** This is an automated response. Please do not reply to this email **

Office closures during the Christmas period

Our offices will be closed on the 27, 28 & 29 of December 2021, and again
on 3 January 2022.

If you are sending an email to us during this time please note that we
will not be able to respond to your enquiry until we re-open.

While we will endeavour to action all correspondence as soon as possible,
you may experience delays due to our office closure and the large volume
of emails received during this period.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Your email has been received by the Department of Home Affairs Freedom of
Information (FOI) Section.

The FOI section only responds to valid FOI requests and other matters
relating to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).  Visit the
FOI Information on our Website for more information on what [1]information
can be accessed under the FOI Act 1982.

What is a valid FOI request?

A valid FOI request may be for:

- documents you previously provided to the Department as part of a visa
application

- a copy of a decision record made by the Department

- statistical information held by the Department

- papers or briefings the Department prepared.

If your email is a valid FOI request, the Department will contact you
shortly to acknowledge your request.

A valid FOI request must:

o Be in writing and state the request is for consideration under the FOI
Act.
o Have enough information for us to be able to identify the documents
you are seeking.
o Provide a physical or electronic address where we can send our
decision.

Do not send duplicate emails as this may cause longer delays in processing
times.

What is an invalid FOI request?

Invalid FOI requests may include:

- Making a visa application

- Seeking evidence of your Australian Citizenship

- Seeking information about traveling to or departing Australia.

If your email is not specific an FOI request or FOI related matter, the
FOI section will not respond.

What happens next?

Once we receive and have registered your FOI request, we will send you an
acknowledgment letter by email. Read the acknowledgment letter carefully
for further instructions.

FOI requests are generally processed in the order they are received.

We will contact you as soon as the Department has assessed your request
under the FOI Act.

We’re responding to a large volume of requests

Due to the current high volume of requests, we will not provide progress
up-dates on current FOI requests.  This is to ensure we are able to
process as many requests as possible, including yours.

If processing your request is going to take us a lot of time and because
it is large or unspecific, it may be refused.  

Still have a question or request?

If you still have a question, which has not been answered above, and which
is about the work of the Department, use our general enquiries web page

[2]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...

You may be able to resolve your enquiry faster using these other resources

We only action and respond to FOI requests that are valid under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982. You may be able to resolve your enquiry
faster by using these resources:

General information about travelling to Australia:

The Department of Home Affairs, “Entering Australia” site
[3]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...

·       For visa and our requirements for entry to Australia
[4]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...

For a copy of your visa refusal or visa grant letter you should contact
the office where you lodged your visa application. 

·       To check your current visa details and conditions use the
Department’s Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) portal which can
be accessed [5]here

·       If you are experiencing technical difficulties in lodging your
visa application through ImmiAccount, submit your concerns through the
ImmiAccount Technical Support Form, which is accessible [6]here.

·       For evidence of your Australian Citizenship please refer [7]here.
The FOI Section does not process these requests.

·       For movement records or travel history complete the online
International Movement Records form [8]here. The FOI Section does not
process these requests.

·       To update your details, including your Passport details, you can
notify the Department [9]here. The FOI Section does not process these
requests.

We appreciate your feedback         

We appreciate your feedback to help improve our services.

If you would like to provide feedback to us please use our Compliments,
complaints and suggestions form.
[10]https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-...

Thank you

Information updated 24 December 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. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...
2. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
3. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...
4. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...
5. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/al...
6. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
7. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizens...
8. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...
9. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
10. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-...

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

In reply please quote:

FOI Request:         FA 22/01/00352

File Number:          OBJ2022/898   

Dear M/- Espiritu

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

I refer to your correspondence received on 10 January 2022 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:

Number of applications waiting to be allocated to the Citizenship ceremony
(who have been approved but are now waiting to be allocated to a ceremony)
in Greater Sydney area as of the latest reporting date and kindly present
data based on the Council.

Your request was received by the Department on 10 January 2022 and has
been allocated FOI request number FA 22/01/00352. 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 [1]here.

Fees and Charges

Charges do not apply to requests from individuals seeking access to
documents about themselves. However, a charge may apply to all other
requests for access to documents.

Charges are based on the amount of time the Department spends on your
request. Charges can range from $15 to over $1,000 depending on the
complexity and scope of your request. The Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner reported that across the public service, the
average charge notified was $335.50 in 2020-21. If a charge applies, you
will be issued with a Notice of Charge that explains the charge and your
options.

More information about charges is available [2]here.

Exclusion of staff details

The Department’s practice 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 exist.

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.

Withdraw your request or reduce your scope - contact the FOI Section

Should you wish to withdraw your request as you no longer need the
information or reduce the amount of information or documents you have
asked us for, contact the FOI Section at [3][Department of Home Affairs request email].

Yours sincerely

Guy

Position no. 60103474

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy & National Resilience Group

E: [4][Department of Home Affairs request email]

Department of Home Affairs - [5]www.homeaffairs.gov.au

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

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. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
2. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...
3. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
4. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
5. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

Dear M/- Espiritu

In relation to your FOI request below, please specify which particular
councils you are seeking data for. The Department does not determine what
councils are covered in a particular area.

We would appreciate your response by COB Thursday 20 January 2022.

Yours sincerely

Guy

Position no. 60103474

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy & National Resilience Group

E: [1][Department of Home Affairs request email]

Department of Home Affairs - [2]www.homeaffairs.gov.au

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

From: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 11 January 2022 5:50 PM
To: Billie Espiritu <[FOI #8286 email]>
Subject: CM: Acknowledgement – FOI request FA 22/01/00352
[SEC=OFFICIAL:Sensitive, ACCESS=Personal-Privacy]

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

In reply please quote:

FOI Request:         FA 22/01/00352

File Number:          OBJ2022/898   

Dear M/- Espiritu

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

I refer to your correspondence received on 10 January 2022 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:

Number of applications waiting to be allocated to the Citizenship ceremony
(who have been approved but are now waiting to be allocated to a ceremony)
in Greater Sydney area as of the latest reporting date and kindly present
data based on the Council.

Your request was received by the Department on 10 January 2022 and has
been allocated FOI request number FA 22/01/00352. 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 [3]here.

Fees and Charges

Charges do not apply to requests from individuals seeking access to
documents about themselves. However, a charge may apply to all other
requests for access to documents.

Charges are based on the amount of time the Department spends on your
request. Charges can range from $15 to over $1,000 depending on the
complexity and scope of your request. The Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner reported that across the public service, the
average charge notified was $335.50 in 2020-21. If a charge applies, you
will be issued with a Notice of Charge that explains the charge and your
options.

More information about charges is available [4]here.

Exclusion of staff details

The Department’s practice 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 exist.

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.

Withdraw your request or reduce your scope - contact the FOI Section

Should you wish to withdraw your request as you no longer need the
information or reduce the amount of information or documents you have
asked us for, contact the FOI Section at [5][Department of Home Affairs request email].

Yours sincerely

Guy

Position no. 60103474

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy & National Resilience Group

E: [6][Department of Home Affairs request email]

Department of Home Affairs - [7]www.homeaffairs.gov.au

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

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. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
2. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/
3. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
4. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...
5. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
6. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
7. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

Dear M/- Espiritu

Thank you for clarifying your request. This has been referred to the relevant business area of the Department. You will receive a response in due course.

Yours sincerely

Guy
Freedom of Information Section
FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division
Strategy & National Resilience Group
E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]
Department of Home Affairs - www.homeaffairs.gov.au

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

-----Original Message-----
From: Billie Espiritu <[FOI #8286 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 13 January 2022 10:55 AM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: CM: RE: CM: Acknowledgement – FOI request FA 22/01/00352 [SEC=OFFICIAL:Sensitive, ACCESS=Personal-Privacy]

Dear FOI,

Thanks a lot for your email

I'm responding to clarify my request to the Department.

May i ask for the following councils:

Bayside Council

Blacktown City Council

Burwood Council

Camden Council

Campbelltown City Council

City of Canada Bay Council

City of Canterbury-Bankstown

City of Parramatta Council

City of Ryde

City of Sydney

Georges River Council

Inner West Council

Liverpool City Council

North Sydney Council

Penrith City Council

Strathfield Council

Yours sincerely,

Billie Espiritu

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

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

Personal-Privacy

Dear M/- Espiritu

In relation to your FOI request below, please specify which particular

councils you are seeking data for. The Department does not determine what

councils are covered in a particular area.

We would appreciate your response by COB Thursday 20 January 2022.

Yours sincerely

Guy

Position no. 60103474

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy & National Resilience Group

E: [1][Department of Home Affairs request email]

Department of Home Affairs - [2]www.homeaffairs.gov.au

Personal-Privacy

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

From: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>

Sent: Tuesday, 11 January 2022 5:50 PM

To: Billie Espiritu <[FOI #8286 email]>

Subject: CM: Acknowledgement – FOI request FA 22/01/00352

[SEC=OFFICIAL:Sensitive, ACCESS=Personal-Privacy]

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

Personal-Privacy

In reply please quote:

FOI Request:         FA 22/01/00352

File Number:          OBJ2022/898   

Dear M/- Espiritu

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

I refer to your correspondence received on 10 January 2022 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:

Number of applications waiting to be allocated to the Citizenship ceremony

(who have been approved but are now waiting to be allocated to a ceremony)

in Greater Sydney area as of the latest reporting date and kindly present

data based on the Council.

Your request was received by the Department on 10 January 2022 and has

been allocated FOI request number FA 22/01/00352. 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 [3]here.

Fees and Charges

Charges do not apply to requests from individuals seeking access to

documents about themselves. However, a charge may apply to all other

requests for access to documents.

Charges are based on the amount of time the Department spends on your

request. Charges can range from $15 to over $1,000 depending on the

complexity and scope of your request. The Office of the Australian

Information Commissioner reported that across the public service, the

average charge notified was $335.50 in 2020-21. If a charge applies, you

will be issued with a Notice of Charge that explains the charge and your

options.

More information about charges is available [4]here.

Exclusion of staff details

The Department’s practice 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 exist.

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.

Withdraw your request or reduce your scope - contact the FOI Section

Should you wish to withdraw your request as you no longer need the

information or reduce the amount of information or documents you have

asked us for, contact the FOI Section at [5][Department of Home Affairs request email].

Yours sincerely

Guy

Position no. 60103474

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy & National Resilience Group

E: [6][Department of Home Affairs request email]

Department of Home Affairs - [7]www.homeaffairs.gov.au

Personal-Privacy

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

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. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

2. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/

3. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...

4. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...

5. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

6. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

7. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/

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

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

[FOI #8286 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: Sensitive

In reply, please quote:

Client Name:     Espiritu, Billie

FOI Request:    22/01/00352

File Number:     OBJ2022/898

FOI due date:    9 February 2022

Dear  Billie Espiritu,

Request for an extension of time:

This correspondence refers to an access request received by the Department
of Home Affairs (‘the Department’) under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (the FOI Act) on 10 January 2022 seeking access to:

Number of applications waiting to be allocated to the Citizenship ceremony
(who have been approved but are now waiting to be allocated to a ceremony)
in Greater Sydney area as of the latest reporting date and kindly present
data based on the Council.

Timeframe for processing your request:

The FOI Act provides a statutory period for processing your request of 30
calendar days unless an extension of time is agreed to, or provided for,
under a provision of the FOI Act.

The due date for a decision on your request is 9 February 2022.

Request for an extension of time:

Unfortunately, the search and retrieval of documents related to the scope
of your request is taking longer than anticipated. The Department
therefore seeks your agreement (under section 15AA of the FOI Act) to
extend the timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days. The
additional time will support completing this process, and assist us in
making a decision on access within statutory timeframes.

If you agree to the extension of time please advise the Department before
7 February 2022 close of business, by email at: [1][Department of Home Affairs request email].

For more information on section 15AA and the FOI Act:

[2]The Australian Information Commissioner FOI Guidelines

[3]Freedom of Information Act 1982

Thank you for taking the time to consider my request and I look forward to
hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Karen

Position: 60114871

Freedom of Information

Freedom of Information & Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy and National Resilience Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [4][Department of Home Affairs request email]

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

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. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
2. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
3. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2...
4. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

OFFICIAL

Dear Ms Espiritu,

FOI request FA 22/01/00352

I refer to your FOI request received on 10 January 2022, seeking access to
the following:

Number of applications waiting to be allocated to the Citizenship ceremony
(who have been approved but are now waiting to be allocated to a ceremony)
in Greater Sydney area as of the latest reporting date and kindly present
data based on the Council.

Data sought for the following councils:

Bayside Council 
Blacktown City Council 
Burwood Council 
Camden Council 
Campbelltown City Council 
City of Canada Bay Council 
City of Canterbury-Bankstown 
City of Parramatta Council
City of Ryde 
City of Sydney 
Georges River Council 
Inner West Council 
Liverpool City Council 
North Sydney Council 
Penrith City Council 
Strathfield Council .

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

This request has now been closed.

Kind regards,

Emily

Position number: 60094663

Authorised FOI Officer

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.