How we can help
You should get legal advice as soon as possible if either your:
- application for a protection visa has been refused
- protection or humanitarian visa has been cancelled for character reasons.
Victoria Legal Aid has received new funding to assist people with appeals of protection visa decisions.
If you need assistance with an appeal, you can contact us by:
• Calling our Legal Help phoneline on 1300 792 387 – between 8 am and 6 pm, Monday to Friday.
• Messaging our online Legal Help chat – select the message button on the bottom-right of this screen.
If you need assistance with a protection visa appeal, email us at PVAssistance@vla.vic.gov.au
If you need an interpreter or help over-the-phone
If you need help in your language, we can arrange for an interpreter.
We can also assist you if you are deaf, or find it hard to speak or hear on the phone.
If we can’t help you, we can refer you to other organisations that can.
For more information visit the Speak to us page.
Other organisations that can help
Refugee Legal
Refugee Legal is a community legal centre that specialises in legal advice and representation for refugee and some general immigration matters.
The centre offers a casework and advice service for asylum seekers and disadvantaged migrants in the community and in immigration detention. Services are free.
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre provides legal advice and advocacy, aid and health services for asylum seekers living in the community and in detention.
Status Resolution and Support Services program
The Status Resolution and Support Services (SRSS) program provides support and help to people who are living in Australia while their application for a protection visa is being processed.
For more information about SRSS payments, visit the Services Australia website.
If you have been told by Centrelink that you owe money due to a SRSS overpayment, visit Debts owed under the Status Resolution and Support Services Program.
Other legal services
Your local community legal centre can also give you legal information and advice. Most services are free.
You can also find a private lawyer near you through the Law Institute of Victoria’s website.
All law firms included in the Find your Lawyer Referral Service provide a free 30-minute interview.
This interview is not for free legal advice specific to your issue. However, you can use this interview to understand more about the legal issue and discuss the available options and how much they will cost.
Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority
The Migration Agents Registration Authority (Department of Home Affairs), handles complaints about the conduct of registered migration agents.
It can’t help you with complaints about agents who are not registered, so make sure your agent is registered with the authority.
Making a complaint
If you are unhappy with the service you receive or you feel your agent has breached the code of conduct, you can lodge a complaint with the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Where agents are found to be dishonest, incompetent or in breach of the code of conduct they can be cautioned or their registration can be suspended or cancelled.
The authority does not have the power to make the agent give you a refund, pay compensation or issue criminal penalties. It does not give legal advice.
Most complaints are handled within six months but may take up to 12 months. Read more about the outcomes process.
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