Immigration Tsunami Hotline: 1300 735 683
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs today said that a special hotline has been running since December 30 in response to the tsunami disaster.
‘People who usually live in an area that has been directly affected by the tsunamis and may wish to temporarily extend their stay in Australia should contact the Department on the hotline on 1300 735 683,’ a Department spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the Migration Act also had a number of existing provisions where Australian citizens could apply to sponsor family and friends to come to Australia.
‘Where a visa application for a parent, spouse, dependent child or other close family member from a directly-affected area was lodged prior to the disaster, these applications will be given urgent attention,’ the spokesperson said.
‘New applications for visitor and other visas from people in these circumstances will be processed as quickly as possible and with full regard to the extreme circumstances people currently find themselves in.’
Further information is available from the DIMIA website at www.immi.gov.au
