Foreign Minister Julie says the Australian government is working on alternative resettlement options for Tamil asylum seekers, after reports they could be refused entry to the United States.
The United States has agreed to resettle up to 1,250 refugees in Australian-run detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru.
But they will have to pass strict checks.
There are concerns that the 240 Tamil asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru could be disqualified from the U-S resettlement deal due to a broad provision of the Patriot Act, which excludes people deemed to have provided "material support" to terror groups.
The United States government labels the since-defeated Tamil Tiger separatist group, a terrorist organisation.
The group was deeply enmeshed in Sri Lanka's north.
Ms Bishop has told the A-B-C, the government will do its best to find third countries to take Tamil asylum seekers.
