Department for Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) has announced that from 18th November 2017, one will no longer be able to lodge an application in person at any offices of the Department for the following visa subclasses:
- Partner category visas (subclass 820, 801, 309, 100 & 300)
- Parent visas (subclass 804, 884, 864, 173, 143 & 103)
- Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403).
You must lodge Partner visa (including Prospective Marriage visa) and Temporary Work (International Relations) visa applications online through ImmiAccount.
You must send Parent visa applications by post or courier to the following addresses:
Post application to:
Parent Visa Centre
Locked Bag 7
Northbridge WA 6865
Courier application to:
Parent Visa Centre
Wellington Central
Ground Floor
836 Wellington Street
West Perth WA 6005
New conditions for temporary visas
The DIBP has also announced new conditions for temporary visas
For those who applied and were granted temporary visas on or after 18 November 2017, will be subject to new visa conditions during their stay in Australia:
If your visa has - condition 8303, it prohibits activities that endanger or threaten any individual, or activities disruptive to, or violence threatening harm to, the Australian community or a group within the Australian community.
If your visa has - condition 8304, it requires temporary visa holders to identify themselves by the same name in all dealings with Commonwealth, state or territory government agencies. If you change your name, you must inform all government agencies of this name change as soon as possible. This includes the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
If your visa has - condition 8564, it requires individuals not to engage in criminal conduct.
These conditions have been made mandatory for visas like student visa, partner visa, visitor visa, tourist visa, temporary graduate visa and many others. Check the full list here.
Applicants will be banned for 10 years for providing false information in visa application
DIBP has also introduced a new Public Interest Criterion 4020 which enables refusal of a visa if an applicant provides a bogus document or information that is false or misleading in relation to their application, or if the Minister is not satisfied of an applicant’s identity.
The department has increased the period in which previous instances of fraud can be considered from 12 months to 10 years, for any visa applied for on or after 18 November 2017.
If PIC 4020 is part of the criteria for the particular visa you have applied for you must satisfy PIC 4020 in order to be granted your visa.
If your visa is refused under PIC 4020 because you did not satisfy us of your identity, you may not be granted a visa for a period of ten years (where that visa includes PIC 4020 as part of the criteria).
Visas affected by PIC 4020
If you have applied for any of the following visas, you must satisfy PIC 4020:
- skilled migration visas
- business visas
- temporary visas
- student visas
- family visas
Permanent Humanitarian and Protection visa applications are not required to meet Public Interest Criterion 4020 so are unaffected by this change.
