Visa Processing Officer Allocation

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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
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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 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 23/05/00062
File Number: FA23/05/00062

Dear James Scullin

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

This letter acknowledges that on 30 April 2023 the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) received your request to access documents held by the Department under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). This letter also provides important information about your request.

Scope of request

You have requested access to the following:

1. The allocation of the new 500 Visa Processing Officer into the Department. In specific, the group they have been allocated to. (For example 20 into the General skills, 20 into Family Visa Processing) etc.

2. The organisation chart of the Business Innovation and Investment Visa Processing Group (If the name is incorrect, the working group that oversees the BIIP visa processing). Please include the number of staff in each position.

The Department now has a dedicated channel for data requests. As a result, you are no longer entitled to obtain access to data as per the FOI Act (section 12)1)(c)) as this data is available for purchase by the public via the Department’s Data request process.

The following parts of your request have been registered as a data request and you will receive separate emails about your data request:

1. The allocation of the new 500 Visa Processing Officer into the Department. In specific, the group they have been allocated to. (For example 20 into the General skills, 20 into Family Visa Processing) etc.

2. …of the Business Innovation and Investment Visa Processing Group (If the name is incorrect, the working group that oversees the BIIP visa processing). Please include the number of staff in each position.

For future reference, please visit Requesting statistics (homeaffairs.gov.au) to lodge a new data request.

The Department interprets your FOI request as:

The organisation chart of the Business Innovation and Investment Visa Processing Group (If the name is incorrect, the working group that oversees the BIIP visa processing).

Your request has been allocated FOI request number FA 23/05/00062. Please include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information Section.
Timeframe

The timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the day we receive your request, as set out in the FOI Act.

Your review rights in relation to your request are available on the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

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.

Publication of document

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 reduce or withdraw your request

Reducing the scope of your request can reduce the time and charges associated with processing your FOI request.

To reduce or withdraw your request, contact the FOI section at [Department of Home Affairs request email] and include your FOI request number.

Contacting the FOI Section

Should you wish to discuss your request you may contact the FOI Section at [Department of Home Affairs request email].

Kind regards

FOI Officer - Jade
Freedom of Information
Department of Home Affairs
E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

-----Original Message-----
From: James Scullin <[FOI #10207 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 30 April 2023 9:49 AM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: CM: Freedom of Information request - Visa Processing Officer Allocation

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

I am requesting the following information:

1. The allocation of the new 500 Visa Processing Officer into the Department. In specific, the group they have been allocated to. (For example 20 into the General skills, 20 into Family Visa Processing) etc.

2. The organisation chart of the Business Innovation and Investment Visa Processing Group (If the name is incorrect, the working group that oversees the BIIP visa processing). Please include the number of staff in each position.

Yours faithfully,

James Scullin

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #10207 email]

Is [Department of Home Affairs request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Department of Home Affairs? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

hide quoted sections

Invoice Request DA23 05 00055 James Scullin.docx

26K Download View as HTML

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

Dear James Scullin

The Department of Home Affairs (the Department) has received your request
for data of xx. Your reference number for this request is DA23/05/00055.

The Department has interpreted your request as follows:

1. The allocation of the new 500 Visa Processing Officer into the
Department. In specific, the group they have been allocated to. (For
example 20 into the General skills, 20 into Family Visa Processing) etc.

2. Business Innovation and Investment Visa Processing Group (If the name
is incorrect, the working group that oversees the BIIP visa processing).
Please include the number of staff in each position.

If we have misinterpreted your request, please let us know by emailing
[1][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 [2][Department of Home Affairs request email] to tell us if your request has
been incorrectly interpreted; or

· email [3][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 16 May 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.

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 [4][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: [5][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 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. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
3. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
4. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
5. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

In reply please quote:

FOI Request: FA 23/05/00062

File Number: FA23/05/00062

Dear James Scullin

I refer to your request received on 30 April 2023 for access to documents
under the FOI Act.

The current due date for your request is 30 May 2023.

In order for the Department to complete the process of retrieving all 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 Thursday 29 June 2023.

It would assist the Department in managing its FOI caseload if you could
provide a response to this request by close of business, Thursday 25 May
2023

If you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to
contact me on the details below.

Kind regards

FOI Officer - Jade

Freedom of Information

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 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]

fa 230500062 Invoice 1198386101.pdf

12K Download View as HTML

OFFICIAL

In reply please quote:

FOI Request: FA 23/05/00062

File Number: FA23/05/00062

Dear James Scullin

I refer to your request to access documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act), which the Department of Home Affairs
(the Department) received on 30 April 2023.

As provided under section 29 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the
FOI Act) and the Freedom of Information (Charges) Regulations 1982 (the
Regulations), I have determined that payment is required for this request
to be processed.

Preliminary assessment of charges

I have assessed the work the Department would need to do to process your
request, taking into account the time that would be spent by the relevant
business areas in searching for and retrieving documents and assessing the
documents for release. I have calculated the charge as follows:

Search and retrieval: (1 hour 30 minutes @ $15 per hour) = $22.00

(rounded down to nearest dollar)

Decision making:

(no charges are applied for the first five hours of decision-making)

Total: $22.00

Next steps

Within 30 days of this email you must:

• pay the charge indicated in the attached invoice for your request
to proceed, or

• write to the Department if you believe the charge has been wrongly
assessed, should be reduced or not imposed, or

• withdraw your request.

Your request will not be processed until you take one of these actions.
Your request will be withdrawn if you do not take action with 30 days.

Option 1: Pay the charge

If you choose to pay the charge, you are deemed to have accepted the
Department’s decision to impose the charge.

If the Department does not make a decision on your request within the
statutory time limit, we will refund your payment.

Details of how to pay are contained in the attached invoice.

Option 2: Write to the Department to contend charges are incorrect or
should be waived or reduced

You can contest the charge on the grounds that the charge was not properly
calculated, or:

• that payment of the charge, or part of it, would cause you
financial hardship

• that giving access to the documents is in the general public
interest, or in the interest of a substantial section of the public.

This is not an exhaustive list and the Department may consider any other
relevant matters.

Please set out your reasons as clearly as possible and provide supporting
evidence.

The Department has a statutory timeframe of 30 days from the date of your
response to make a decision to reduce or not impose a charge. We will
notify you of our charges decision in writing.

Option 3: Withdraw your request

To withdraw your request, please send an email to
[1][Department of Home Affairs request email] or reply to this email stating that you wish to
withdraw the request.

If you withdraw your request, we will close your request and no charges
will be incurred.

Timeframe for your response

You must respond to this notice within 30 days, which is by Wednesday, 21
June 2023.

If you do not provide a written response within this timeframe your
request will be deemed withdrawn under section 29(2) of the Act. No
charges will be incurred.

Legislation and further information

A copy of the FOI Act is available at
[2]https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2...

Information about how we calculate charges can be seen at: [3]We consider
your Freedom of Information request (homeaffairs.gov.au)

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner also provides
information about charging at: [4]What charges may apply? - Home
(oaic.gov.au)

Contact

Please contact [5][Department of Home Affairs request email] if you have any questions about
this notice.

Yours sincerely

[signed electronically]

Elaine - position number 60097486

FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data and Economics Analysis Centre| Executive 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:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
2. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2...
3. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...
4. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
5. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

OFFICIAL

Dear James Scullin

I am writing to notify you of my decision in relation to your data request
DA23/05/00055.

The Department of Home Affairs (the Department) has not received a
response, or payment of the invoice issued to you with the acknowledgment
of your data request. As advised in the options that were provided, the
Department must receive a response with 14 days or your request is closed
in all departmental systems.

Your request has now been closed and the invoice cancelled. Please do not
attempt to pay the invoice.

Should you wish to resubmit your data request please visit our Data
Request webpage at:
[1]https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...

Kind regards,

Julia

Position number: 83279464

Authorised FOI Officer

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and 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 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. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

OFFICIAL

In reply please quote:

FOI Request: FA 23/05/00062

File Number: FA23/05/00062

Dear James Scullin

With regard to your FOI request and payment as below, we do not appear to
have heard from you. The statutory time period has now expired and this
request will be closed.

Regards,

Elaine - position 60097486

FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data and Economics Analysis Centre| Executive Group

Department of Home Affairs

OFFICIAL

From: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Sent: Monday, 22 May 2023 1:27 PM
To: [FOI #10207 email]
Subject: Notice to pay charge - FOI Request FA 23/05/00062 [SEC=OFFICIAL]