4 Things To Do if Your Australian Visa Application is Rejected
Migrating or visiting Australia can be a dream for many people, but visa refusal can turn this dream into a nightmare. You’ve scoured the websites to look for the right visa, you’ve gathered vast amounts of documentation, passed all the tests, and jumped through all the numerous hoops, and yet your Australian Visa Application still gets rejected.
Common Reasons for Visa Application Refusal
The case officer who is in charge of assessing your visa application will break down the reason for your application being refused. However, more often than not the reason(s) is hard to comprehend which will leave you with a big question mark in your head. “Why?!” you may ask. Here are some of the most common reasons why your visa application is rejected.
- Not meeting the general requirements
- Providing false information
- Lacking ties to home country
- Missing the deadline for providing requested additional information
1. Not meeting the general requirements
This mostly happens if you submit your application by yourself. Applicants tend to not pay attention to the general requirements such as age, English, not having enough financial proof to fund their visit or stay, not having health insurance, character requirements, etc.
2. Providing false information
All visa applicants are required to prove their identities and information to support their application by providing the Department with the original or certified copy of their documents. Your application will be refused if you tried to provide bogus documents which will lead to false or misleading information.
3. Lacking ties to home country
Your visa application will be refused if you fail to prove that you have enough ties with your home country or the genuineness of your stay or visit. The case officer is not convinced that you will, by the end of your visa validity, return to your home country. Your application is not genuine or convincing if you can’t prove that you only wish to stay in Australia temporarily.
4. Missing the deadline for providing requested additional information
To support your application, the Department will request some more information from you. They will give you a specific amount of time to complete the request. Should you fail to meet this deadline, they will continue to process your application without having that information available at their disposal which will lead to a high chance of refusal.
Other reasons include:
- The application raises one or more complex legal or factual issues which are decided against the applicant;
- Insufficient evidence is presented to the Department of Immigration. This may include inadequate documentation to prove your identity, finances, employment status, or other requirements of the visa.
- The case wasn’t properly explained to the Department of Immigration;
- The claims of the applicant were not believed;
- Did not meet the health requirements;
- Have past criminal convictions;
- Not all the required documents were provided;
- Providing false information or documents;
- Insufficient proof of funds to support yourself in Australia;
- Applied for the wrong course;
- The course is not in line with your previous studies;
- A miscalculation in points;
- Failure in providing concrete future plans;
- The sponsor of the application failed to meet the requirements;
- A combination of all of these factors.
Example of a client’s refusal letter
4 must-do tips when you face visa refusal
Now, we know some common reasons behind a visa refusal case. What should you do if you face these situations?
It is critical to make the right decision moving forward.
Take a look at the 4 top must-do tips from the registered migration expert, Mrs. Indah Melindasari after you get the crushing news that your visa application has been rejected:
- Understand why your visa application is rejected or refused
- Gather the information that was insufficient in your first visa application
- Re-ensure you are actually eligible for this visa before you reapply or make an appeal
- Get a certified Australian immigration agent before reapplying or appeal
1. Understand why your visa application is rejected or refused
When your visa application is rejected, the Australian Department of Home Affairs provides a detailed explanation of the reasons for the refusal.
Review the refusal notice carefully and understand the reasons for the refusal.
There may be one reason, or maybe a number of reasons.
Make sure you understand what the letter is saying so that if you choose to reapply, you can get it right. This is also an opportunity to learn more about the visa requirements and what you need to do to meet them.
2. Gather the information that was insufficient in your first visa application
If you want to reapply for an Australian visa again, you must ensure that you focus on the reasons they gave for rejecting your original application and convince them that they made the wrong decision.
What is often the case, is that immigration doesn’t believe that you have enough incentive to go back home once your Australian visa has expired.
In this case, you will need to gather more evidence that you have reasons to return home e.g. close family bonds, house rental/ ownership, pets, job, friendship group, and your favourite bicycle!
Literally, anything you can think of. There is no silly answer here.
You need to convince them that you will return home.
Or you will see that your Australian visa application is rejected, again.
Example of refusal letter based on lack of ties in the home country
3. Re-ensure you are actually eligible for this visa before you reapply or make an appeal
Are you sure you’ve chosen the right visa? Have you checked all of the requirements for the visa?
If you have reviewed the refusal notice and identified the reasons for the rejection, you can reapply for the visa.
Many people apply for a visa not realizing the choices and options they have.
Immigration will never grant you a particular visa if they think your needs and Australia’s needs will be met by another one.
Make sure you understand the options available for your circumstances and also provide any additional evidence or information that may support your case.
4. Get a certified Australian immigration agent before reapplying or appeal
Because your Australian visa application is rejected, this increases the likelihood of your next application being rejected should you decide to reapply. In addition, if you were to use your appeal merit, the process would be much more complicated and time-consuming.
It is really important to hire a Migration agency such as ONEderland Consulting, who knows what they are doing and can let you know the areas in your case that need strengthening, and point out things that you hadn’t even thought of.
Even if you don’t hire an agency at all, it is really worth just having an initial consultation.
