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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 22/02/00407
File Number: OBJ2022/3059

Dear Mr Hussain

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

I refer to your correspondence received on 3 February 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:

I would like to request following information regarding the City of Caterbury-Bankstown Citizenship applications status for the period from 1st January 2021 till 31st January 2022:

1. Month wise Counts of Applicants who had Citizenship by conferral Applications approved in The City of Canterbury Bankstown
2. Month wise Counts of Applicants of Citizenship by conferral who attended Citizenship Ceremony in The City of Canterbury Bankstown
3. Month wise Counts of applicants who are waiting to attend a ceremony in the City of Canterbury Bankstown. This count is the total number of Citizenship by Conferral Applicants at the end of each month who are approved but waiting for Citizenship Ceremony

Your request was received by the Department on 3 February 2022 and has been allocated FOI request number FA 22/02/00407. 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.

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,

Michael
Position number: 60028261
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

In reply please quote:

Our Reference: FA 22/02/00407

File Reference: OBJ2022/3059

Dear Muhammad Abid Hussain,

Request for Extension of Time under section 15AA

I refer to your request received on 3 February 2022 for access to
documents under the FOI Act. The current due date for your request is 7
March 2022. The scope of your request is as follows:

I would like to request following information regarding the City of
Caterbury-Bankstown Citizenship applications status for the period from
1st January 2021 till 31st January 2022:

1. Month wise Counts of Applicants who had Citizenship by conferral
Applications approved in The City of Canterbury Bankstown

2. Month wise Counts of Applicants of Citizenship by conferral who
attended Citizenship Ceremony in The City of Canterbury Bankstown

3. Month wise Counts of applicants who are waiting to attend a ceremony in
the City of Canterbury Bankstown. This count is the total number of
Citizenship by Conferral Applicants at the end of each month who are
approved but waiting for Citizenship Ceremony

In order for the Department to complete consultation process and decision
making  in relation to the documents that fall within the scope of your
request, the Department will require additional time to process your
request.

The Department seeks your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act to
extend the timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days. This
would extend the due date for your request to 6 April 2022

Provide a response to this request by close of business, 4 March 2022. I
apologise for the short notice.

If you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to
contact me by return email.

Kind regards,

Karen

Position: 60114871

Freedom of Information

Freedom of Information & Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy & Law Enforcement Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [1][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]

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Hussain,

FOI request: FA 22/02/00407

I refer to your FOI request received on 3 February 2022. 

Preliminary assessment of charges

This email is to advise you that I have made a preliminary assessment that
you are liable to pay a charge in respect of the processing of your FOI
request in accordance with s.29 of the FOI Act.  Please see the attached
notice for further information.

The FOI Act provides you with 30 days to respond, in writing, to this
notice, which is close of business Monday, 11 April 2022.

Details on how to make a payment to the Department are included in the
notice. Please ensure that you include your FA reference number with your
payment. If this information is not included with your payment details it
may delay the processing of your request.

Please note if you make the payment by EFT, please advise the FOI section
at [1][Department of Home Affairs request email] immediately to avoid delays in the processing
of your payment.

Sincerely,

Chloe

Position number: 60133918

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.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]

OFFICIAL

13 April 2022

Mr Muhammad Abid Hussain

BY EMAIL:  [1][FOI #8358 email]

In reply please quote:

FOI Request:            FA 22/02/00407

File Number:            OBJ2022/3059  

Dear Mr Hussain,

I refer to your email dated 3 February 2022 in which you request access to
documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (Department) under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

You have requested access to:

'I would like to request following information regarding the City of
Caterbury-Bankstown Citizenship applications status for the period from
1st January 2021 till 31st January 2022:

1. Month wise Counts of Applicants who had Citizenship by conferral
Applications approved in The City of Canterbury Bankstown
2. Month wise Counts of Applicants of Citizenship by conferral who
attended Citizenship Ceremony in The City of Canterbury Bankstown
3. Month wise Counts of applicants who are waiting to attend a ceremony in
the City of Canterbury Bankstown. This count is the total number of
Citizenship by Conferral Applicants at the end of each month who are
approved but waiting for Citizenship Ceremony”

On 11 March 2022, Department notified you of a requirement to pay a
processing charge of 72.5 in respect of your request. 

In particular, Department notified you that, within 30 days of receipt of
that letter, you must either:

·        agree to pay the charge; or

·        contend that the charge has been wrongly assessed, should be
reduced, or should not be imposed; or

·        withdraw the request.

Department notified you that if, within 30 days of receipt of that letter,
you failed to notify Department of one of the above matters, your request
would be considered to have been withdrawn.

The 30 day period has now expired and Department does not appear to have
heard from you in response to that Notice.  As such, in accordance with
section 29 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 me at [2][Department of Home Affairs request email].

[signed electronically]

Elaine

Position number: 60097486

FOI Officer | 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:[FOI #8358 email]
2. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]