Whether you are applying for an Australian visa for business, academic, or vacation purposes, a letter of rejection can be frustrating and disheartening. A rejection can halt your travel plans or even make you lose an investment opportunity. Often, applicants are given a specified period to apply for a review after rejection. If you do not act within this period, the decision by the Department of Immigration to reject your visa application will be final. How do you go about this process to ensure your review is approved? Read on to find out.

Determine the cause of rejection

The strategy for challenging the visa application denial will depend on the particular reason for rejection. This is why you need to understand precisely why your application was rejected. There are various factors that can warrant a rejection. They include the following:

• Failure to complete the visa application properly. You may have missed or left out important information.
• Providing insufficient evidence to support your visa application. Evidence is usually in the form of documentation, for example, birth certificate, marriage certificate, proof of education and professional background, and other documents as required in the application.
• Failure to meet the specific criteria required for the type of visa you are applying for. For example, when applying, a student visa or a visa for permanent residence, you will have to be proficient in the English language.
• Failure to meet the health or character requirements as per the standards of the Department of Immigration.
• Provision of false or misleading information in your application form.

Once you understand the reason for visa rejection, you can proceed with applying for a review.

How to apply for a review

The essence of a review is to plead your case to the tribunal and present evidence that you may have missed during your application. Review forms can be obtained online on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal website. Once you have filled the form and availed supporting documents, you can submit it online, by post, fax, or in person to the tribunal's physical address. It is essential to use the fastest method such as online submission to avoid delays that could cause your review appeal to be rejected.

The tribunal hearing

After submitting an application, you will be called for a hearing. You can appear alone or employ the services of an immigration lawyer. During the hearing, you will be asked questions about your application, and sometimes, you will be asked to bring in witnesses. Use this opportunity to plead your case sufficiently. After the hearing, a decision will be arrived at and communicated to you in writing.

The process of applying for a review following a visa application can be stressful. To save yourself from all the trouble, hire a migration lawyer who can help you take care of the review process and aid you in preparing for the tribunal hearing.