In immigration we hear rather a lot about ‘caps’ and ‘queues’. However what are they? How do they have an effect on you? Or – a greater query – does it even apply to you?
The one solution to discover out what’s relevant in your specific scenario is to contact us so we may give you some specifics. However there are some tips that you simply may discover useful.
What’s an immigration ‘cap’?
A ‘cap’, on the subject of immigration in Australia, is an higher restrict of locations out there for a visa. This restrict is ready by the Division of Immigration and Border Safety. There are a few guidelines that apply to caps. These are:
- that the higher restrict is legitimate just for the yr during which it was launched
- that when the variety of visas has been reached, no extra will probably be granted.
It doesn’t matter how pressing or crucial is your scenario. When you apply for a visa after a cap has been reached, you’ll have to wait. It’s a troublesome name, particularly given most household visas are already vital.
This brings us neatly to ‘queues’.


What’s an immigration ‘queue’?
A ‘queue’ is what occurs after the ‘cap’ has been reached. The place you might be positioned within the queue is dependent upon the date of your software. All queue locations are ordered by date. The Division is not going to change the order of the queue, and you can not ask to be thought-about early.
A queue date is the date that your software has been seen to have met all necessities. It’s vital to be clear about this; it’s not your date of lodgement.
I’ve heard about ‘cap and stop’. What’s that?
This can be a uncommon prevalence. Nonetheless, it might occur. What it means is that the minister can set the variety of functions for a visa class in a monetary yr. When that higher restrict has been reached, all recordsdata are closed. When there’s a ‘cap and stop’ course given, anyone who missed out doesn’t go right into a queue. As an alternative, your software is handled as if it was not submitted within the first place.
As I stated, it’s uncommon as a result of it solely occurs in distinctive circumstances.
Which visas can’t be capped?
There are some household visa classes that may’t be capped. That is excellent news for these with rapid relations abroad.
The actual subclasses that won’t be capped are:
- Associate (subclasses 309/100 and 820/801)
- Baby (subclasses 101 and 802) visas
- Dependent Baby (subclass 445) visa
- Orphan Relative (subclasses 117 and 837) visas
- Adoption (subclass 102) visas
How can I verify to see whether or not my visa class is or will probably be capped?
Contact us to seek out out about your specific visa class. Visa caps might be put in place at level all year long, so all the time verify to see if there are going to be any delays.

