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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

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

If you have lodged a request for access to documents or amendment to
information, you will receive an acknowledgement letter within 14 days.

If your email relates to other matters then please contact the relevant
area of the Department or review the frequently asked questions below. The
mailbox is unable to respond to visa and citizenship status updates or
questions. If your query is answered by this information you will not
receive another response to your email.

Please see our website for more information on submitting a valid request
for access to information. [2]Freedom of information (homeaffairs.gov.au)

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Query General Information
If you applied [4]Our online services (homeaffairs.gov.au)
online, you can
check your visa [5]Ceremony wait times (homeaffairs.gov.au)
application status
in [3]ImmiAccount.
I want to access [6]Check visa details and conditions
my visa details (homeaffairs.gov.au)
I want to apply [7]Applying online in ImmiAccount
for a visa to (homeaffairs.gov.au)
Australia
My visa has [8]Your visa is expiring or has expired
expired (homeaffairs.gov.au)
I want to apply [9]Become a citizen (homeaffairs.gov.au)
for Australian
Citizenship or [10]Evidence of citizenship and certificates Change
access/amend my a citizenship certificate (homeaffairs.gov.au)
citizenship
details  
I want my travel [11]Requesting travel records (homeaffairs.gov.au)
records in and out
of Australia
I am having Use our [12]technical guide to troubleshoot in
technical problems [13]ImmiAccount.
lodging an
application If you are still unable to resolve your issue submit
the [14]ImmiAccount Technical Support Form
I wish to provide Provide information by [15]ImmiAccount. After you
information about submit your application, use [16]ImmiAccount to:
a visa application
or provide ·        apply for a bridging visa
information about
changes to my ·        access the My Health Declarations service
situation
·        attach documents to your online application
 
·        check the progress of your application

·        update your passport or address details

·        notify of incorrect information in your
application

Further details and instructions refer to
[17]ImmiAccount Help & Support

[18]Changes in your situation (homeaffairs.gov.au)
I have made an If you have been sent a request letter to complete
appointment for a health but are experiencing delays you can attach
health examination details of your appointment to [19]ImmiAccount. 
I want to withdraw [20]You want to withdraw an application
my visa or (homeaffairs.gov.au)
citizenship
application
I want to update [21]Changes in your situation (homeaffairs.gov.au)
my address,
contact or
passport details
Can my visa fee be Refunds can only be made in very limited
refunded? circumstances governed by legislation. 

For further information see  [22]Getting a refund
(homeaffairs.gov.au)
Visa eligibility Information on [23]visa options is available on the
query Department’s website.
Since my visa was [24]Changes in your situation (homeaffairs.gov.au)
granted I have had
a child born in
Australia
I want to lodge Find out how to provide [25]Compliments, complaints
feedback about a and suggestions
Department service

 

 

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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
2. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...
3. https://online.immi.gov.au/ola/app
4. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
5. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizens...
6. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/al...
7. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
8. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/vi...
9. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizens...
10. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizens...
11. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...
12. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
13. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa...
14. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
15. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Visa...
16. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa...
17. file:///tmp/chttps:/immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/applying-online-or-on-paper/online
18. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
19. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa...
20. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
21. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
22. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
23. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...
24. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
25. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-...

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

In reply please quote:

FOI Request: FA 23/11/01144

File Number:  FA 23/11/01144

Dear Christopher Bowron,

I refer to your email dated 20 November 2023 in which you request access
to documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under
the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

I am writing to advise that your request is not valid for the purposes of
section 15(2)(b) of the FOI Act in its current form, and to provide you
with an opportunity to revise your request so that it is a valid request.
This is called a ‘request consultation process’. Please respond to this
notice in one of the ways set out below.

Scope of Request

You have requested access to the following:

In the years prior to COVID-19, there were reports and statements from
both DHA & the US Dept of Homeland Security confirming Australia was being
considered for the US global entry program (currently open to citizens of
the UK, Singapore and others) Trials were slated to begin in 2020 and then
covid delayed those plans.

Can you please advise whether or not the plans to initiate a trial for
Australians to be eligible for global entry are still on the cards and if
so, when do we expect those trials to begin. Many Australians travel to
the US multiple times a year and it would be a great benefit to many
people.

Power to refuse request

Section 24 of the FOI Act provides that if the Department is satisfied
that a practical refusal reason exists in relation to a request, the
Department must undertake a consultation process with you, and if, after
that consultation process, the Department remains satisfied that the
practical refusal reason still exists, the Department may refuse to give
you access to the documents subject to the request.

Practical refusal

A practical refusal reason exists if either (or both) of the following
applies:

(a)           the work involved in the processing of the request would
substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of the Department from
its other operations

(b)           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.

Reasons for practical refusal

The Department has considered the scope of this request and its capacity
to conduct searches of relevance based on the current scope. It is my
preliminary view that your request, in its current form, is not specific
enough to enable the Department to identify documents in scope of your
request.

 

In order to process your request in a timely manner, FOI and the relevant
business area require your assistance to clarify the scope of your
request.

Please clarify the following points of the scope of your request:

 

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 provides the right to obtain access to
'a document of an agency'. As such, it is not possible for the Department
to provide responses to questions under the FOI Act.

 

Please identify the specific documents you require access to, along with a
date range for the document search.

Request Consultation Process

You now have an opportunity to revise your request to enable it to
proceed.

Your request is currently not a valid request for the purposes of section
15(2)(b) of the FOI Act. As part of this practical refusal consultation,
you have 14 days to do one of the following:

·       make a revised request;

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

·       withdraw your request.

If you do not do one of the three things listed above during the
consultation period (14 days) or you do not consult the contact person
listed below during this period, the Department will deem your request to
be withdrawn.

Contact

Should you wish to revise your request or have any questions in relation
to this process, please do not hesitate to contact the FOI section at
[1][Department of Home Affairs request email]

 

Kind regards,

 

FOI Officer - Geoff

Freedom of Information

Department of Home Affairs

 

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

 

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

 

 

show quoted sections

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

 

Dear Christopher Bowron,

 

Freedom of Information Request

I refer to your email dated 20 November 2023 in which you requested access
to documents held by Department of Home Affairs under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

You specifically requested access to:

In the years prior to COVID-19, there were reports and statements from
both DHA & the US Dept of Homeland Security confirming Australia was being
considered for the US global entry program (currently open to citizens of
the UK, Singapore and others) Trials were slated to begin in 2020 and then
covid delayed those plans.

Can you please advise whether or not the plans to initiate a trial for
Australians to be eligible for global entry are still on the cards and if
so, when do we expect those trials to begin. Many Australians travel to
the US multiple times a year and it would be a great benefit to many
people.

On 23 November 2023, Department notified you of its intention to refuse
your request on the basis that 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. 

In particular, 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 [Department of Home Affairs request email].

 

 

 

Paul

Position number: 60176114

Privacy FOI & Records Management Branch | Legal Group

Department Of Home Affairs

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