So, you just received an email notification from the Department of Home Affairs that invites you to comment on some questionable information about your application? Or, they have requested further information on something … even though you might have already provided evidence.
Keep calm and follow our tips below.
Don’t go down the rabbit hole with Alice.
Yes, that notification says you have 28 days to respond.
That is not an invitation to forget about it for 27.5 days then call a lawyer in a panic at lunch time on the day its due to fix it for you. Preparing a response takes time. Allow yourself time to get the documents, evidence, or information to support the best response.
Even if responding to the notification feels like ground hog day (ie. you have already given information, documents, or evidence about that point), preparing at least a little something in response is critical. The request has usually been made for a reason. Ignoring it completely is not likely to contribute to a successful visa application.
Check the previous information, documents, or evidence that you have provided and see where you went wrong or where things could be better explained. Or, maybe if you lodged your application months (or years) ago, is there more recent evidence to provide?
The proof is the pudding. It’s the black gloves at OJs trial. Evidence. Evidence. Evidence.
Put yourself in the case officer’s shoes that is reviewing your application. They want to look at it, tick off their checklist and flick you a visa grant. So, make it that easy for them. Where the visa criteria say that you need to provide evidence of your work experience, upload a Resume and work references. Or, if the visa criteria say show how you share your lives together, show your shared finances, couple getaways or dinners with friends.
And in the case of where there is questionable information raised about your visa application, don’t just say “that’s not right” – prove otherwise.
So, someone called the Department’s dob in line and said you and your partner are not actually in an exclusive and ongoing relationship? Yes, this happens. Family, we can’t choose them.
What do you do know? Prove them wrong. Explain your relationship, it’s development and why this accusation might be made (maybe your mum liked your last boyfriend better?). Then, provide evidence for your side of the story.
Above all else, do something. Ignorance is not bliss in the case of a scary letter from the Department. You need to make sure your story is told, so that your case officer can make an informed decision about the outcome of your visa. The best way to do this is to respond with an informative explanation supported by evidence.
We love helping with scary letters.
Get in touch if you need help (hello@passagemigration.consulting).
Rachael is our Legal Practice Director, Youtube Host and Creator of Passage Migration Consulting.
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