Varess

Varess Legal practice specialising in Australian immigration law. Varess values the opportunity to be a part of its clients’ immigration milestones.

The 2027 Best Law Firms awards for were published last week.Varess is honoured to be one of only eight law firms acros...
31/05/2026

The 2027 Best Law Firms awards for were published last week.

Varess is honoured to be one of only eight law firms across the country to have received a Tier 1 National Ranking for Immigration Law .

Varess is also pleased to have been ranked Tier 1 in Sydney for both Immigration Law and Human Rights Law.

As always, it is our pleasure to have the chance to be a part of our clients’ milestones, and we thank them for putting their trust in us.

We are of course also grateful for the generous support of our community contacts and colleagues in the wider legal profession.

For more information about these awards, please see https://www.bestlawfirms.com/articles/leading-the-way-2027-best-law-firms-australia/7750.

A person cannot simultaneously both have, and not have, the same profile.This morning the Federal Circuit and Family Cou...
22/04/2026

A person cannot simultaneously both have, and not have, the same profile.

This morning the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia delivered judgment in favour of a Pakistani asylum seeker client of in EYM17 v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2026] FedCFamC2G 610 .

Having accepted that our client was at risk of harm in his home region in , the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal went on to find that it would be reasonable for him to relocate to another area.

The Tribunal’s finding was on the basis that our client’s family had no profile beyond their home region. Problematically, the Tribunal then went on to find that same family profile would allow our client to access support outside his home region such that relocation would be reasonable.

In finding that the Tribunal had erred, the Court stated at [110]:

“… the conclusion that the applicant had support networks and could access considerable support for accommodation, friendship and networks in regions outside his home area and Parachinar, was irrational and illogical in light of the earlier findings that the profile of the applicant’s father and brothers would not be known beyond his village and nearby districts. … the fact finding was internally inconsistent on material issues. … there was only one conclusion open and the Tribunal did not come to that conclusion …”.

Yesterday, Special Counsel, Alison Saunders, spoke with students of the Australian Pacific college | Australian Colleg...
10/04/2026

Yesterday, Special Counsel, Alison Saunders, spoke with students of the Australian Pacific college | Australian College about how their study choices can impact on their future pathways.

As well as providing an overview of available temporary and permanent employer sponsored and independent visa options, Alison’s presentation also provided general guidance on the following student visa holder frequently asked questions :

🙋🏻‍♂️ Will my course of study give me the qualifications required for a relevant / in demand skilled occupation?
🙋‍♀️ How do I satisfy the English language requirements?
🙋🏽 Will I need a skills assessment?
🙋🏼‍♂️ How much employment experience do I need?
🙋🏻‍♀️ Where do I need to live/work/study?
🙋🏾 How will the upcoming changes to the Administrative Review Tribunal merits review process impact me?

The presentation was given at APC’s Sydney Open Day which also included speakers from TAFENSW and ABM Further Education.

We thank APC for inviting Varess to be a part of their Open Day.

Yesterday, Varess Special Counsel, Alison Saunders, spoke with students of the Australian Pacific College about how th...
10/04/2026

Yesterday, Varess Special Counsel, Alison Saunders, spoke with students of the Australian Pacific College about how their study choices can impact on their future pathways.

As well as providing an overview of available temporary and permanent employer sponsored and independent visa options, Alison’s presentation also provided general guidance on the following student visa holder frequently asked questions :

🙋🏻‍♂️ Will my course of study give the qualifications required for a relevant / in demand skilled occupation?
🙋‍♀️ How do I satisfy the English language requirements?
🙋🏽 Will I need a skills assessment?
🙋🏼‍♂️ How much employment experience do I need?
🙋🏻‍♀️ Where do I need to live/work/study?
🙋🏾 How will the upcoming changes to the Administrative Review Tribunal merits review process impact me?

The presentation was given at APC’s Sydney Open Day which also included speakers from TAFE NSW and ABM Further Education.

We thank APC for inviting Varess to be a part of their Open Day.

In deciding whether the mandatory of a should be revoked, a decision maker must consider any claims raised by the ...
26/03/2026

In deciding whether the mandatory of a should be revoked, a decision maker must consider any claims raised by the former visa holder if that person is not covered by a protection finding.

This is the crux of the Federal of Australia’s judgment delivered yesterday in respect of a client of Varess.

In considering whether the mandatory cancellation of our client’s visa should be revoked, the Administrative Review had proceeded on the basis that our client’s protection claims are not required to be considered because he had already been refused a protection visa and had not separately applied to the Tribunal for merits review of the protection visa refusal decision.

The Court found that in refusing to consider our client’s protection claims, the Tribunal had failed to comply with paragraph 9.1.2 of Direction no 110.

Of course, detainees subject of a mandatory cancellation, who also have protection claims, can be in particularly difficult circumstances. Their failure to seek merits review of a protection visa refusal decision may be due to various factors, including a lack of resources, information and/or understanding.

This judgment may therefore provide some hope for people in these situations.

To read the Court’s judgment, being So v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2026] FCA 345, please go to https://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/single/2026/2026fca0345.

has imposed temporary travel restrictions on certain nationals. From 26 March 2026, Subclass 600 - Visitor associa...
25/03/2026

has imposed temporary travel restrictions on certain nationals.

From 26 March 2026, Subclass 600 - Visitor associated with an Iranian passport number will cease to be in effect for 6 months, unless a relevant exemption applies.

This restriction comes into effect after the for Home Affairs made the Migration (Arrival Control) Determination 2026 (arrival control ) (s 84B).

People exempt from the ’s impact include those who (s 84C):

▶️ are in Australia’s “migration zone” [s 5(1)] at the time the determination commences (i.e. on 26 March 2026);

▶️ are the spouse, de facto partner or dependent child of an Australian citizen/permanent resident (or a person usually resident in Australia, whose continued presence in Australia is not subject to a legal time limitation);

▶️ have a child in that is under 18;

▶️ are subject of a “permitted travel certificate” (s 84D);

Such certificates may be issued in respect of an affected person “if the Minister is satisfied in all the circumstances that is appropriate for the determination not to apply”.

The website of the Australian Department of Home Affairs provides the following examples of people who may be eligible for a certificate:

▶️ parents of Australian citizens;

▶️ people who “can show they genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily”, noting that the demonstration of such an intention is a prerequisite to the grant of a Visitor visa that affected individuals would have recently been assessed to meet.

Significantly, the legislation provides that:

▶️ such certificates may be revoked at any time whilst a person the subject of the same is outside Australia’s migration zone.

▶️ the “rules of natural justice” will not apply in relation to the exercise of the Minister’s power to issue or revoke a certificate; and

▶️ the Minister “does not have a duty to consider whether to exercise the power” to issue a certificate, even if he is requested to do so.

As to the rationale for the making of the determination, the Department’s website explains: “The Iran conflict has increased the risk [that] some visa holders may be unable – or unlikely – to leave Australia when their visas expire” and the determination will “help protect the integrity and sustainability of Australia’s migration system, and allow the Government time to assess risks before travel happens.”

It remains to be seen how many Iranians will make a request for a certificate.

Those wishing to do so may use the Department’s Arrival Control Determination : see https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-support/arrival-control-determination.

In this time of turmoil, the usual festive spirit of has been overwhelmed by a sombre mood of uncertainty and chaos, m...
20/03/2026

In this time of turmoil, the usual festive spirit of has been overwhelmed by a sombre mood of uncertainty and chaos, mixed with an all-important sense of resilience and hope.

In a few hours, the year 1405 in the calendar will commence.

Today, perhaps more than ever before, the world yearns for Nowruz’s promise of new beginnings. 🕊️

In this time of turmoil, the usual festive spirit of has been overwhelmed by a sombre mood of uncertainty and chaos, m...
20/03/2026

In this time of turmoil, the usual festive spirit of has been overwhelmed by a sombre mood of uncertainty and chaos, mixed with an all-important sense of resilience and hope.

In a few hours, the year 1405 in the calendar will commence.

Today, perhaps more than ever before, the world yearns for Nowruz’s promise of new beginnings. 🕊️

Address

Level 36, Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place
Sydney, NSW
2000

Opening Hours

Monday 8:45am - 5:15pm
Tuesday 8:45am - 5:15pm
Wednesday 8:45am - 5:15pm
Thursday 8:45am - 5:15pm
Friday 8:45am - 5:15pm

Telephone

+61286684433

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