (homeaffairs.gov.au).  
  
This mailbox is provided for advice on complex policy or procedural questions relating to the Business 
Innovation and Investment Program (subclass 188, 888, 132) before the application is lodged.  
  
Al  enquires by applicants or potential applicants should be directed to the appropriate contact channel 
located at Overview (homeaffairs.gov.au) 
  
Processing Enquiries 
  
Enquiries relating to when an application may be allocated to a decision maker for processing wil  not be 
responded to. Please refer to: 
  
The current skil ed visa processing priorities can be found on the Department’s website at - Skilled visa 
processing priorities (homeaffairs.gov.au) 
  
Current global visa processing timeframes can be found on the Department’s website at - Global visa 
processing times (homeaffairs.gov.au) 
  
Applicants should be aware that the processing time for some visa applications may exceed the average 
processing time. This is because each visa subclass contains applications that have a different 
processing priority.  
  
Visa processing times are updated monthly, providing you with an indicative timeframe for processing 
applications. 
  
Attention registered migration agents:  
  
Registered Migration Agents / Legal Practitioners are to submit your enquiry directly through the Agents 
Gateway at: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/departmental-forms/online-forms/registered-
migration-agents-enquiry-and-feedback.  
  
In your enquiry please provide specific reference to the relevant legislation and/or policy provision. 
  
We will only provide a response where we receive a clear and complex policy query for which the answer 
cannot be found in existing resources in your professional library such as LEGEND.com as well as 
information available on our website and Skil ed visa newsletters 
  
Email enquiries from Migration Agents/Legal Practitioners sent directly to this mailbox will not be actioned. 
Your enquiry must be submitted through the Agents Gateway as noted above. 
 
Notes: 
1.  Source: Department of Home Affairs, 2023 (internal documents).   
Caveats: 
 
•  This information is provided for the specific purpose of this request. 
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• It is the responsibility of the area providing Department of Home Affairs information to external
stakeholders to ensure that the disclosure is in accordance with the ABF Act, Australian Privacy
Principles or other relevant legislation.