Migration Advice & Refugee Services Australia

17/01/2026

Due to our additional commitments and the New Year holidays, we were unable to provide timely updates. Below is a summary of our key updates and outcomes during this period:

Family Visa

The processing of family visas is currently not as satisfactory as expected and is moving at a noticeably slow pace. This delay is likely due to the high volume of applications, lengthy processing queues, and the fact that the year has only recently begun and administrative operations have not yet fully returned to normal.

Community Visa (CSP):

The Community Support Program (CSP) visa, also known as the community visa, has not yet resumed following its suspension. At this stage, no official updates have been released by the Department of Home Affairs or relevant organisations involved in this program. Should we receive any new information, we will share it with you promptly through this platform.

Humanitarian Visa:

The processing of humanitarian visas is ongoing. However, it is important to note that humanitarian visas have specific eligibility criteria. If an applicant does not meet these requirements, there is no need to lodge an application or incur related expenses. That said, eligible applicants may proceed with lodging a humanitarian visa application under the current circumstances.

Citizenship / Citizenship Certificate:

The processing of citizenship applications and citizenship certificates has significantly improved compared to previous years. Applicants are generally receiving outcomes within a shorter timeframe. This improvement primarily applies to cases that are straightforward, complete, and clearly documented. Naturally, applications involving complexities or ambiguities require more detailed assessment, which can result in longer processing times and requires patience from applicants.

Note:

Everyone should be aware that each application has its own unique circumstances and cannot be directly compared to others in terms of processing time or speed. Therefore, individuals who enquire why another person’s application lodged at the same time has been finalised earlier, while theirs is still pending, should understand that differences in the nature and complexity of cases can lead to different processing timelines.

23/12/2025

Office Closure for the Holidays

We will be closed from tomorrow, 23 December, and will reopen on Monday, 5 January 2026. We wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous year ahead. 😊

17/11/2025

With the commencement of issuing Subclass 851 visas for refugees many people assumed that all the problems faced by refugees had finally come to an end. However, in reality, a large number of refugees are still waiting for an immigration decision and remain deeply concerned about their future. Unfortunately, this group has been forgotten, and no one is actively working to address their ongoing challenges. In these circumstances, one of the organisations that has consistently, quietly, and persistently continued its advocacy and efforts to protect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers is the Justice for Refugees organisation.

Last week, the organisation held its AGM, during which it presented a report on its activities over the past year as well as its future plans. One of the special guests at the event was Musa Nowruzi, who is now a successful lawyer practising in the field of criminal law. Musa was sponsored by his father in 2011 and, through hard work and determination, successfully completed his education. Today, he works as a professional criminal lawyer.

Musa was introduced as one of the outstanding and successful members of the migrant community and delivered a speech at the event. He represents the remarkable talent that exists among asylum seekers. If given the opportunity, individuals like him can become successful citizens and exemplary contributors to Australia.

05/09/2025

These days, circumstances are not very favourable. It is said that the immigration office is under pressure due to the large volume of applications. It is hoped that the visa issuance process, especially for family visas, will accelerate and bring an end to the years of waiting for those yearning to be reunited with their loved ones.

27/08/2025

Partner Visas Granted

We are pleased to share the news of a visa grant for one of our clients' family who has dedicated over a decade of hard work in a remote town of South Australia with the hope of one day reuniting with his family in Australia.

While this is a positive step, it is deeply concerning that two of his daughters remain in Pakistan, with little prospect for a secure or hopeful future. Understandably, this separation brings profound sadness and distress, as the family is once again divided. Such circumstances are likely to have a significant impact on the family’s overall well-being and mental health.

Our client has expressed that his concerns and frustrations will never be fully resolved. While part of his family will soon join him in Australia, but the ongoing hardship and uncertainty faced by his two daughters left behind in Pakistan continues to cause him deep distress. He feels that until they are safe and reunited, he will be unable to find peace of mind or live a life free from constant stress.

25/06/2025

Azerbaijan has reopened its southern border at Astara, but only for limited, exceptional cases. This includes foreign citizens (like Australians) trying to travel from Iran into Azerbaijan.

If you're an Australian citizen needing to cross into Azerbaijan for humanitarian reasons, here’s what you need to do:

Apply for an Azerbaijan e-visa at: https://evisa.gov.az/en/

Email the Australian Embassy in Ankara: [email protected]

In your email, include:

Your full name

Passport number

A copy of your e-visa

Contact details for everyone travelling with you

If possible, attach a scan of your passport’s photo page

The embassy will register you with Azerbaijani authorities and help you get a border crossing code.

⏳ Keep in mind:

Border waiting times can be very unpredictable.

Internet and phone service in Iran—especially near the border—can be very unreliable.

More info: Smar traveller link

ASAN Visa has been created to simplify the visa issuance procedure for foreigners and stateless persons seeking to come to Azerbaijan.

14/04/2025

Luck or Compassion?

One of our clients, Mr. Haji Shafiei, and his family who had been living as refugees in Pakistan were fortunate to receive their CSP visa in less than five months. We were honored to support them throughout their CSP application process.

Their swift visa approval may have been a matter of luck, or perhaps the immigration officer handling their case had just returned from a honeymoon, seeing the world through a more cheerful and generous lens and thus, granted their visa in record time!

Note:
Of course, it is important to remember that the speedy issuance of a visa is not solely dependent on luck. Various factors can influence the processing time and outcome of immigration applications, many of which are beyond the applicant’s control.

In the end, Mr. Shafiei and his esteemed family graciously honored us with a beautiful and thoughtful gift. We sincerely wish them a life filled with peace, happiness, and lasting prosperity.

21/02/2025

With Greetings and Deep Gratitude 🌸

Today, our office was filled with the fragrance of flowers and sweetness, thanks to the presence and kindness of our dear friend, Mr Mehraban. From the bottom of our hearts, we are delighted to have been a bridge to joy and peace, playing a small role in bringing happiness to our clients' life.

Dear Mehraban!

The tenderness of your name is beautifully reflected in your character, and your kindness and generosity, like a delightful breeze, have brightened our day. We are immensely grateful for your companionship and warmth, and we sincerely wish that your days always be as sweet as your smile.

With respect and best wishes

21/01/2025

News of the week

This week has been incredibly special for our clients! We are overjoyed to share the amazing news that two families have been granted their visas but one of them within 3 months! 🙌✨

It’s moments like these that remind us of the power of perseverance, hope, and the support of friends and loved ones. 💕

To the families, of Mr Najafi and Mr Fazeli congratulations on this incredible milestone! Your new chapter begins now. 🏡✈️

Let’s continue to uplift and support each other as we celebrate moments of joy like this. Together, we achieve great things. 🌍💙

21/12/2024

Message for New Year and Christmas Holidays

In the name of the Creator of kindness and light,

In advance, we extend our heartfelt greetings and congratulations to you and your dear families on the arrival of the New Year and the Christmas holidays. These blessed days are an opportunity for reflection, gratitude, and fresh beginnings—a time to hope for brighter tomorrows and to strive for building a better world.

In honour of these beautiful occasions and to provide a chance for rest and relaxation to our esteemed colleagues and friends, our office will be closed from December 23, 2024, to January 6, 2025.

We deeply appreciate your continuous support and trust and hope that the coming year brings health, happiness, and endless success to your lives.

Wishing you a joyful and blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

18/12/2024

Greetings,

We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations on the Grant of partner visas for the families of Mr. Dosti, Mr. Tokhi, and Mr. Rahimi. We sincerely hope that all those who are still waiting will soon reunite with their loved ones and begin a life filled with joy and tranquillity alongside their families in Australia.

It is our utmost pleasure and honour to be the messengers of such wonderful news to our friends. We hope to share more good news like this with you in the near future.

Our gratitude goes to Mr. Dosti, Mr. Rahimi, and the Tokhi family for bringing sweets and sharing their kindness, creating joyful moments for us all.

Wishing all the best for everyone who are still waiting to reunite with their loved ones in Australia.

22/11/2024

We ended our week with good news.
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This week, we had two humanitarian visas and three family visas, and we wish the families of Mr. Yawari, Haidari, Mohammadi, and Rezaei a wonderful life with their families in Australia.

Note:

Sorry that our office phone has not been activated so far, they have promised that the phone will be reconnected next week, if you need any assistance, please call the office's mobile number 0484954260.

Wish you all a good and happy weekend :)