Immigration matters

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is responsible for processing applications for Australian visas. The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security has no jurisdiction over DIAC. However, DIAC sometimes refers visa applications to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) for security assessment. IGIS has jurisdiction only with regard to actions taken by ASIO, and not for other checks that DIAC may request.

The IGIS has received approximately 2,000 complaints and queries about alleged delays in the processing of security assessments for visa applicants since 1 July 2009. Only a very small percentage of these have been caused by errors resulting in a delay in the completion of the security assessment. Given the small incidence of error, we have decided to modify the way in which we handle complaints of this kind.

In order to provide assurance to the public that ASIO is managing the processing of security assessments for visa applicants with legality and propriety, we are conducting regular inspections of ASIO’s security processes and assessment practices rather than focussing on individual complaints about lack of timeliness.

As from 1 July 2011, we will not inquire into individual complaints about lack of timeliness in any case where an application for a permanent visa is less than 12 months old. IGIS will consider complaints about timeliness where a visa application is more than 12 months old, on a case by case basis.

Before making a complaint to IGIS, we recommend that you contact your DIAC case officer to check that you have provided all the information requested to complete the assessment process.

If you believe that your visa application has been referred to ASIO and that the security assessment process has been subjected to a delay, you may lodge a complaint with the IGIS.

When lodging a complaint relating to a security assessment, it is important that you provide the following details:

name of the visa applicant as shown on his or her passport
date of birth of the visa applicant
country of birth of the visa applicant
DIAC reference number
date of visa application (must be at least 12 months ago).

Without all of these details the IGIS will not process your complaint.

When lodging your complaint with the IGIS, provide your name, address or contact details so we can respond to you.

If you wish to make a complaint online, you can do this via our on-line complaint form.

On receiving your complaint, the IGIS will acknowledge receipt of your complaint in a prompt manner. IGIS will assess your complaint and may then make an administrative enquiry of ASIO about your case.

The IGIS will only get back to you if ASIO advises there is information you need to provide, or if an exceptional issue has been identified.

The IGIS is not able to:

provide you with specific details about the security assessment process
change the priority given to your security assessment
influence the outcome of a security assessment
provide you with a date for completion of the security assessment.