Refugee advocates call for faster visas

LOCAL refugee advocates are calling for smoother, faster pathways to permanent residency for people on temporary protection visas.

Refugee Legal, Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council and Ballarat Afghan Action Group hosted a free legal information session for refugees on TPVs last week, also covering family reunion and sponsorship.

The groups are aiming to offer ongoing support in these spaces, with Afghan refugees front of mind.

“On 14 February 2023, the Federal Government abandoned the cruel policy of temporary protection for refugees,” BAAG member David Mac Phail said.

“Refugees who are on a temporary protection visa or safe haven enterprise visa are now eligible to apply for a permanent resolution of status visa.

“Current applications to renew expired TPVs or SHEVs will automatically be converted to RoS visa applications. Those still waiting for a decision will be granted a RoS Visa once their need for refugee protection is determined.

“This new policy makes about 19,000 people eligible to apply for resolution of status visas, which will provide them with the same entitlements as other permanent residents, including Centrelink, higher education loans, access to the NDIS, the ability to apply for family reunification, and eventually to apply for Australian citizenship.

“The transition to permanency for most of the 19,000 eligible people is expected to take approximately 12 months to complete.”

Abdul Rasuli is an Afghan refugee, engineering student and BAAG member and who has been in Australia for a decade.

Mr Rasuli has applied for a RoS Visa but is yet to find out if he has been successful.

He said he’d like to see the applications of those seeking asylum processed at a much faster rate so separated families can be together, skilled workers can contribute to the community, and others can be educated.

“Family reunion is very important. Some people, kids, wives are waiting, and are vulnerable people that need help the most,” he said. “Of course, some want to study, so they should be able to do that.

“Not everyone has had the support that I’ve had but people should be able to have the same opportunities, like going to university.

“The RoS Visa processing is slow. They only give two or three a day, so it would take 14 years to give 19,000 people a visa.

“We don’t know what’s happening in the department.”

There are about 10 to 12 Afghan refugees in Ballarat on temporary visas.