Reaching Out: How The Right Legal Avenues Can Help

Reaching Out: How The Right Legal Avenues Can Help

2 Important Things To Know About Applying For A Protection Visa

by Jessica Spencer

Australia is an attractive and popular option for people of other nationalities who wish to immigrate. It's a relatively rich country with a high standard of living and in comparison to many other countries, it's also safe and peaceful. These qualities make Australia particularly appealing to people who come from war-torn countries or have experienced violence and persecution in their home country.

People who wish to immigrate to Australia as refugees are able to apply for residency under a Subclass 866 Protection visa. This gives them the right to live and work in Australia permanently. If you're hoping to make Australia your home as a refugee, then here are two important things you need to know about applying for a protection visa.

1. You'll need to be eligible

To successfully apply for a protection visa, you'll need to meet all the eligibility requirements outlined by the Australian government. Firstly, you need to have arrived in Australia legally and have been cleared by immigration authorities to enter the country. You must also be a refugee or meet the criteria for complementary protection.

Eligibility also requires you to pass the government's health, security and character tests. You can find out more details about eligibility requirements on the Department of Home Affairs website.

2. You'll need expert help

Although it's possible to complete an application for a Protection visa yourself, it's highly recommended that you engage expert assistance in completing the process. The application can be very complex and there are strict rules regarding the preparation and submitting of paperwork and documentation. 

This can be a daunting task, particularly if English is not your native language and you don't have a broad knowledge of Australia's immigration system and laws. An immigration attorney who specialises in Protection visas will initially help you ascertain your eligibility and give you a more accurate idea of whether your application is likely to be successful. 

They also help you to gather the required documents, including having legally permissible translations of the documents completed if they're in your native language. Finally, they will complete and submit the required paperwork, help guide you through the legal checks and liaise with the Department of Home Affairs on the status of your application.

While a complex and fairly lengthy process, applying for a Protection visa may be the best way to ensure a safe and happy future for you and your family. Contacting an immigration attorney is the first step to get the process started.


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About Me

Reaching Out: How The Right Legal Avenues Can Help

Hello, all. I am a volunteer worker at an outreach centre which helps people of all ages with financial problems. I have come to realise that many of these people face hardships due to life-changing incidents such as unfair dismissal, a workplace injury or a car accident. Many of them are hard workers who aren’t aware of their legal rights. Last year, our outreach centre brought a lawyer on board to provide legal advice and assistance. I help by scheduling appointments, taking notes and following up on each case. I have learnt an awful lot about our laws and am impressed how knowing the right legal avenues can change people’s lives. I have just started a legal assistant’s course and thought this blog might be a good place to record the knowledge I gain. I hope you find it useful and insightful. Thank you for stepping into my world.