After a year of waiting on a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300), silence from the Department is not, in itself, a sign that something has gone wrong. Track your application status through ImmiAccount and the Messages tab, and use the “Partner processing enquiry” form for any formal question; while an application sits within the standard processing range, the Department does not report on the progress of individual cases.
Dr Sirous Ahmadi, Australian migration lawyer, registration number MARA 0854826, sees this as one of the most common worries among couples waiting on a Prospective Marriage visa, and explains that the absence of email in practice means your application is moving — not that it has been forgotten. Once lodged complete, an application joins the assessment queue and a case officer assesses it in due course; and the Department has expressly stated that applications are not always assessed in order of lodgement date.
On timeframes: the Department updates its processing times guide monthly and publishes two figures — the time taken to decide 75 per cent and 90 per cent of applications. These are indicative only, drawn from recently decided cases, and are measured from the date a complete application is lodged, not from the date your last document was uploaded. On the most recently published data, the median processing time for subclass 300 sits at around 14 months and the 75th percentile at around 19 months — so a one-year wait is comfortably within the normal range, and you have not yet even reached the midpoint of the published range. Always read the figure that applies on the day from the official guide itself.
There are three proper ways to follow up. First, log in to ImmiAccount and check both your “application status” and the Messages tab — your grant or refusal letter, as well as any formal request for documents (a request under s 56), is delivered there. Second, use the dedicated “Partner processing enquiry form”, which is designed precisely for questions about lodged family/partner applications and applies only while the application is being processed. Third, wait wisely — the Department asks applicants to keep contact with the case officer and the processing office to a minimum. Note too that the ImmiAccount technical support form is not for questions about application status, and such questions will not be answered through that channel.
Three key warnings specific to subclass 300 for couples who have been in the queue for some time. Do not marry before a decision is made — on the Department’s own checklist, marrying before a decision removes your eligibility for the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300), and if it happens you must upload your marriage certificate in ImmiAccount. Keep your contact details current at all times and formally notify any change in circumstances (address, marital status, a child, a new passport). And in longer waits, check whether your health examinations and police certificates need to be redone — cross-check this against the Department’s current health requirement page so that you act on the requirement as it stands that day.
Your peace of mind at this stage comes from knowing one thing: silence is part of the process, and you have clear, official channels available to follow up. If you would like your application reviewed precisely and your next step settled with confidence, a short conversation with Dr Sirous Ahmadi may be the very reassurance you have been waiting a year for.
Read the full legal breakdown ←
This answer reflects the law and policy as verified on October 8, 2026. Immigration rules change frequently — confirm the current position before acting.
Dr. Sirous Ahmadi Registered Migration Agent 0854826
This article is general information only, current at the date shown, and is not legal advice. Do not rely on it for your own situation — immigration law and policy change frequently. Seek advice from a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer about your circumstances.