how to complete and lodge an application for a protection...
TRANSCRIPT
Refugee Advice and Casework Service
A. Level 12, 173-175 Phillip Street Sydney NSW 2000P. [02] 9114-1600F. [02] 9114-1794E. [email protected] W. www.racs.org.au
How to complete and lodge an application for a Protection visa (subclass 866) with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship
(DIAC).
© UNHCR/S.Phelps
• TheProtectionvisa application form is called Form866. It is available on the
DepartmentofImmigrationwebsite(www.immi.gov.au).
• ReadPartAoftheapplicationformwhichhasinstructionsabouthowtofillout
theform.
• CompletePartBwiththedetailsofallmembersofyourfamilyunitwhoare
applyingforprotection.
• AllmembersofthefamilyunitmustcompleteeitherPartCorPartD.
• PartCisformembersofthefamilyunitwhohaveindividualfearsof
harm.
• PartDisformembersofthefamilyunitwhodonothaveindividualfearsof
harm.
• Answerallquestions.Ifaquestiondoesnotapplytoyou,write“N/A”(whichmeans
notapplicable).Ifyoucannotremembertheanswertoaquestion,write“cannot
remember”.
• Claims for protection (questions 42-48 of Part C): These questions are very
important.Includeallrelevantfactsaboutwhathashappenedtoyouinthepast
andwhatyoufearmighthappeninthefuture.Ifyouhavealotofinformation,you
canwritetheinformationinaseparatestatementandattachittotheapplication
form. See the RACS Fact Sheet on“How toWrite a Statement for a Protection
Visa”.
• Payment(question21ofPartB):Youhavetopayforyourapplication.Youcanpay
bybankcheque/moneyorder,cashorcreditcard.
• Signing:Donotsigntheapplicationformuntilyouarecertainthatitisfullyand
correctly completed.Youmust sign thedeclarationatQuestion67ofPartC in
frontofasolicitororJusticeofthePeacewhowillwitnessyoursignature.(to find a
Justice of the Peace http://jp.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/public/welcomePublic.do)
Fill out the application form
2 | How to complete and lodge an application for a Protection visa (subclass 866) with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
Photos:Eachpersonlistedontheapplicationformmustprovide2
photographs(passportsize).
Passports and identification:Obtain*certifiedcopiesandtranslations
of all relevant identification, which may include passports, ID
cards,birthcertificates,marriagecertificates.
Other documents that support your claims: Include any other
documents(andtranslations),photosorotherformsofevidence
thatsupportthefactsofyourstory.
Obtain necessary documents
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*a certified copy of a document is a photocopy of a document that has been certified by a Justice of the Peace
(to find a Justice of the Peace http://jp.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/public/welcomePublic.do)
• ReadthechecklistinPartAofthe866Form:Ensurethatyouhavecompletedthe
applicationformandattachedallnecessarydocuments.
• Whentheapplicationisready,takeittotheDepartmentofImmigrationandhand
in the application.
• YoucanfindtheaddressesofDIACofficesinAustraliaonthewebsite
(www.immi.gov.au/contacts)
• Itisnotnecessarytomakeanappointment.However,youcanmakeanappointment
bycalling131881.
• Itispossibletosendtheapplicationbymailorsomeoneelsecanhanditinon
yourbehalf(suchasamigrationagentorrelative).However,youwillstillhaveto
gototheofficeyourselfatalatertimetohavefingerprintsandphotographstaken.
Hand in the application at the Department of Immigration
4 | How to complete and lodge an application for a Protection visa (subclass 866) with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
• AllpeoplewhoapplyforaProtectionVisa,includingeachmemberofthefamily
unitincludedintheapplication,mayberequiredtoprovideadigitalphotograph
oftheirfaceandascanoftheirfingerprints(knownas“personalidentifiers”) in
ordertomakeavalidapplication.
• The personal identifiers you are required to provide depend on your age and
circumstances:
Age Requirements
18yearsoldormore Digitalphotographandfingerprints
15 to 17 years old Digitalphotographandfingerprints(withconsent)
5 to 14 years old Digitalphotographonly(withconsent)
Less than 5 years old Nopersonalidentifiersrequired
Requirement to provide fingerprint scan and digital photograph to make a valid application
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• AfterDIACreceivesyourapplication,youwillbegivenareceipt.
• DIACwillsendyoua letter informingyouwhatwillhappennext.Forexample,
DIACmaytellyoutoundergohealthexaminations.
• It isvery important thatyou informDIAC ifyour contactdetails change, ifyou
changeyouraddressorphonenumber.
• Ifthereareanychangestoyourcircumstances,orifyouobtainmoreinformation,
afteryoulodgetheapplication,youshouldinformDIAC.
• Interview: DIAC will send you a letter inviting you to attend an interview about
your case.
FormoreinformationregardthetheDIACinterviewseeRACSFactSheeton
“AttendingaDIACinterview”
After your application has been lodged
please noteFor more information regard the the DIAC interview see RACS Fact Sheet on
“What happens at an interview for a Protection visa application?”
6 | How to complete and lodge an application for a Protection visa (subclass 866) with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
• YoumaybegrantedaBridgingVisaifyoulodgeavalidprotectionvisaapplication
and meet certain other criteria.
• AbridgingVisagivesyoulawfulstatusinAustraliawhileyourapplicationis
beingprocessed.
• YourBridgingVisawillend28daysafteryouarenotifiedofthedecisiononyour
Protection Visa application.
• Ifyourprotectionvisaapplicationbecomesinvalidbecauseyoudonotprovide
personalidentifiersorduetootherreasons,yourbridgingvisaandany
associated entitlements will cease 28 days after you are notified that the
application is invalid.
Further information
Forfurtherinformation,youcancontacttheRACSTelephoneAdviceserviceon91141600between10:00and12:00on
TuesdayandThursdayforfreetelephoneadvice,toseeifyouneedanappointmentorforareferraltoanotherservice.
Thisbrochureisavailablein:Arabic,Chinese(simplified),Dari/Farsi,TamilTurkish,Urdu
Formoreinformation,visitwww.racs.org.au,callRACSon(02)[email protected].
DisclaimerThisfactsheetisgeneral.Itdoesnotconstitute,andshouldbenotreliedonas,legaladvice.RefugeeAdviceandCaseworkServicerecommendsseekingadvicefromaqualifiedlawyeronthelegalissuesaffectingyoubeforeactingonanylegalmatter.RefugeeAdviceandCaseworkServiceistheauthorofthispublicationandacceptsresponsibilityfortheinformation.Thisfactsheetappliestopeoplewholivein,orareaffectedby,thelawasitappliesin Australia.Theinformationinthisfactsheetiscurrentat1November2012ThispublicationhasbeenproducedwiththefinancialassistanceoftheLawandJusticeFoundationofNSW.TheFoundationseekstoadvancethefairnessandequityofthejusticesystemandtoimproveaccesstojustice,especiallyforsociallyandeconomicallydisadvantagedpeople.http://lawfoundation.net.auThispublicationiscopyright.ItmaybereproducedinpartorwholeforeducationalpurposesaslongaspropercreditisgiventotheRefugeeAdviceandCaseworkServiceanditscontributors.Disclaimer:anyopinionsexpressedinthispublicationarethoseoftheauthorsanddonotnecessarilyreflecttheviewsoftheLawandJusticeFoundation’sBoardofGovernors.©RefugeeAdviceandCaseworkService.
Bridging Visa
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@RACSaustralia