Australia’s Department of Home Affairs says high application volumes are extending processing times for Working Holiday (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas. It advises applicants not to book travel until they have written confirmation of a visa grant.
The country-cap page, checked on 10 September, also showed pauses on first subclass 462 applications for some countries. These country-cap arrangements apply to first 462 visas; the department states that second and third 462 visas are not subject to these caps.
A ‘paused’ status may be used to spread applications through the programme year, manage volumes or monitor a cap nearing its limit, and applications may reopen within that year. ‘Closed’ means all places for the year have been filled, so applicants must wait for the next programme year.
References
Department of Home Affairs — Working Holiday Maker program: latest news / Department of Home Affairs — Status of country caps
