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

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, the ABF and the National Emergency
Management Agency 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

Dear Nikolai Latyshev

The Department of Home Affairs (the Department) has received your request
for data of 27 August 2023. Your reference number for this request is
DA23/08/00310. 

The Department of Home Affairs provides a Data Channel for data requests
such as yours which enables Departmental (including the Australian Border
Force) data to be purchased.  While you have lodged a request under the
FOI Act, Section 12(1)(c) of the FOI Act states that a person is not
entitled to access to a document that is available for purchase by the
public in accordance with arrangements made by an agency. As such we
intend to process this request under the Department’s Data Request process
unless you respond to this correspondence requesting a decision on your
request under the FOI Act.

You can find further information about the Data Channel here: [1]Data
requests (homeaffairs.gov.au)

The Department has interpreted your request as follows:

This is a request to share the Number of Visa Application Character
Consideration Unit (VACCU) visa applications processed by service start
date, and outcome in 2022-23; Number of active referrals on hand by
service start date and service sub status, in 2022-23.

Previously disclosed document (FA 22/11/00064) for reference:
[2]https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files...

Additionally, if possible, an explanation of why the number of decisions
for cases from early years (2017-2020) is significantly lower than the
number of decisions for recent years (2021-2023), while the backlog is
still full of early years cases.

If we have misinterpreted your request, please let us know by emailing
[3][Department of Home Affairs request email] quoting the above reference number so we can
reassess your request.

Charge for access

The Department has calculated that a charge of $60.00 is required for your
request.

Next Steps

You can now choose to:

·       pay the attached invoice for your request to proceed;

·       email [4][Department of Home Affairs request email] to tell us if your request has
been incorrectly interpreted; or

·       email [5][Department of Home Affairs request email] to tell us if you wish to withdraw
your request.

Your request will not be processed until you take one of these actions.

Please note: if you do not respond by  13 September 2023 your request will
be deemed to be withdrawn.

Financial hardship

If you believe that paying the charge for access would result in financial
hardship to you, you can request a waiver or reduction of the charge.
Please set out the reasons you believe that you would experience financial
hardship and provide supporting evidence.

An example of financial hardship would be when payment of the charge would
leave you unable to provide food, accommodation, clothing, medical
treatment, education or other necessities for yourself or your family, or
other people for whom you are responsible.

Your request for a waiver or reduction of charge will be considered, and a
response sent to you within 30 days. Further information on charges is
available on our webpage: [6]Data requests (homeaffairs.gov.au)

Release of requested information

We will try to finalise your request within 30 days of receiving your
payment. If we need to contact you regarding the clarity or size of your
request, we will contact you in writing.

In some circumstances, release of data may be prohibited by legislation
such as the Privacy Act 1988, Australian Border Force Act 2015 and
Migration Act 1958. If we cannot release the requested data due to
restrictions under legislation, we will notify you in writing. If we
cannot provide the data you have requested, we will refund the amount you
have paid.

If you have any feedback about our handling of your data request, please
email [7][Department of Home Affairs request email]

Thank you for your data request. I look forward to your response. 

Kind regards

FOI Officer - Jade

Freedom of Information

Department of Home Affairs

E: [8][Department of Home Affairs request email]

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, the ABF and the National Emergency
Management Agency 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://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files...
3. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
4. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
5. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
6. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...
7. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
8. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

OFFICIAL

Dear Nikolai Latyshev, 

Thank you for your payment of 30 August 2023 in relation to DA
23/08/003010.

The data you have requested is contained in the attached document.  

We are unable to answer the final part of your request. Access requests
made to either the Data stream or FOI stream channels can only provide
data, or documents already in existence. We are unable to assist with
answering general questions such as providing ‘an explanation of why
numbers of decisions for cases from early years (2017-2020) is
significantly lower than the number of decisions for recent years
(2021-2023), while the backlog is still full of early years cases.

Regarding the incorrect allocation of a receipt via the link you provided
for our awareness, that is a matter for Right to Know support services to
address as the Department does not attach receipts on their site.

If we have misinterpreted your request or you have any feedback about the
way we have processed your request, please let us know as soon as possible
by emailing [1][Department of Home Affairs request email] quoting the above reference number. 

Thank you for your data request.  

Paul

Position number: 60176114

FOI Officer – Data Channel | Freedom of Information Section

Privacy FOI & Records Management Branch | Legal Group

Department Of Home Affairs

E: [2][Department of Home Affairs request email]

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, the ABF and the National Emergency
Management Agency 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. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]