Sierra Leone is pressing Australia to deny political asylum to 14 of its Commonwealth Games athletes.
Sierra Leone's director-general of foreign affairs says his government has sent Australia video footage of the athletes promising they would not defect.
The 14 athletes, part of a 22-member team, vanished during the Games last month, and later sought asylum.
david Addington from Sydney's Northern Beaches Refugee Sanctuary, says the government must not pay much attention to Sierra Leone's request.
"We would be very surprised if the Australian government would pay too much attention to the Sierra Leone government's request. Its now in the hands of the Immigration department, they'll be reviewing the case studies."
Mr Addington says the athletes have been given bridging visas and now have until April the 13th to make a formal application for asylum.
"They'll be filing for permanent protection. That goes under Australian law and they'll make a determination based on the criteria under Australian law as to whether they qualify for refugee status here."