Outcomes of visa applications by registered v unregistered agents

ray mehta made this Freedom of Information request to Department of Home Affairs

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The request was partially successful.

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

Kindly provde the below data for Visa applications decided between 1 July 2018 till date where a registered migration agent or an authorised recipient was used.

- Visas Granted where the application is represented by a registered migration agent
- Visas refused where the application is represented by a registered migration agent

and for the same years:

- Visa granted where the application is unrepresented or represented by a person who is not a registered migration agent.
- Visa refused where the application is unrepresented or represented by a person who is not a registered migration agent.

Please provide separate statistics for the above for at least each of the following visa subclasses:

Student for Subclass 500
Visitor Visa for Subclass 600
Skilled for Subclass 189, 190
Partner for Subclass 309, 100

Yours faithfully,

Ray Mehta

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

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Afghanistan situation and contacting the Department of Home Affairs:

Thank you for your email. Foreign nationals, including from Afghanistan,
need a valid visa to enter Australia.  People will not be able to settle
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and those who have links to Australia. All applicants must meet the visa
criteria including character, security and health requirements. Afghan
nationals who meet the requirements for a humanitarian visa and wish to
seek Australia’s help are strongly encouraged to make an application. 

 

Information on the process for making an application for Australia’s
Humanitarian Program is available on the Department of Home Affairs
[16]website.

 

In addition to the Humanitarian Program, there are other [17]visa options
available for people who wish to migrate on the basis of their skills or
family relationships in Australia. 

 

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Thank you

 

Information updated 30 August 2021

 

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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. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/al...
5. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/o...
6. https://www.mara.gov.au/
7. https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/Immi...
8. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizens...
9. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizens...
10. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...
11. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...
12. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
13. http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Ente/Duty-...
14. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/m...
15. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-...
16. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...
17. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...

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FOI, Department of Home Affairs

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 21/10/00909
File Number: OBJ2021/31215

Dear Ray Mehta,

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request
I refer to your correspondence received on 20 October 2021 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:

Kindly provde the below data for Visa applications decided between 1 July 2018 till date (20 October 2021) where a registered migration agent or an authorised recipient was used.

- Visas Granted where the application is represented by a registered migration agent
- Visas refused where the application is represented by a registered migration agent

and for the same years:

- Visa granted where the application is unrepresented or represented by a person who is not a registered migration agent.
- Visa refused where the application is unrepresented or represented by a person who is not a registered migration agent.

Please provide separate statistics for the above for at least each of the following visa subclasses:

Student for Subclass 500
Visitor Visa for Subclass 600
Skilled for Subclass 189, 190
Partner for Subclass 309, 100.

Your request was received by the Department on 20 October 2021 and has been allocated FOI request number FA 21/10/00909 . Please include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information Section.
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Kind regards,

FOI Officer - Geoff
Freedom of Information
Department of Home Affairs

E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

-----Original Message-----
From: ray mehta <[FOI #7994 email]>
Sent: 20 October 2021 9:16 PM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Outcomes of visa applications by registered v unregistered agents

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

Kindly provde the below data for Visa applications decided between 1 July 2018 till date where a registered migration agent or an authorised recipient was used.

- Visas Granted where the application is represented by a registered migration agent
- Visas refused where the application is represented by a registered migration agent

and for the same years:

- Visa granted where the application is unrepresented or represented by a person who is not a registered migration agent.
- Visa refused where the application is unrepresented or represented by a person who is not a registered migration agent.

Please provide separate statistics for the above for at least each of the following visa subclasses:

Student for Subclass 500
Visitor Visa for Subclass 600
Skilled for Subclass 189, 190
Partner for Subclass 309, 100

Yours faithfully,

Ray Mehta

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Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this email.

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FOI, Department of Home Affairs

OFFICIAL

In reply, please quote:

Client Name:     Mehta, Ray

FOI Request:    FA 21/10/00909

File Number:     OBJ2021/31215

FOI due date:   19 November 2021

 

Dear Ray Mehta,

 

Request for an extension of time:

 

This correspondence refers to an access request received by the Department
of Home Affairs (‘the Department’) under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (the FOI Act) on 20 October 2021, seeking access to:

 

‘Kindly provde the below data for Visa applications decided between 1 July
2018 till date (20 October 2021) where a registered migration agent or an
authorised recipient was used.

 

- Visas Granted where the application is represented by a registered
migration agent

- Visas refused where the application is represented by a registered
migration agent

 

and for the same years:

 

- Visa granted where the application is unrepresented or represented by a
person who is not a registered migration agent.

- Visa refused where the application is unrepresented or represented by a
person who is not a registered migration agent.

 

Please provide separate statistics for the above for at least each of the
following visa subclasses:

 

Student for Subclass 500

Visitor Visa for Subclass 600

Skilled for Subclass 189, 190

Partner for Subclass 309, 100’

 

 

Timeframe for processing your request:

The FOI Act provides a statutory period for processing your request of 30
calendar days unless an extension of time is agreed to, or provided for,
under a provision of the FOI Act.

 

The due date for a decision on your request is 19 November 2021.

 

Request for an extension of time:

Unfortunately, the search and retrieval of documents related to the scope
of your request is taking longer than anticipated. The Department
therefore seeks your agreement (under section 15AA of the FOI Act) to
extend the timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days. The
additional time will support completing this process, and assist us in
making a decision on access within statutory timeframes.

 

If you agree to the extension of time please advise the Department before
18 November 2021 close of business, by email at:
[1][Department of Home Affairs request email].

 

For more information on section 15AA and the FOI Act:

[2]The Australian Information Commissioner FOI Guidelines

[3]Freedom of Information Act 1982

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to consider my request and I look forward to
hearing from you.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

Karen

Position: 60114871

Assistant Director | Freedom of Information

Freedom of Information & Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy and National Resilience Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [4][Department of Home Affairs request email]

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

 

 

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Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
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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]
2. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
3. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2...
4. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

2 Attachments

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Mehta

 

The Department has made a decision on this request. Please see attached
the signed decision record and document released under the FOI Act.    

 

This request has now been closed.

 

 

 

Signed electronically

 

Min Ai

Position number 60120967

Authorised Decision Maker | Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

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.

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

2 Attachments

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Mehta

 

The Department has made a decision on this request. Please see attached
the signed decision record and document released under the FOI Act.    

 

This request has now been closed.

 

 

 

Signed electronically

 

Min Ai

Position number 60120967

Authorised Decision Maker | Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

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.