IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Your email has been received by the Department of Immigration and Border
Protection’s 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.

For matters not relating to the Freedom of Information Act 1982, your
email will not be actioned by the FOI Section. As a matter of guidance,
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.

Queries regarding a current visa application

If your inquiry relates to a specific visa application case, you should
direct your enquiry to the appropriate case officer or processing centre. 
The FOI Section is not the appropriate contact point for your enquiry.

You can use your application ID in ImmiAccount to search and view your
application before it has been decided. Alternatively, you may wish to
contact your nearest Australian Immigration office outside of Australia.
Contact information can be found at
[3]http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/o....

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 [4]here.

Queries regarding your current Visa status

You can check your visa details and conditions on the Department’s Visa
Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) portal.  If you do not have the
necessary reference numbers to access the VEVO portal, please refer to the
online VEVO Request for Reference Number form, which is accessible at
[5]https://www.border.gov.au/about/corporat....

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 [6]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
[7]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 [8]here.

Australian Citizenship

If you are seeking evidence of your Australian Citizenship, you should
complete Form 119, which can be found [9]here.  Details on where to send
your completed form may be found on page 8 of the Form.  This form will
not be actioned by the FOI Section.

Information on how to apply for Australian citizenship, information for
Australian citizens and Australian Citizenship Day can be found [10]here.

Movement Records/Travel History

If you are seeking evidence of your own travel movements/history you
should complete Form 1359, which can be found [11]here. Details on where
to send your request may be found on page 1 and 2 of the Form. This
request will not be actioned by the FOI Section.

Superannuation – Evidence of Immigration Status

If you are seeking evidence of your own immigration status for
superannuation purposes, you should complete Form 1194, which can be found
[12]here. Details on where to send your completed form may be found on
page 1 of the Form. This request will not be actioned by the FOI Section.

Update Passport Details

Information on how to update your address or passport details can be found
[13]here.

Notification of Change in Circumstances

If you have lodged a visa application and your circumstances have changed,
you should submit [14]Form 1022 to the office where you lodged your visa
application. Details of our offices located around the world can be found
[15]here. The FOI Section does not process these forms. 

Notification of incorrect answers

If you wish to correct answers that you have provided to the Department
either:

·         in a visa application

·         on a passenger card or

·         in response to a notice given to you by the Department inviting
you to comment on possible non-compliance with an obligation to correct
incorrect information

you should submit [16]Form 1023 to the Department. Details of our offices
located around the world can be found [17]here. The FOI Section does not
process these forms. 

Duty Free concessions

Information relating to duty free concessions can be found [18]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 [19]here.

Yours Sincerely

FOI Helpdesk

Freedom of Information Section

Department of Immigration and Border Protection

Information updated 11 August 2017

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. 
DIBP respects your privacy and has 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. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/o...
5. https://www.border.gov.au/about/corporat...
6. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/o...
7. https://www.mara.gov.au/
8. https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/Immi...
9. http://www.border.gov.au/Forms/Documents...
10. http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Citi
11. http://www.border.gov.au/FormsAndDocumen...
12. http://www.border.gov.au/Forms/Documents...
13. http://www.border.gov.au/Lega/Lega/Form/...
14. http://www.border.gov.au/Forms/Documents...
15. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/o...
16. http://www.border.gov.au/Forms/Documents...
17. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/o...
18. http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Ente/Duty-...
19. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/m...

UNCLASSIFIED

In reply please quote:

FOI Request:       FA 17/09/00682

File Number:       ADF2017/100047

Dear Mr Macleod

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

I refer to your correspondence received on 14 September 2017 seeking
access to documents held by the Department of Immigration and Border
Protection (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the
FOI Act).

You have requested access to the following:

'This request is for latest documents (or data sets) that show for all
long term (greater than 12 months) temporary visa holders in Australia on
Dec 31, 2016.

1. What year were they granted their first temporary visa?
2. How many temporary visas have they accumulated?

If the data allows, please list people on visitor and NZ 444 visas
separately.'

Your request was received by the Department on 14 September 2017 and has
been allocated FOI request number FA 17/09/00682.  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.

Exclusion of non-SES staff personal details and SES telephone contact
details

The Department’s policy is to exclude the personal details of officers not
in the Senior Executive Service (SES), as well as the mobile and work
telephone numbers of SES staff, contained in documents that fall within
scope of an FOI request. If you require names and contact details of
non-SES officers, or direct telephone numbers 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.

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
[1][email address].  

FOI Officer

Freedom of Information Section

FOI, Privacy and Records Management Branch

Corporate Services Division

Department of Immigration and Border Protection

UNCLASSIFIED

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. 
DIBP respects your privacy and has 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]

UNCLASSIFIED
Good afternoon Mr Macleod

I refer to your request for access to documents regarding temporary visa holders.

The Department does not hold any existing documents that contain the data you are seeking access to. In addition, the Department is unable to extract the data to the level you have requested from its computer systems.

However, the Department is able to produce data that would consist of the number of long-term (greater than 12 months) temporary visa holders in Australia at 31 December 2016. Could you please confirm that you would agree to modify the scope of your request by removing the additional two numbered points from your request, and limit it to " latest documents (or data sets) that show for all long term (greater than 12 months) temporary visa holders in Australia on Dec 31, 2016".

With kind regards
Freedom of Information Section
FOI, Privacy and Records Management Branch
Corporate Division
Department of Immigration and Border Protection

E: [email address]

UNCLASSIFIED

show quoted sections

UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Mr Macleod,

In regards to your questions below, the relevant business area has advised the following:

1. Yes, the data would be essentially the same as per the table listed via the link. Long-term visa holders can be identified by looking at the relevant visa type. For example, 457's.

2. Yes, the data we are able to report on is the number of long term visa holders are in Australia at a certain point, not how long they have been located in Australia.

I would be grateful for your advice on whether you are able to modify the scope of your request by removing the additional two numbered points from your request, and limit it to 'latest documents (or data sets) that show the number of long term (greater than 12 months) temporary visa holders in Australia on Dec 31, 2016'. To assist the Department in progressing your FOI request your response by COB Friday 13 October 2017 would be appreciated.

with regards,
FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section
Department of Immigration and Border Protection
E: [email address]

UNCLASSIFIED

show quoted sections

UNCLASSIFIED

Our references: FA 17/09/00682; ADF2017/100047

Dear Mr Macleod,

I am writing in regards to your FOI request seeking:  

'latest documents (or data sets) that show the number of long term
(greater than 12 months) temporary visa holders in Australia on Dec 31,
2016’

This email is to advise you of my decision 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 current due date for your FOI request is 14 October 2017. In
accordance with s.31 of the FOI Act the legislated processing time for
your request is suspended from the date that you are deemed to have been
notified of the charge. Please refer to the attached notice for further
details, including advice on when the processing period for your request
would resume.

Timeframe to respond

The FOI Act provides you with 30 days to respond, in writing, to this
notice, which is close of business 11 November 2017. However, as this date
falls on a non-working day, s.36(2) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901
provides that the latest date you may respond is the next working day,
which is close of business 13 November 2017.

How to pay:

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

The deposit or full payment can be paid by cheque, money order, credit
card or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). If you choose to pay via EFT or
send your payment via post, please notify the FOI Section at
[1][email address].

FOI Officer

Freedom of Information Section

Department of Immigration and Border Protection
E: [2][email address]

UNCLASSIFIED

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. 
DIBP respects your privacy and has 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]
2. mailto:[email address]

UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Mr Macleod,

Please see attached the invoice with details on how to pay the charges.

Please advise [email address] when and how you have made the payment. Once we have confirmation of your payment the clock will restart on your request. You may send confirmation as a bank receipt or screen snapshot. If paying electronically there may be a delay of a day or 2 for the Department to confirm that the funds have been received.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to ask.

FOI Officer
Freedom of Information Section
Department of Immigration and Border Protection
E: [email address]

UNCLASSIFIED

show quoted sections

UNCLASSIFIED

Our references: FA 17/09/00682; ADF2017/100047

Dear Mr Macleod,

I refer to your FOI request received on 14 September 2017 and revised on
11 October 2017, seeking access to the following:

‘latest documents (or data sets) that show the number of long term
(greater than 12 months) temporary visa holders in Australia on Dec 31,
2016’

The Department has made a decision on this request. Please see attached
the signed decision letter and schedule of documents. Attachment B –
Documents released (documents to be released under the FOI Act) will be
sent to you once the charges have been confirmed as received.      

Outstanding payment

On 13 October 2017 you agreed to pay the charge as outlined in the charges
notice issued to you on 13 October 2017. The Department is not required to
release documents until the charges have been paid in full. I note that
you have advised that you have paid the $30 via the Department’s Website
on 13 October 2017. The Finance Area of the Department is required to
confirm receipt of the transfer before the Department can provide you with
the documents listed in the schedule of documents.

This request has now been closed.

with regards,

H Simons

FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section

Department of Immigration and Border Protection
E: [1][email address]

UNCLASSIFIED

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. 
DIBP respects your privacy and has 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]

UNCLASSIFIED

Our references: FA 17/09/00682; ADF2017/100047

Dear Mr Macleod

I refer to your FOI request received on 14 September 2017 and revised on
11 October 2017, seeking access to the following:

‘latest documents (or data sets) that show the number of long term
(greater than 12 months) temporary visa holders in Australia on Dec 31,
2016’

Please find attached the receipt of payment for the charges as outlined in
the charges notice sent to you on 13 October 2017.

Please also find attached the document released that forms part of the
decision sent to you on 16 October 2017.

Kind regards,

H Simons

FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section

Department of Immigration and Border Protection
E: [1][email address]

UNCLASSIFIED

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. 
DIBP respects your privacy and has 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]