Migration Practice
If you are a migrant to Australia it can be very hard to know what you can do if you are experiencing violence from your partner or if you are having problems at work. Many women want to leave the relationship but are worried their visa will be cancelled if they do leave. Many women might also be worried about how what happens at work might affect their visa.
Only the Australian Government has the power to refuse or cancel a person’s visa. Your partner or ex-partner cannot cancel your visa. An employer also cannot cancel your visa.
If you are on any type of visa and are experiencing family and domestic violence or problems at work, we can help.
Our Migration Practice is focussed on achieving positive outcomes for women and their children by addressing their visa issues and working to improve their safety and wellbeing at home and at work.
HOW WE HELP
We help women who are experiencing family and domestic violence or problems at work and who are financially disadvantaged.
We can provide information, advice and representations in the following areas of immigration law.
- Family visas, including partner visas with consideration of the special provisions relating to family violence
- Australian citizenship by conferral and decent
- Evidence of Australian citizenship
- Bridging visas
- Visa cancellations
- Refugee and humanitarian visas
- Protection visas
- Preparation and representations the Department of Home Affairs and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
We can provide migration advice and or assistance with your visa. In some circumstances we assist with ongoing casework, including representation to the Department of Home Affairs and the Administrative Appels Tribunal (Migration Refugee Division).
Depending on your situation, we cab also help by:
- Checking your visa status on VEVO
- Notifying the Department of Home Affairs if there has been a change in circumstances.
- Requesting your immigration files under Freedom of Information
- Assisting with transfer of your immigration file to your own Immi account.
In addition to proving migration advice and assistance, we also provide information and referrals to support women address other legal issues and practical needs that arise when leaving an abusive relationship.
We aim to intervene as early as possible to ensure important visa deadlines are dealt with. We acknowledge that being on a temporary visa while escaping family and domestic violence is very challenging and we aim to support you navigate the migration process.
GET HELP
If you need legal advice or information about your circumstances, please contact the Centre. Our Intake and Advice Line is open 9-5, Monday to Friday. You can call us on 02 6257 4377 or 1800 634 669. One of our Client Services team will go through your situation and see how we can help.
We have staff who speak Mandarin, Japanese, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Bahasa Indonesia and Italian. If you need a translator, please ring us and we will arrange this.
You can also request assistance online using our Request for Assistance form (click below). One of our Client Services team will be in touch to see how we can help.
Our services are free and confidential.
It is important to seek advice as early as possible when your circumstances change as delays may affect your eligibility for other visas or ability to make a valid application to appeal a refused or cancelled visa.