Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697642094675.pdf (Australia)
HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WRITTEN QUESTION ON NOTICE Select Committee on COVID-19 QoN Number: CV19-99 Subject: Temporary Visa Holders - not in Australia Asked by: Rachel Siewert Question: How many temporary visa holders – including bridging and special category visas – are currently not in Australia?

a.

Please break down into visa subclasses.
Answer: The following table provides the number of temporary visa holders located outside Australia as at 31 May 2020 by visa subclass: Number of Temporary Visa Holders Outside Australia Visa Category Visa Subclass Bridging Crew and Transit Other Temporary Student 020 Bridging B 771 Transit 988 Maritime Crew Visa 580 Student Guardian 590 Student Guardian 602 Medical Treatment 675 Medical Treatment (Short Stay) 685 Medical Treatment (Long Stay) 773 Border 950 Criminal Justice Entry 443 Citizens of Former Yugoslavia 500 Student 560 Student 570 Independent ELICOS Sector 571 Schools Sector 572 Vocational Education and Training Sector 573 Higher Education Sector 574 Postgraduate Research Sector 575 Non-Award Sector As At 31/05/2020 5,278 22,975 680,900 126 1,048 152 <5 12 <5 7 <5 126,157 228 <5 169 43 2,766 1,063 <5 Temporary Protection 576 Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector 784 Domestic Protection (Temporary) 785 Temporary Protection 790 Safe Haven Enterprise Temporary Resident (Other Employment) 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) 405 Investor Retirement 407 Training 408 Temporary Activity 410 Retirement 418 Educational 419 Visiting Academic 420 Temporary Work (Entertainment) 422 Medical Practitioner 428 Religious Worker 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) 476 Skilled - Recognised Graduate 485 Temporary Graduate 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) 995 Diplomatic (Temporary) 442 Occupational Trainee 415 Foreign Government Agency 457 Temporary Work (Skilled) 482 Temporary Skill Shortage 456 Business (Short Stay) 600 Visitor 601 Electronic Travel Authority 651 eVisitor 676 Tourist 956 Electronic Travel Authority (Business Entrant - Long Validity) 976 Electronic Travel Authority (Visitor) 417 Working Holiday 462 Work and Holiday Temporary Resident (Skilled Employment) Visitor Working Holiday Maker TOTAL 12 <5 45 70 6,696 1,690 152 683 10,255 1,774 8 <5 <5 <5 6 1,559 1,693 12,533 390 594 <5 <5 14,523 19,802 96 2,305,303 2,034,519 803,308 13 3,334 <5 87,083 16,249 6,163,338 Note: Many temporary visas have a multiple entry facility attached.
Therefore some temporary visa holders would have previously travelled to Australia on their visa, and some would have not.

HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO AUSTRALIAN BORDER FORCE PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WRITTEN QUESTION ON NOTICE Select Committee on COVID-19 QoN Number: CV19-100 Subject: Temporary Visa Holders - travel ban exemption Asked by: Rachel Siewert Question: How many temporary visa holders not in Australia have applied for a travel ban exemption?
a. b. c. d. e. i. accepted on the basis of a new/re-application?

ii.

Please break down into visa subclasses How many of these applications have been accepted?

How many of these applications have been rejected?

How many applicants have made multiple applications?

How many rejected applications have been later accepted?

Have all applications that were initially rejected, but later accepted, been If not, why?
Answer: The Department of Home Affairs has received 40,147 requests for exemption from Australia’s travel restrictions from persons seeking to enter Australia, during the period 20 March to 3 June 2020 inclusive.

This figure includes requests related to transiting Australia, as well as requests from persons who have asked for consideration as immediate family members of Australian citizens or permanent residents.
This figure also includes requests from temporary visa holders, as well as persons who do not hold an Australian visa.

Departmental systems do not allow for the ready reporting of requests for travel ban exemptions by visa status and the type of visa held.

Such data could only be obtained manually, which would require an unreasonable diversion of resources.
Temporary visa holders are exempt from requiring Commissioner’s Discretion to depart Australia as this only applies to Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents.

HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO AUSTRALIAN BORDER FORCE PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WRITTEN QUESTION ON NOTICE Select Committee on COVID-19 QoN Number: CV19-101 Subject: Temporary Visa Holders - travel ban exemption Asked by: Rachel Siewert Question: How many temporary visa holders not in Australia have not made an application for a travel exemption?

a.
a.

Please break down into visa subclasses.

Answer: As at 7 June 2020, there were 6,075,504 temporary visa holders offshore.

Departmental systems do not allow for the ready reporting of temporary visa holders who are offshore and have not applied for a travel exemption.
HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO AUSTRALIAN BORDER FORCE PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WRITTEN QUESTION ON NOTICE Select Committee on COVID-19 QoN Number: CV19-102 Subject: Temporary Visa Holders - travel ban exemption - depart Australia Asked by: Rachel Siewert Question: Please break down into visa subclasses.

How many of these applicants have family, including partners, not in Australia How many temporary visa holders in Australia have applied for a travel ban exemption to leave Australia?
a. b. who have applied and been rejected for a travel ban exemption to enter Australia?

c. d. How many of these applications have been rejected?

How many of these application have been accepted?

Answer: Temporary visa holders do not require an exemption to leave Australia.
HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO AUSTRALIAN BORDER FORCE PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WRITTEN QUESTION ON NOTICE Select Committee on COVID-19 QoN Number: CV19-103 Subject: Travel Ban Exemptions - depart Australia Asked by: Rachel Siewert Question: Please break down into permanent residents or citizens.

How many of these applicants have family, including partners, not in Australia How many permanent residents or citizens in Australia have applied for a travel ban exemption to leave Australia?
a. b. who have applied and been rejected for a travel ban exemption to enter Australia?

c. d. How many of these applications have been accepted?

How many of these applications have been rejected?

Answer: As of 1 June 2020, 33,047* requests for an exemption from Australia’s travel restrictions in order to depart Australia have been received by the Department.
*A substantial proportion of travel exemption requests are not referred to the Australian Border Force Commissioner for decision due to a lack of supporting evidence; were assessed as exempt from travel restrictions; or prima facie did not present sufficiently compelling circumstances to warrant further consideration.

A request may cover more than one person.

An individual may submit multiple applications.


Response to question A and B: This data is not currently possible to collate due to system limitations.
Response to question C-D: Outwards Travel Exemption Applications (considered by the ABF Delegate) as at 1 June 2020, inclusive Approved Rejected Total 5,972 1,719 HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO AUSTRALIAN BORDER FORCE PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WRITTEN QUESTION ON NOTICE Select Committee on COVID-19 QoN Number: CV19-104 Subject: Travel Ban Exemptions being considered Asked by: Rachel Siewert Question: The Government has said it will consider exempting international students from Australia’s travel ban in July.
Will it also be considering exempting other temporary visa subclasses in July?

a. b. subclasses not being considered in July?

If so, which visa subclasses?

When is the Government considering exempting other temporary visa Answer: The travel ban exemptions are a matter for the Government.
HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WRITTEN QUESTION ON NOTICE Select Committee on COVID-19 QoN Number: CV19-105 Subject: Temporary Visa Holders - expiring Asked by: Rachel Siewert Question: How many temporary visa holders not in Australia will have their visa expire in the next six months?

a. b.

Please break down into visa subclasses.

Please break down into month of expiry.
Answer: The following table provides the number of temporary visa holders not in Australia whose visas will expire over the next six months, by month of expiry and visa subclass: Visa Subclass Bridging 020 Bridging B Crew and Transit 771 Transit 988 Maritime Crew Visa Other Temporary 580 Student Guardian 590 Student Guardian 602 Medical Treatment 685 Medical Treatment (Long Stay) 950 Criminal Justice Entry Student 500 Student 570 Independent ELICOS Sector 571 Schools Sector 572 Vocational Education and Training Sector 573 Higher Education Sector 574 Postgraduate Research Sector 575 Non-Award Sector 576 Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector Temporary Protection 785 Temporary Protection Temporary Resident (Other Employment) 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) 405 Investor Retirement 407 Training 408 Temporary Activity 410 Retirement 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) 476 Skilled - Recognised Graduate 485 Temporary Graduate 995 Diplomatic (Temporary) Temporary Resident (Skilled Employment) 457 Temporary Work (Skilled) 482 Temporary Skill Shortage Visitor 456 Business (Short Stay) 600 Visitor 601 Electronic Travel Authority 651 eVisitor 676 Tourist 956 Electronic Travel Authority (Business Entrant - Long Validity) Working Holiday Maker 417 Working Holiday 462 Work and Holiday In-Effect Until Date - Month 30/06/2020 31/07/2020 31/08/2020 30/09/2020 31/10/2020 30/11/2020 661 352 250 299 277 505 2,533 12,804 1,578 13,087 1,706 15,308 1,402 15,874 1,883 15,926 1,976 16,636 <5 9 37 21 17 22 <5 4,771 7,602 18 <5 79 6 1,825 126 <5 63 3,945 70 33 36 386 37 960 372 <5 9 49 <5 <5 1,487 81 <5 88 1,178 64 63 33 270 21 894 502 8 19 <5 11,677 <5 <5 638 85 <5 <5 1,782 95 7 83 1,438 60 42 45 546 19 1,084 514 <5 <5 12 5 12 <5 <5 5 5,848 2,366 2,912 5 668 196 <5 <5 1,499 132 5 88 1,402 54 35 36 632 49 799 509 <5 200 13 135 <5 54 422 31 45 44 799 22 853 598 <5 <5 114 < <5 158 11,163 1,629 459,070 <5 122,985 245,322 107,086 163 11,257 1,689 512,194 7 131,538 244,923 113,820 <5 106 9,855 1,482 526,442 HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO AUSTRALIAN BORDER FORCE PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WRITTEN QUESTION ON NOTICE Select Committee on COVID-19 QoN Number: CV19-106 Subject: Travel Ban Exemption - exemption categories Asked by: Rachel Siewert Question: In previous evidence to the Committee, the Commissioner of the Australian Border Force referred to “compassionate category” of travel ban exemption applications, and to “humanitarian cases”.
What are the different categories the Department is using to process applications?

a. b. c. d. another?

i.

How are applications allocated to different categories?

Please provide a breakdown of numbers of applications in each category.

Please break down into accepted and rejected applications.

Can an applicant apply for an exemption in one category, but be accepted in If so, why?
Answer: Response to question A: A request for a travel exemption is made via the web-form on the Department of Home Affairs website (covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au).

All applications are reviewed and triaged.


Requests may not progress to the ABF Commissioner for decision if the review determines that the person: is already exempt from Australia’s travel restrictions; has not provided sufficient information or documentary evidence to support the claimed circumstance; or prima facie does not meet one of the categories under which exemption can be considered.
Response to questions B, C: Applications may contain more than one person and not all persons within an application may receive an exemption.

The below data shows the number of requests considered by the ABF Commissioner against the categories described and does not include requests which were not referred to the ABF Commissioner for decision.
Inwards Travel Exemptions considered by the ABF Commissioner (as at 1 June, inclusive): Category Business Leaders Students TPV/SHEV Medevac Patients Critical medical services Critical skills - other Diplomats Compassionate reasons Transits Total Approved 63 129 329 32 263 514 130 968 5667 8095 Refused 6 <5 34 0 <5 27 <5 250 9 333 Outwards Travel Exemptions considered by the ABF Commissioner (as at 1 June inclusive): Category In response to the COVID-19 outbreak Essential travel for critical industries and business Urgent medical treatment Personal business Compassionate reasons National interest Total Approved 104 896 Refused 24 173 74 1,458 3,403 37 5,972 39 519 964 0 1719 Response to questions D, I: A request will be considered on its merits for exemption against all relevant categories.
Requests may raise claims under more than one exemption category.

HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WRITTEN QUESTION ON NOTICE Select Committee on COVID-19 QoN Number: CV19-107 Subject: Partner Visas Asked by: Kristina Keneally Question: How many people are currently waiting for their partner visa to be processed as of 1 May 2020?

a.
Please provide statistics separated for onshore and offshore applicants Answer: On hand Partner stream applications at 1 May 2020: OFFSHORE SUBCLASSES 1 May 2020 Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) visa Partner (Provisional) (subclass 309) visa Partner (Migrant) (subclass 100) visa* Primary applicants Total applicants Primary applicants Total applicants Primary applicants Total applicants ONSHORE SUBCLASSES Partner (Temporary) (subclass 820) visa Partner (Residence) (subclass 801) visa* Partner Total on hand Primary applicants Total applicants Primary applicants Total applicants Primary applicants Total applicants 3,868 4,721 18,786 27,014 37,824 48,760 58,080 62,126 86,205 92,034 204,763 234,665 Note: Partner visa applications involve a two stage process, and the two applications must be lodged together.
That is, the offshore Partner (Provisional) (subclass 309) visa is lodged with the Partner (Migrant) (subclass 100) visa; and the onshore Partner (Temporary) (subclass 820) visa is lodged with the Partner (Residence) (subclass 801) visa.

The two applications are counted separately, and in the majority of cases decided at different times.

The total on hand figures above therefore represent the total of on hand applications, and not the total of individuals.
* Second stage Partner applications (subclasses 801 Partner (Residence) visa and 100 Partner (Migrant) visa) generally become eligible for assessment two years after lodgement of the combined first/second stage application.

Figures include on hand applications which are not yet eligible for assessment.

Second stage Partner visa grants are not counted in the Migration Program.
HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WRITTEN QUESTION ON NOTICE Select Committee on COVID-19 QoN Number: CV19-108 Subject: Temporary Visa Holders remaining in Australia Asked by: Kristina Keneally Question: How many temporary visa holders does the department estimate remain in Australia as of 1 May 2020?

a.
a.

If possible, please provide a breakdown by visa type Answer: The Department of Home Affairs produces statistics on the number of temporary visa holders in Australia at the end of each month.

This data is published on www.data.gov.au quarterly.

On 30 April 2020, there were 2,095,191 temporary visa holders in Australia.

The table below outlines details on temporary visa holders in Australia by visa category.
Visa Category Bridging Crew and Transit Other Temporary Special Category Student Visitor Working Holiday Maker Temporary Resident (Other Employment) Temporary Resident (Skilled Employment) Temporary Protection Total As at 30/04/2020 295,466 9,739 5,463 671,001 559,755 163,108 98,830 138,240 136,192 17,397 2,095,191 HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WRITTEN QUESTION ON NOTICE Select Committee on COVID-19 QoN Number: CV19-109 Subject: Temporary Visa Holders - returned to country of origin Asked by: Kristina Keneally Question: How many temporary visa holders does the department estimate have returned to their country of origin as of 1 May 2020?
a.

If possible, please provide a breakdown by visa type Answer: While the Department does hold departure data for temporary visa holders, it is not possible to determine how many of those that departed returned to their countries of origin and for what reason.

The following table shows the number of temporary visa holders who departed Australia during the period from 20 March 2020 (when Australia closed its borders to non-citizens and non-residents) to 1 May 2020.
Visa Category Departures from 20/03/2020 to 01/05/2020 Crew and Transit Other Temporary Special Category Student Temporary Protection Temporary Resident (Other Employment) Temporary Resident (Skilled Employment) Visitor Working Holiday Maker Total Departures 20,900 199 13,634 15,542 <5 2,859 1,780 32,832 23,016 110,763 HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY WRITTEN QUESTION ON NOTICE Select Committee on COVID-19 .
QoN Number: CV19-110 Subject: Temporary Visa Holders - COVID-19 restrictions Asked by: Kristina Keneally Question: Is the Department aware of estimates for how many temporary visa holders became unemployed as a consequence of COVID-19 restrictions?

a. b. number of temporary visa holders who have lost their job.
If yes, please provide the estimates and the sources of those estimates If no, please explain why the Department has not sought to identify the Answer: The Department of Home Affairs does not have a mechanism to identify temporary visa holders who have become unemployed as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.
There is no requirement for visa holders or employers subject to temporary employer sponsored visas to advise the Department as to the reasons (for example, due to COVID-19 restrictions) for a change of employment status.

In addition, many temporary visa holders have work rights (such as student visa holders) but may not necessarily be working, if employment is not a condition or obligation under their visa.