Changes to Requirements for Response to Invitation to Give Information or Comments

On 5 November 2011, an amendment was made to regulation 2.15 (which prescribes the timeframe in which a visa applicant must respond to an invitation to provide additional information or comments).

Regulation 2.15(1)(b)(ia) was added to prescribe that applicants in Australia who have been invited to provide additional information or comments in a telephone conversation with a departmental officer have seven days to respond to the invitation.

Departmental officers are now permitted to invite an applicant, or their representative (such as a registered migration agent), to provide additional information or comments during a telephone conversation.

The seven-day timeframe begins when a departmental officer speaks directly to the visa applicant or their representative. Leaving a message on an answering machine or voicemail is not recognised as a telephone conversation. This ensures that the applicant or representative is aware of the invitation and has the opportunity to clarify any aspects of the invitation.
Note: Departmental officers may follow up with an email following a telephone invitation, however, this is not a requirement and does not extend the seven-day period for response.