Legal Help
The ASRC Human Rights Law Program offers free legal advice and assistance to people seeking asylum, including people in detention, who cannot afford a private lawyer and have no access to government-funded legal advice.
We can provide legal support at all stages of the refugee determination process, including expert migration advice, limited assistance and full representation, from visa applications through to tribunal and court review. We also actively engage in policy and law reform, community and professional legal education and training, and outreach to detention centres.
Find out more about how the Human Rights Law Program operates here.
Contacting HRLP
New and existing legal clients can contact us by phone on 03 9274 9889 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 10:00am-12:30pm. We are closed on Wednesday.
Individuals in detention
If you are currently in detention, you can email us at legal@asrc.org.au. Please note that we will not respond to email requests from individuals who are not in detention. Please include all relevant information including your ID and any documents about your visa status, such as visa grants, refusals or cancellations.
IMPORTANT UPDATE 24/07/2024: The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) will commence on 14 October 2024. See this factsheet for information about how this may impact your legal case.
Understanding Your Visa Status
It can be very difficult to understand what your visa status is, and what stage of the process you are at. This can be overwhelming and upsetting, and make it hard to get help. This document pack will help you understand your situation by checking documents you have received, and make it easier for you get advice and assistance.
Infosheets
The following infosheets cover commonly asked questions and topics about the legal process for people seeking asylum in Australia.
The infosheets contain general information and do not replace legal and migration law advice. You should not rely on the infosheets to make decisions about your immigration matter.
- How do I get Legal Help?
- Information for people at the Tribunal
- ASRC & RACS factsheet – Information about the Administrative Review Tribunal
- If the AAT has asked you to complete and return a form within 7 days, please refer to this fact sheet.
- Talking to the Australian Border Force: Know Your Rights
- Temporary Humanitarian Stay
- Information regarding visa options for Palestinians
- Class Action – South Sudanese Refugees
- Permanent Visa Pathways for TPV/SHEV Holders & Applicants
- HRLP Infosheet – Information for TPV/SHEV Holders and Applicants – Pathway to Permanence
- Download the fact sheet in your language: Dari – Urdu – Arabic – Tamil
- How do I refer someone to get Legal Help?
- Working with your Lawyer
- Impact of High Court decision on people in detention
- How do I apply for a Protection Visa in Australia?
- HRLP Infosheet – Complementary Protection
- HRLP Infosheet – What to do after lodging your Protection Visa application
- HRLP Infosheet – Preparing for your interview with the Department
- HRLP Infosheet – How to Make an FOI Request
- HRLP Infosheet – Using the ImmiAccount Online Service
- ➔ I’m a Fast Track applicant – how do I apply for a Protection Visa in Australia?
- ➔ How do I apply for or renew a Bridging Visa?
- ➔ I arrived on Ashmore Reef – how does the law apply to me?
- I came to Australia through Medevac – what are my legal options?
- Pearson v Minister for Home Affairs
- Government Policy on ‘FAST TRACK’ December 2022
- How do Australia’s migration laws work for people seeking asylum
- Important Legal Developments & News
- Information sheet about legal assistance for 449 Visa Holders from Afghanistan
- Information about the Refugee and Humanitarian (Class XB) visa for 449 Visa Holders from Afghanistan
- Information Sheet – Legal Assistance for ‘Fast Track’ Applicants – to be interviewed by 30 June 2021
- HRLP Infosheet – Data breach
- How do I apply to the AAT or IAA for review of my visa refusal?
- How do I apply to the courts for review of my visa refusal?
- HRLP Infosheet – Accessing ComCourts
- HRLP Infosheet – Applying for Judicial Review
- HRLP Infosheet – Filing and Serving documents at the FCC (COVID-19)
- HRLP Infosheet – FCC Application Form Guide
- HRLP Infosheet – FCC Affidavit Guide
- HRLP Infosheet – Understanding FCA & FCC Court Costs
- HRLP Infosheet – How to Prepare for your FCC Hearing
- HRLP Infosheet – Directions Hearings at the FCC (COVID-19)
- How do I apply for Ministerial Intervention?
- How do I find a lawyer or migration agent to help me with my case?
- How do I access support services?
- How do I bring my family members to Australia?
- HRLP Infosheet – Applying for an Offshore Humanitarian Visa
- For detailed information about applying for an offshore humanitarian visa for family members who are in Afghanistan or now in other countries. see infokit here.
See translation of this infokit in your language:
See also this Guide about which family members you can include in your application here
You can also view answers to Frequently Asked Questions for those who have already lodged their application, here.
For proposing someone for an offshore humanitarian visa click here.
See translation of the Australian Proposers infosheet in your language:- If you are in Afghanistan and seeking visa information or other help, please see our infosheet here. See Dari translation of this infosheet here.
- Click here to view an information session in Dari/English about visa options for Afghan Australians with family impacted by the crisis in Afghanistan.
- If you are seeking legal assistance to sponsor family in Afghanistan to come to Australia, please click here.
- How do I return to my country of origin or leave Australia?
Connect with us
Need help from the ASRC? Call 03 9326 6066 or visit us: Mon-Tue-Thur-Fri 10am -5pm. Closed on Wednesdays.