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Test for your character

Test for your character

As part of the verification of your documents for your Australian visa, the DOHA will ask you to pass a “character test”.

This is certainly not a Q&A test, as you can imagine. Actually, this is a process of assessing your good character, which is providing by an officer, based on the police checks you provided. Certificate (police clearance certificate / statement of criminal records) have to be for each country where the applicant has been living for more than 1 year.

In different countries, certificates are delivered to recipient in different ways:

  • The Australian Federal Police sends documents only by mail to a real residential address. Letter comes within 2-3 weeks.
  • New Zealand is also sending letter.

Do not forget, that all documents must be translated into English before sending it to Department!

Please remember! The Department may refuse or cancel a visa if the applicant / visa holder does not meet the character requirements under section 501 of the Migration Act 1958.

Among the reasons that significantly affect the decision may be:

  • Substantial criminal record (up to more than 12 months in prison)
  • Danger to the Australian community, incitement to hatred and harassment
  • Escape from immigration detention
  • Communication with a person or group involved in criminal behaviour
  • Human smuggling, genocide, torture and slavery
  • A sexually based offences involving a child
  • A domestic violence offence or have ever been subject to a domestic violence order

Can I get an Australian visa if the applicant has a criminal record?

Yes, you can get a visa! But this requires additional time to process your visa application and additional efforts to provide all provide all requested information to the Department, which consider all circumstances of a case. The outcome will depend on the nature and severity of the offence(s), and the length of sentence.

In any case, you can influence the Department’s decision and appeal it to the Administrative Tribunal. In this case (I wish it will never happen!!!), it is important to know and remember two points:

  • The time for appealing is very limited. In some cases, it is only 9 days! If this deadline is missed, the case may be irreversible.
  • You can always contact us at Yulia Moiseeva & Associates. I personally won several cases at AAT, defending my clients, and changed the department’s decision!

You can ask me questions at anytime for free.

Just email me at office@yuliamoiseeva.com.au and describe your migration issues!

Yulia Moiseeva & Associates

Yulia Moiseeva & Associates was established in 2010 to assist people to change their life to a better one, to relocate and settle in Australia stress-free. We develop an immigration strategy and provide the most successful results.
Yulia Moiseeva Principal and Senior Registered Migration Agent MARN 1066715.
Olga Grinevetskaya Senior Registered Migration Agent MARN 1807885.

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