Options for receiving written communications
You may authorise another person to receive all
communications, both written and electronic, about your
application with the department. You will be taken to have
received any documents sent to that person as if they had been
sent to you.
To do this you will need to complete Part F Options for receiving
written communications and form 956 Appointment of a
migration agent or exempt agent or other authorised recipient.
For an explanation of what a migration agent or exempt agent
or authorised recipient can do please read the sections below.
To change or end the appointment of your migration agent or
exempt agent or authorised recipient you must promptly advise
the department in writing. You can do this by using form 956
Appointment of a migration agent or exempt agent or other
authorised recipient.
Authorised recipient information
An authorised recipient is someone you appoint to receive
written communications about your application with the
department.
All written communication about your application will be sent
to your authorised recipient, unless you indicate that you wish
to have health and/or character information sent directly to
you.
The department will communicate with the most recently
appointed authorised recipient as you may only appoint one
authorised recipient at any time for a particular application.
Migration agent information
A migration agent is someone who can:
• advise you on the visa that may best suit you;
• tell you the documents you need to submit with your
application;
• help you fill in the application and submit it; and
•
communicate with the department on your behalf.
If you appoint a migration agent, the department will assume
that your migration agent will be your authorised recipient,
unless you indicate other
wise.
Your migration agent will be the person with whom the
depar
tment will discuss your application and from whom it will
seek further information when required.
You are not required to use a migration agent. However, if you
use a migration agent, the department encourages you to use
a registered migration agent. Registered agents are bound by
the Migration Agents Code of Conduct, which requires them to
act professionally in their clients’ lawful best interests.
Immigration assistance
A person gives immigration assistance to you if he or she uses,
or claims to use, his or her knowledge or experience in
migration procedure to assist you with your visa application,
request for ministerial intervention, cancellation review
application, sponsorship or nomination.
In Australia a person may only lawfully give immigration
assistance if he or she is a registered migration agent or is
exempt from being registered. Only registered migration agents
may receive a fee or reward for providing immigration
assistance.
If an unregistered person in Australia, who is not exempt from
registration, gives you immigration assistance they are
committing a criminal offence and may be prosecuted.
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About the information you give
The department is authorised to collect information provided
on this form under Part 2 of the Migration Act 1958 ‘Control of
Arrival and Presence of Non-Citizens’. The information provided
will be used by the department for assessing your eligibility for
a visa to travel, enter and remain in Australia and for other
purposes relating to the administration of the Migration Act, for
example, to assist migrants with settling in Australia, to monitor
the conduct of migration agents, or for ensuring compliance
with the Migration Act.
The information provided might also be disclosed to agencies
who are authorised to receive information relating to adoption,
border control, business skills, citizenship, education, health
assessment, health insurance, health services, law enforcement,
payment of pensions and benefits, taxation, review of decisions
and regulation of migration agents.
The collection, access, storage use and disclosure by the
department of the information you provide in this form is
governed by the Privacy Act 1988 and in particular, by the
11 Information privacy principles. The information form 993i
Safeguarding your personal information, available from offices
of the department, gives details of agencies to which your
personal information might be disclosed.
The department is authorised under the Migration Act 1958, in
certain circumstances, to collect a range of personal identifiers
including a facial image, fingerprints and a signature from non-
citizens, including from visa applicants. The department requires
personal identifiers to assist in assessing your identity. The
department is authorised to disclose your personal identifiers
and information relating to your name and other relevant
biographical data to a number of agencies including law
enforcement and health agencies and to other agencies who
may need to check your identity with this department. Where
the department obtains personal identifiers they will become
part of your official record with the department.
The department is involved in international information
exchanges with a number of countries, including the United
Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada and New
Zealand. These international information exchanges may involve
the sharing of personal identifiers, including facial images and
fingerprint data, collected by immigration agencies such as this
department. If, as a result of this sharing between countries,
there is a match with your personal identifiers, the department
will disclose
your biographical data, copies of travel and other
identity documents or infor
mation from such documents, your
immigration status and immigration history (which may include
any immigration abuse and offences) and any criminal histor
y
information relevant to immigration purposes. The purpose of
such disclosure would be to help confirm your identity and
determine if you have presented to the depar
tment and the
other agency under the same identity and with similar claims.
For more detailed information you should read information
form 1243i Your personal identifying information, which is
available from the department’s website
www.immi.gov.au/allforms/ or from any office of the
department or Australian mission overseas.
© COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, 2010