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Immigration Terms

Australian Migration Agent's Commitments

Frequently Asked Questions

You will find answers here to the most commonly asked questions about Australian migration and citizenship. Important terms and phrases are also explained here.

Click on a question or scroll down the page to view general answer:

1. When do I need a visa for Australia?
2. How do I become an Australian citizen?
3. How do I apply for a visa to Australia?
4. How long does it take to process an application?
5. How can Beyderwellen & Company help?
6. What are my chances of success?
7. What will a visa application cost?
8. What are Beyderwellen & Company's fees?
9. What happens when my Australian permanent visa is granted?
10. What will my Australian visa permit me to do?
11. Will I receive evidence of my visa if my application is successful?
12. Will my visa cease when I leave Australia?
13. Am I required to provide information and documents to the Department when I arrive in Australia or leave Australia?
14. What happens to my visa if my passport is lost or stolen?
15. How do I know if I am a "lawful non-citizen"?
16. What happens if my Australian visa expires?
17. Do I need to advise the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) if I change my address?
18. What do I do if my circumstances change?
19. Can I remain in Australia permanently on a bridging visa?
20. Can I apply for permission to work while in Australia?
21. Can I have a Working Holiday in Australia?
22. If I need a visa, can it be granted to me without applying for it?
23. Can I apply for more than one visa at a time?
24. Can I hold more than one visa at a time?
25. I want to work in Australia. Can you help me?
26. Can I appeal the decision to refuse to grant a visa or to cancel a visa?
27. What is the Australian Migration Program?
28. How does the migration regulatory scheme work?

Q26: Can I appeal the decision to refuse to grant a visa or to cancel a visa?

Most decisions made in Australia can be reviewed, as well as a number made overseas. However, there are strict time limits.

When you are notified of a decision to refuse to grant or to cancel a visa, you will also be advised as to whether you may seek a review of the decision made. Depending on the nature of the decision, any right of review you have will be to one of the relevant Review Tribunals. The review in each case will be a review of the merits of the decision.

Generally, a decision made outside Australia refusing to grant a visa where there is no nomination or sponsorship in that subclass is not reviewable. Where sponsorship or nomination is involved, then the sponsor or nominator in Australia or an Australian relative of the visa applicant can seek rights of review.

If your review is unsuccessful, and you still believe Immigration is wrong, it may be possible to seek review of that decision by the Federal Court. The review by the Court is not a review of the merits of the decision. This is only if the tribunal has made a mistake in applying the law in decision-making process.

If you are arguing with the Department of Immigration about a case, it is very useful to make a Freedom of Information application to see what is on the file.

Click here for more information on rights of review and procedures.

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