Border Force clarifies travel exemptions & releases further guidelines

The Border Force Commissioner has released guidelines (Operation Directives), which further detail the criteria used to determine travel exemption applications. This is an important step to demystifying what has, to date, been a government decision-making process with little transparency.

Since the travel exemption requirement was introduced in March 2020, applicants have experienced significant frustration with the travel exemption system. In some cases, we have seen the Border Force Commissioner:

• Send refusals saying a Delegate of the Commissioner never viewed the application. This is contrary to the basic principles of Administrative Law; and
• Ask for a higher standard of proof for inbound travel exemptions for immediate family than would been needed to have a Partner Visa granted.