Successful Case Study:How to Successfully Apply for an Offshore Visitor Visa During the Pandemic?

The outbreak of COVID-19 significantly impacted many temporary visa holders—some were unable to renew visas, some experienced expiries, and others faced strict international travel restrictions. The pandemic also brought major changes to visa policies. For example, the offshore Visitor Visa (subclass 600) processing was essentially paused, leaving many applicants unable to lodge or renew their visas.

However, with professional guidance, solutions can still be found. Today, we share a successful case demonstrating how we helped a client obtain an offshore Visitor Visa during the pandemic.

Case Background

Ms. H previously held a one-year Australian Visitor Visa granted in October 2017. After the visa expired in 2018, she did not apply for another one. During the pandemic, she wished to apply for a new Visitor Visa so she could travel to Australia with her grandson to visit his father.

However, due to COVID-19:

• The offshore Visitor Visa processing centres had suspended operations.

• Australia imposed strict travel bans, only allowing citizens, PR holders, and a limited category of exempt travellers to enter.

• Ms. H had neither a valid visa nor an exemption pathway.

Feeling helpless, Ms. H consulted a friend, who strongly recommended our HECT Australia migration team known for resolving difficult immigration matters. She then approached us for assistance in helping her and her grandson reunite with their family in Australia.

Our Strategy & Outcome

After in-depth consultation, we learned that Ms. H and her family had been separated long-term due to the pandemic travel ban, and she wished to reunite with her son as soon as possible.

Our legal team prepared a detailed submission explaining that Ms. H and her grandson had compassionate and compelling reasons for entering Australia. Shortly after lodging the request, we successfully obtained the travel exemption for both clients.

Following this, we prepared and submitted a new offshore Visitor Visa application, clearly demonstrating their exceptional circumstances to the Department of Home Affairs.

As a result, both the exemption and the Visitor Visa were granted, allowing Ms. H and her family to reunite in Australia during the pandemic.

Challenges of the Case

1. The client’s previous Visitor Visa had already expired, and due to the pandemic, offshore Visitor Visa processing centres were temporarily closed.

2. As a non-citizen and non-PR holder, the client was not permitted to enter Australia under the COVID-19 travel ban and had to obtain a travel exemption first — an application type known for its high difficulty and strict assessment criteria.

Key Success Factors

1. We took the client’s personal circumstances into full consideration and maintained consistent, detailed communication throughout the preparation process.

2. Our team assisted the client in preparing comprehensive supporting documents and a highly persuasive submission letter.

3. The HECT Australia migration lawyers leveraged their in-depth understanding of immigration policies and applied them flexibly to the case.

4. With a large number of successful travel exemption cases (a 100% approval rate), our team brought extensive experience and confidence to the application.

During the pandemic, countless unpredictable circumstances and rapidly changing immigration policies created challenges for many visa holders.
If your visa has been affected by COVID-19 or any policy change, seek professional help early to protect your visa status and secure the best possible outcome!