What information does the IAA have about my case?
The Department provides the IAA with all documents it considers relevant to your case. This includes any documents you provided to the Department in connection with your protection visa application, but may also include other information such as records of your interviews with the Department before you lodged your application.
As a general rule the IAA’s reviews are based on the material provided by the Department. However, in limited circumstances the IAA may consider new material relevant to your case.
How do I get a copy of the information the Department has given the IAA?
You can make a request to us in writing.
If you have a current review and make a written request, we will immediately provide you with:
- a copy of the Department’s decision record and notification letter,
- recordings of your interviews with the Department, and
- your visa application.
To obtain any other documents, you may need to make a Freedom of Information request. Depending on what documents you are asking for, we may need to refer the request to the Department for processing.
You can find more information about accessing documents at Immigration Assessment Authority - Access to information | Immigration Assessment Authority (iaa.gov.au).
Will the IAA look at any other information?
Generally, we will make a decision “on the papers” after examining the information that was before the Department.
In limited circumstances we may obtain and consider new information or consider new information submitted by you. You can find more information about submitting new information under Can I provide new information to the IAA?
What information about my country will the IAA consider?
We will consider the country information given to us by the Department. This will usually include any country information you gave to the Department, and the information in the Department’s decision. In limited circumstances we may obtain and consider new country information, or consider new country information you give us.
There has been a change in my circumstances or the circumstances in my country since the delegate’s decision. Will the IAA have information about this?
If there is new information you think is relevant to your case, such as a change in your personal circumstances or the circumstances of your country, that you would like us to consider, you should send it to us. However, we are only able to consider new information in limited circumstances, and there are strict requirements for submitting new information. You can find more information about these requirements under Can I provide new information to the IAA?
What information can I give to the IAA?
You can provide a written submission about why you disagree with the Department’s decision and/or any claim or matter you presented to the Department that was overlooked.
You can also provide new information to the IAA. New information is information that was not before the departmental decision maker. It could be:
- information about your circumstances, your experience or what you fear,
- documents or evidence to support your case,
- media articles or other country information reports.
Please note that although you can provide us with new information, the IAA can only consider it in limited circumstances.
For more information, see ‘Submissions’ and ‘New information’.