Australian Humanitarian intake for 2000 - 2001

The minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Philip Ruddock, has announced that Australia will have an intake of 12,000 this year, and unused places from 1999 will be added to that figure.

The humanitarian intake divides into 'offshore' places and 'onshore' places. Offshore applicants apply from overseas from their country of origin or a neighbouring country of refuge.

Onshore applicants are unauthorised boat arrivals in Australia and people arriving by air without valid visas. They are detained in Immigration Detention until their situation is resolved. If they meet the criteria for resettlement under one of the refugee or humanitarian programs in this section, they may be granted visas. In 1998 - 1999 there were 2,106 people refused entry at airports in Australia and immediately returned by the airline to their country of origin.

In 1998 - 1999 year the total number of people arriving unauthorised by boat was 7,832, of which 1,323 have been granted a visa, 3,224 remain in Australian custody, and the others have been returned home. A further small number, about 400, fall into other categories.

Offshore Programs

There are three offshore programs:

1. Refugee program
2. Special Humanitarian Program
3. Special Assistance Category
   

1) Refugee Program

To qualify for this visa you must be living outside your home country, subject to persecution at home and in need of resettlement. Those three things. The United Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) advises Australia on the need for your resettlement.

There are 4,000 places available in the Refugee Program in 2000.

Women at Risk

To qualify for this visa you must be a woman living outside your own country. You must be on your own without the protection of a male relative and in danger of victimisation, harassment or serious abuse because you are a woman.

Emergency Rescue

This visa is granted to people who are subject to persecution in their home country such that they need immediate sanctuary because their life is in danger.

Children under eighteen

A child can apply for refugee migration if they are orphans or they have become separated from their parents. The Australian government takes care to establish that it is in the child's best interests to resettle, and that the rights of parents (if the child has them) have been considered.

2) Special Humanitarian Program and 3) Special Assistance Category

These two programs take up 4,000 places available under the Refugee and Special Humanitarian Programs, making a total of 8,000 places available offshore. If not all the Onshore places are taken, some of that allocation may be available for people Offshore.

The Special Humanitarian Program is for people who are under persecution in their home countries.

The Special Assistance Category is for the immediate family of refugees to come to Australia. 'Immediate family' means your children, or your husband or wife. If you are under eighteen, you may apply for a parent to enter in the Special Assistance Category. You must already hold a refugee or special humanitarian visa, and your family must be at risk. No new applicants are being accepted under this category in the 2000 - 2001 period, but existing applications will be finalised.

Onshore programs

Onshore applicants arrive unauthorised in Australia and seek asylum from the authorities on arrival. There are 4,000 places available for people onshore. They have to prove that they are in genuine need of resettlement.

Applications and Supporting Documents

To apply for a Refugee or Humanitarian Visa, you must apply on Form 842, obtainable from an Australian Embassy or Consulate. You should apply from outside Australia (offshore). There is no charge to apply.

When replying, do not send your original documents with the application form. Please only photocopy your original documents and then have the photocopies certified by a Justice of the Peace or the equivalent in your country. The Australian authorities want a certified photocopy of your documents.

You will need:

1. Four passport photographs of each person migrating.

2. Identity verification, for example birth certificates, passports, national identity card.

3. If you have registered as a refugee with any organisation (for example the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - UNHCR) then include evidence of your registration.

4. If your entry to Australia is being proposed by anyone in Australia, then include Form 681. This part of the Humanitarian program is suspended for 2000.

5. Your passports or travel documents.

6. Armed forces records if you have been in the military services.

7. Marriage and divorce papers of yourself and your spouse, also if either of you have been married to someone who has died, then include the death certificate. All the papers on your and spouse's marriages, past and present.

8. Child custody papers for a child migrating without both parents.

9. Child adoption papers.

When your application is complete, return it to the Australian Embassy or Consulate. If anything happens to change your application, (eg if a baby is born, or one of the applicants on your form decides not to migrate) then inform the Embassy immediately.