Is this how we want our visa processing system to run?

Two of the families RAR successfully settled in Australia were the result of extensive political lobbying. A retired government minister who asked RAR to sponsor the sister of one of his former constituents met with a government minister and received instant support. The young woman RAR sponsored for him arrived in Australia in weeks.

Prominent Afghan sports people and their families have been welcomed to Australia and while we applaud this we ask are some people more valued than others?

There also appear to be restrictions on the interpretation of the application by the officer reviewing the application, with no contact for clarification or additional information.

RAR members have developed loving relationships with the families they have sponsored who have been recommended by Afghan Australian colleagues and are diligent in providing updates on required forms all which receive no response. Many RAR members are in weekly contact via WhatsApp or Signal and are providing financial support to these families.

The family reunion problem and gender discrimination

The definitions of “family reunion”, “partnership” and “vulnerable women” is causing considerable confusion and heartbreak for Afghan families residing in Australia.

Gul could not be included in her mother’s partner visa application as she is 23. She is the only daughter in her family. Her mother and three younger brothers arrived in Australia last year in October. She is now alone in Tehran. Her mother is crying every day for her. The family living in Shepparton have lodged a Community Support application which can take up to five years to process, costing thousands of dollars. She cannot renew her visa by going back to Afghanistan as the risks are too high. She now is illegal and will not be able to obtain an exit permit to travel out of Iran.

It is ironic that the three younger boys are safe and in Australia while the only daughter must be left in danger.

Maryam aged 24, was born in Gaznie. Her father arrived in Australia in April, 2013. He applied for a partner visa for his wife and two children; they arrived in Australia in June 2024 without Maryam who was too old to be eligible. Maryam is alone studying engineering at Tehran University. Her visa has expired and she has been told she must return to Afghanistan. She will not be able to work or study and it will be impossible for her to renew her passport or visa in Afghanistan or Iran.

The father and son of the Hassan family live in Shepparton, the mother and four children were in Tehran. The two eldest, a 24-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man were both studying 3rd and 4th year medicine at Tehran University. The father applied for a partner visa.

He was asked by Immigration to withdraw the application for the 24- and 26-year-olds or his application would be rejected. The mother and two children minus the 24- and 26-year-olds arrived in Australia this year.

Home Affairs’ lack of flexibility has separated a family and Australia is deprived of two medical students when we are “calling out” for doctors and a young single woman is at risk of deportation to Afghanistan.

Migration Agents have assured RAR there are many such cases.

These cases demonstrate Home Affairs’ failure to protect vulnerable women in countries which practice gender discrimination.

The media developed a story around these three cases, including a government response, but despite our assurances, none of these families would appear on TV. They had been told by Afghan community members that they would be deported if they spoke to the media.

The ‘Advancing Women’s Rights’ Outcome Report 2025 from a Conference held in December at the ANU Gender Institute recommended that Home Affairs meet its obligations under Australia’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security to implement General Recommendation 30 by prioritising visa processing for Vulnerable Afghan women. In addition it called for Home Affairs to prioritise processing of Australian visas for vulnerable Afghan women, including incorporating daughters over 23 years of age, unmarried/widowed sisters, and nieces requiring care into Home Affairs’ definition of family.

Rural Australians for Refugees proposal

Ten RAR and faith groups residing in the electorate of Indi partnered with the Shepparton Afghan Community and developed a proposal for sponsoring Afghan people on humanitarian visas.

This proposal recommended the same process as the application for a Humanitarian Visa, but proposed that the sponsoring RAR Group would prepare accommodation and suitable employment and community support for the family on arrival. They would do this in consultation with their Afghan sponsor and the local community due to their positive relationships with both. This would add value to rural communities through provision of skills in areas of skill shortage and enrich local culture.

The Indi Proposal differed from the Talent Beyond Boundaries and CRISP programs in that it

• built on the existing relationship of the sponsor and the family they were supporting;
• enabled the sponsor to nominate the family they wished to settle in their community;
• worked on building a relationship between employer and prospective employee, common in rural communities; and
• is additional to the government refugee intake.

RAR had followed this model in Mansfield. We took our proposal and presented it to the eight Shire Councils where our RAR groups were located and it was unanimously supported by every council. These councils wrote to the minister of immigration supporting the proposal. Our local federal member supported the proposal and recommended to the minister that we meet and discuss our proposal.

The Local Government Mayoral Taskforce contacted RAR for a briefing on the proposal, and wrote to the then immigration minister to support the proposal. At no stage, despite a number of requests from our local federal member, were we granted a meeting with the minister or his adviser.

The Advancing Afghan Women’s Rights Report also recommended the provision of education pathways for Afghan women, including visas for post-graduate students and improving resettlement experiences for new migrants, including access to English lessons and/or university courses online before arriving.

RAR believes that these recommendations fit neatly into our proposal and provide a pathway for people on humanitarian visas moving into rural communities where the building of constructive relationships are fundamental to the success of settlement.

In summary there needs to be a review of the processing of Australian Humanitarian Visas so that

• Home Affairs meet its obligations under Australia’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security by prioritising visa processing for Vulnerable Afghan women.
• Home Affairs reviews its priority processing criteria to provide for flexibility to enable immediate family members particularly vulnerable Afghan women by incorporating daughters over 23 years of age, unmarried/widowed sisters, and nieces requiring care into Home Affairs’ definition of family.
• Timely feedback is provided to sponsors.
• In granting a visa, consideration be given to the community providing support particularly to women and vulnerable families.

The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.

Readers mayu also be interested to read Part of this two-part series