Last Updated on March 29, 2022 by Visa Journal
Are you persecuted in your native country and seeking opportunities and a safe place in Australia? But you’re unsure about Australia’s refugee visas and how to apply for one? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. A thorough description of the refugee visa Australia application process has been described here. You need to read the process carefully to understand every point very well. The refugee visa Australia is a long-term residence permit (Green card). With this, you and your family will be able to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely. This page will provide you with all of the information concerning the refugee visa.
A refugee is defined as follows in Article 1A (2) of the 1951 Refugee Convention: a person who is outside their country of nationality or habitual residence has a well-founded fear of persecution as a result of their race, religion, nationality, membership in some political or social groups. Moreover, it is unable or unwilling to use that country’s protection or return there again because of this fear.
Refugees can apply for refugee visas in Australia under the Special Humanitarian Programme (SHP), part of the international refugee protection system. SHP refugee visas are divided into two categories: Offshore Resettlement and Onshore Protection visas are two types of visa.
Visas are available in a variety of subclasses for each of these countries. Whether you are a refugee or not, and whether you are in or outside of Australia at the time of your visa application, will determine which visa you should apply for.
Benefits and eligibility of refugee visa Australia
This visa is for individuals outside Australia who have been persecuted in their home country. Subclass 200 of the refugee visa (offshore) is a permanent residency visa. Successful applicants will be permitted to:
- stay in Australia permanently;
- work and study in Australia;
- register the name in Australia’s public healthcare system, Medicare;
- bring family members to Australia for permanent residence.
The application for a refugee visa Australia is free of cost. The following are the eligibility conditions for a refugee visa:
- You should not already be an Australian resident
- You must need relocation due to persecution in your native country – must be able to work in Australia
- You and your family must meet Australian health requirements. (If the refugee has compelling circumstances, this can be waived)
- You and your family members meet Australian character requirements.
- If you are 18 or older, you must sign the Australian Values Statement to guarantee that you will respect the Australian way of life and follow Australian laws.
- There should be no debts to the Australian Government.
If eligible, you can travel to and from Australia for 5- years, become an Australian citizen and take 510 hours of free English language classes. The refugees can even sponsor their relatives for permanent residency.
The family members may be required to meet Australia’s health requirements, and it is necessary to list all of your family members. It may not be possible for you to recommend any family member for a refugee and humanitarian visa Australia.
Are convention refugees and asylum seekers the same?
No, the difference between a Convention ‘refugee’ and an ‘asylum seeker’ is that the former have examined their asylum applications and determined to meet the criterion above. It is essential to identify the differences between refugees and asylum.
By technical definition, a refugee is someone who has been identified as meeting the Convention as mentioned above criterion. Furthermore, once a person meets the above description, they are considered refugees under the 1951 Convention. This could happen before a country, or the UNHCR formally determines their refugee status. As a result, refugee status is declarative, in which a person does not become a refugee because they have been identified as one, but rather because they are a refugee.
Considerations Not To Ignore Before Applying for the Refugee Visa
It is important to understand the procedures and the eligibility criteria for obtaining the visa.
- Gather all your documents such as identity documents, humanitarian circumstances, relationship documents, visas or resident permits if you hold any
- You must also provide your records and discharge papers if you have served in the armed forces of any country.
- Children must apply for their visas if not dependent on their guardians.
- Do not arrange any travel to Australia until your visa has been granted.
Your permanent residence starts when you enter Australia on this visa for citizenship purposes. It’s also worth noting that you can travel to and from Australia for five years from when the Australian Government issues the visa. You’ll require a resident Return (RRV) visa (subclass 155) or (subclass 157) visa to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident after 5 years,
Processing times and Prioritization of Processing
The decision-making process can take months, if not years. The number of applications for resettlement the Australian Government gets each year greatly outnumbers the number of visas available.
If you require extended health examinations (including chest x-rays), or if your application is incomplete, your application may take longer. Some health concerns may require testing or treatment, which can also affect processing timelines.
The Australian Government always gives priority to the most vulnerable applicants. Below are the related facts:-
- refugees are assessed by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and referred to Australia for resettlement, or
- proposed by an immediate family member with a Refugee category visa (for example, spouses and minor children) (subclasses 200,201,203 or 204)
The Australian Government only accepts applications in the most compelling situations due to the limited number of resettlement slots available each year and the great demand for them.
Refugee and Humanitarian Visa Australia
Under the rules of Refugee and Humanitarian visa Australia Government grants humanitarian resettlement:
– The Refugee Program is for people who are outside their native country and have a reasonable fear of persecution if they return there (usually referred to by UNHCR)
– The Special Humanitarian Program is for those with family or other ties to Australia who have faced significant prejudice in their home country, amounting to a grave violation of human rights.
Thus, the Refugee visa is going to transform the lives of many.