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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your email has been received by the Department of Home Affairs Freedom of
Information (FOI) Section. Please note that we will only action and
respond to FOI requests and other matters relating to the Freedom of
Information Act 1982.

If your email is a valid FOI request, the Department will contact you
shortly to acknowledge your request. Please do not send duplicate emails
as this may cause delays in processing times.

For matters not relating to the Freedom of Information Act 1982, please
refer to the information below to assist in the resolution of your
enquiry.

General information regarding travelling to Australia

Information for visitors to Australia can be found [1]here.

Information regarding potential visa options can be found [2]here.

Request for a copy of your Visa Refusal or Visa Grant letter

If you have lost or misplaced correspondence regarding your Visa Refusal
or Visa Grant, or you wish to confirm the authenticity of your Visa
Refusal or Visa Grant, you should contact the office where you lodged your
visa application. 

Details of our offices located around the world can be found [3]here.

Checking your current Visa details and conditions

You can check your visa details and conditions on the Department’s Visa
Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) portal which can be accessed
[4]here.  If you do not have the necessary reference numbers to access the
VEVO portal, you should contact the office where you lodged your visa
application for further information.

Refund of Visa fees

If you are seeking a refund of fees associated with your Visa, you should
contact the office where you lodged your visa application.  Details of our
offices located around the world can be found [5]here.

Making a Visa application

Registered migration agents are authorised to provide immigration advice
or assistance, including advice regarding the lodgement of visa
applications. Further information on migration agents may be found
[6]here.  Please note that the Department is unable to assist you in this
regard.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties in lodging your visa
application through ImmiAccount, you should submit your concerns through
the ImmiAccount Technical Support Form, which is accessible [7]here.

Australian Citizenship

If you are seeking evidence of your Australian Citizenship, please refer
[8]here.

Information on how to apply for Australian citizenship, information for
Australian citizens and Australian Citizenship Day can be found [9]here.

The FOI Section does not process these requests.

Movement Records/Travel History

If you are seeking evidence of your own travel movements/history, complete
the online International Movement Records form [10]here. These requests
are not actioned by the FOI Section.

Superannuation – Evidence of Immigration Status

Information about accessing your superannuation after leaving Australia
can be found [11]here.

The FOI Section does not process these requests.

Changes in your situation including updating your Passport Details

If your situation has changes or is about to change, you need to tell us
because your visa might be affected.

Information can be found [12]here about how to notify the Department of a
change in your situation.

The FOI Section does not process these requests.

Duty Free concessions

Information relating to duty free concessions can be found [13]here.

General Enquiries

If you have a question, which has not been answered above, and which is
about visa, citizenship, travel or trade, including bringing goods in and
out of Australia, please refer to our general enquiries web form [14]here.

FOI progress up-date enquires  

FOI requests are processed in date order from when they are submitted and
we are committed to finalising your request in accordance with the FOI
Act.  Once we register your FOI request, we will send you an
acknowledgment letter so that you can rest assured that we are processing
your request.

Please read the acknowledgment letter carefully for further instructions,
such as if we require further information from you to progress your FOI
request.

After acknowledging your request, you can expect us to contact you as soon
as we have made a decision on your request. 

Due to the current high volume of requests, we will not provide progress
up-dates on current FOI requests.  No further response will be provided
unless it is necessary to process your request.

Please note that the FOI timeframes may be extended if your request seeks
a large volume of documents or the scope of your request is unspecific. To
ensure your FOI request can be processed as quickly as possible, please
make sure that the scope of your request clearly and precisely identifies
the specific documents you are seeking to access. 

Afghanistan situation and contacting the Department of Home Affairs:

Thank you for your email. Foreign nationals, including from Afghanistan,
need a valid visa to enter Australia.  People will not be able to settle
in Australia if they arrive illegally.

The Government is working to ensure that visa options continue to be
available to Afghan nationals, both within Afghanistan and those displaced
from their home country, through Australia’s long-standing Humanitarian
Program. Priority is given to persecuted minorities, women and children,
and those who have links to Australia. All applicants must meet the visa
criteria including character, security and health requirements. Afghan
nationals who meet the requirements for a humanitarian visa and wish to
seek Australia’s help are strongly encouraged to make an application. 

Information on the process for making an application for Australia’s
Humanitarian Program is available on the Department of Home Affairs
[15]website.

In addition to the Humanitarian Program, there are other [16]visa options
available for people who wish to migrate on the basis of their skills or
family relationships in Australia. 

Note: The correct process must be followed to make a valid application.
You cannot apply by sending an email to the Minister’s Office or to a
general Departmental mailbox.  

Thank you

Information updated 30 August 2021

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visi
2. http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1
3. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/o...
4. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/al...
5. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/o...
6. https://www.mara.gov.au/
7. https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/Immi...
8. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/al...
9. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizens...
10. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...
11. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...
12. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
13. http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Ente/Duty-...
14. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/m...
15. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...
16. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...

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OFFICIAL

Subject: In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 21/09/00080
File Number: OBJ2021/27052

Dear Matt

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

I refer to your correspondence received on 1 September 2021 seeking access to documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

Scope of request

You have requested access to the following:

I would like to know the number of applicants who attended citizenship ceremonies in Brisbane City Council. The requested time period is from 1 July 2020 to 31 August 2021. Please send the total number of applicants that attended citizenship ceremonies in Brisbane City Council at the end of each month..
Your request was received by the Department on 1 September 2021 and has been allocated FOI request number FA 21/09/00080 . Please include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information Section.

Timeframe for receiving your decision

The statutory timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the date upon which your application was received by the Department.

Your review rights in relation to your request are available on the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner here.

Exclusion of staff details

The Department’s policy is to exclude the personal details of staff not in the Senior Executive Service (SES), as well as the direct contact details of SES staff, contained in documents that fall within scope of an FOI request. If you require personal details of non-SES officers, or direct contact details of SES staff, please inform us so the decision maker may consider your request. Otherwise we will take it that you agree to that information being excluded from the scope of your request.

Duplicate documents

If the FOI decision-maker deems a document to be a duplicate, they will not assess those pages as part of your FOI request. This means that if a there is a decision to release the document to you, you will receive only one copy, even if multiple copies of that document exists.

Publication of document

Where documents are released to you in response to your request, the Department may be required to publish these documents on its website within 10 working days in accordance with section 11C of the FOI Act. Publication will not be required where the documents contain personal or business affairs information.

Contacting the FOI Section

Should you wish to discuss your request you may contact the FOI Section at [Department of Home Affairs request email].

Kind regards

Jade
Position number: 60107422
Authorised FOI Officer
FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division
Strategy and National Resilience Group
Department of Home Affairs
E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]

OFFICIAL

-----Original Message-----
From: Matt <[FOI #7792 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 1 September 2021 8:45 AM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Ceremony attended list for Brisbane City Council

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

I would like to know the number of applicants who attended citizenship ceremonies in Brisbane City Council. The requested time period is from 1 July 2020 to 31 August 2021. Please send the total number of applicants that attended citizenship ceremonies in Brisbane City Council at the end of each month.

Yours faithfully,

Matt

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #7792 email]

Is [Department of Home Affairs request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Department of Home Affairs? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this email.

hide quoted sections

OFFICIAL

Dear Matt,

Thank you for your email enquiring about the progress of your FOI request.

Please be advised that the Department is currently processing a large number of FOI requests. Our staff are working hard and the Department is committed to processing your request as quickly as possible.

A number of documents have been identified as falling within the scope of your request and an FOI Officer will be reviewing those documents in due course. A decision on access will be made on your request and you will be notified of this as soon as possible.

Kind regards

Jade
Position number: 60107422
Authorised FOI Officer
FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division
Strategy and National Resilience Group
Department of Home Affairs
E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]

OFFICIAL

-----Original Message-----
From: Matt <[FOI #7792 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 6 October 2021 9:48 AM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: Re: Acknowledgement – FOI request FA 21/09/00080 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Dear FOI,

Could you please confirm that you are processing this request? It has been more than 30 days from your acknowledgement of receiving this request.

Thank you

Yours sincerely,

Matt

-----Original Message-----

OFFICIAL

Subject: In reply please quote:

FOI Request: FA 21/09/00080

File Number: OBJ2021/27052

Dear Matt

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

I refer to your correspondence received on 1 September 2021 seeking access to documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

Scope of request

You have requested access to the following:

I would like to know the number of applicants who attended citizenship ceremonies in Brisbane City Council. The requested time period is from 1 July 2020 to 31 August 2021. Please send the total number of applicants that attended citizenship ceremonies in Brisbane City Council at the end of each month..

Your request was received by the Department on 1 September 2021 and has been allocated FOI request number FA 21/09/00080 . Please include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information Section.

Timeframe for receiving your decision

The statutory timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the date upon which your application was received by the Department.

Your review rights in relation to your request are available on the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner here.

Exclusion of staff details

The Department’s policy is to exclude the personal details of staff not in the Senior Executive Service (SES), as well as the direct contact details of SES staff, contained in documents that fall within scope of an FOI request. If you require personal details of non-SES officers, or direct contact details of SES staff, please inform us so the decision maker may consider your request. Otherwise we will take it that you agree to that information being excluded from the scope of your request.

Duplicate documents

If the FOI decision-maker deems a document to be a duplicate, they will not assess those pages as part of your FOI request. This means that if a there is a decision to release the document to you, you will receive only one copy, even if multiple copies of that document exists.

Publication of document

Where documents are released to you in response to your request, the Department may be required to publish these documents on its website within 10 working days in accordance with section 11C of the FOI Act. Publication will not be required where the documents contain personal or business affairs information.

Contacting the FOI Section

Should you wish to discuss your request you may contact the FOI Section at [Department of Home Affairs request email].

Kind regards

Jade

Position number: 60107422

Authorised FOI Officer

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy and National Resilience Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]

OFFICIAL

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[FOI #7792 email]

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this email.

hide quoted sections

OFFICIAL

In reply please quote:

FOI Request:         FA 21/09/00080

File Number:          OBJ2021/27052

Dear Matt,

I refer to your FOI request received on 01 September 2021 

The Department has made a decision on this request. Please find attached
the decision record and any documents released under the FOI Act.  

This request has been closed in our system.

Signed electronically

Glen

Position number 60081621

Authorised Decision Maker | Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division | Strategy and National Resilience Group

Department of Home Affairs
OFFICIAL

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.