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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 11 January 2022

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 22/03/00328
File Number: OBJ2022/5306

Dear Alexander

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

This letter acknowledges we received your request on 4 March 2022 to access documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). This letter also provides important information about your request.

Scope of request

You have requested access to the following:

Can you please provide me a document or documents which show statistics of:
- number of foreign nationals who applied for Australian visas, broken down by nationality, Australian visa class & sub-class, and month of application, since July 1 2021.
- number of foreign nationals residing in Australia who were granted Australian visas or visa renewals, broken down by nationality, Australian visa class & sub-class, and month of grant, since July 1 2021.
- number of foreign nationals residing outside of Australia who were granted Australian visas or visa renewals, broken down by nationality, Australian visa class & sub-class, and month of grant, since July 1 2021.
- number of foreign nationals not residing in Australia who were denied Australian visas, broken down by nationality, Australian visa class & sub-class, and month of denial, since July 1 2021.
- number of foreign nationals residing in Australia who were denied Australian visas, broken down by nationality, Australian visa class & sub-class, and month of denial, since July 1 2021.
- number of foreign nationals residing in Australia whose Australian visas expired and were not renewed or replaced with a different valid Australian visa, broken down by nationality, Australian visa class & sub-class, and month of expiry, since July 1 2021.
- number of foreign nationals who arrived in Australia, broken down by nationality, Australian visa class & sub-class (including without valid visa), and month of arrival, since July 1 2021.
- number of foreign nationals not residing in Australia, who had outstanding (in-process) applications for Australian visas, broken down by nationality, Australian visa class & sub-class, and month of original application, for each month since July 1 2021.
- number of foreign nationals without a valid Australian visa who departed from Australia, broken down by nationality, expired Australian visa class & sub-class (including those without any visa) and month of departure, since July 1 2021.
- number of foreign nationals held by Australia in immigration-related detention (onshore or offshore), broken down by location (facility) of dentention and total detainee count per location (facility) for each month since July 2016.

Your request was received by the Department on 4 March 2022 and has been allocated FOI request number: FA 22/03/00328.

Please include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information Section.

Timeframe

The timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the day we receive your request, as set out in the FOI Act.

Your review rights in relation to your request are available on the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner 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 $10 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.

Detailed information about FOI charges that may apply to your FOI request is available on the Department’s website.

We do not provide personal details of staff

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. However names of staff that have previously been released in departmental correspondence may be disclosed.

We do not provide duplicated 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.

Released documents you request may be published to our website

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.

How to refine or withdraw your request

Refining your request can reduce the time and charges associated with processing your FOI request.

To refine or withdraw your request, contact the FOI section at [Department of Home Affairs request email] and include your FOI request number.

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]

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

show quoted sections

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

Dear Alexander

The Department will advise you of the fee at a later date. You will then be able to seek a waiver of the fee at that time.

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]

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

show quoted sections

OFFICIAL

In reply please quote:

FOI Request:       FA 22/03/00328

File Number:       OBJ2022/5306

Dear Alexander,

This email refers to your FOI request received on 04 March 2022 seeking
access to:

Can you please provide me a document or documents which show statistics
of:

1.     number of foreign nationals who applied for Australian visas,
broken down by nationality, Australian visa class & sub-class, and month
of application, since July 1 2021.

2.     number of foreign nationals residing in Australia who were granted
Australian visas or visa renewals, broken down by nationality, Australian
visa class & sub-class, and month of grant, since July 1 2021.

3.     number of foreign nationals residing outside of Australia who were
granted Australian visas or visa renewals, broken down by nationality,
Australian visa class & sub-class, and month of grant, since July 1 2021.

4.     number of foreign nationals not residing in Australia who were
denied Australian visas, broken down by nationality, Australian visa class
& sub-class, and month of denial, since July 1 2021.

5.     number of foreign nationals residing in Australia who were denied
Australian visas, broken down by nationality, Australian visa class &
sub-class, and month of denial, since July 1 2021.

6.     number of foreign nationals residing in Australia whose Australian
visas expired and were not renewed or replaced with a different valid
Australian visa, broken down by nationality, Australian visa class &
sub-class, and month of expiry, since July 1 2021.

7.     number of foreign nationals who arrived in Australia, broken down
by nationality, Australian visa class & sub-class (including without valid
visa), and month of arrival, since July 1 2021.

8.     number of foreign nationals not residing in Australia, who had
outstanding (in-process) applications for Australian visas, broken down by
nationality, Australian visa class & sub-class, and month of original
application, for each month since July 1 2021.

9.     number of foreign nationals without a valid Australian visa who
departed from Australia, broken down by nationality, expired Australian
visa class & sub-class (including those without any visa) and month of
departure, since July 1 2021.

10.  number of foreign nationals held by Australia in immigration-related
detention (onshore or offshore), broken down by location (facility) of
dentention and total detainee count per location (facility) for each month
since July 2016.

The purpose of this email is to advise you (as required under s.24AB of
the FOI Act) that I consider a 'practical refusal reason' exists under
s.24AA of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) in relation to
your request.  I have set out my reasons in the attached notice. 

The FOI Act requires that you respond to this notice before the end of the
consultation period, which is close of business Australian Eastern
Standard Time (AEST) Friday 15 April 2022.  

As advised in the notice, you may reply to me at this email address
([1][Department of Home Affairs request email]).

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.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

UNOFFICIAL

Dear Alexander,

Freedom of Information Request - FA 22/03/00328

I refer to your email dated 04 March 2022 in which you requested access to
documents held by Department of Home Affairs under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

On 31 March 2022 the Department notified you of its intention to refuse
your request on the basis that either the work involved in processing your
request in its current form would substantially and unreasonably divert
the resources of Department from its other operations due to its broad
nature, size and complexity, or that the request does not satisfy the
requirement in section 15(2)(b) of the FOI Act, which requires you to
provide such information concerning the document you are seeking access
to, to enable the Department to be able to identify it.   

In particular, the Department notified you that, within 14 days of receipt
of that letter, you must advise Department that:

·         you wish to make a revised request; or

·         indicate that you do not wish to revise your request; or

·         withdraw your request.

The 14 day period has now expired.  As such, in accordance with section
24AB(7) of the FOI Act, Department considers that your request has been
withdrawn.

If you have any enquiries concerning this matter, please do not hesitate
to contact an FOI officer at [1][Department of Home Affairs request email]

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

UNOFFICIAL

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]