More than fifteen hundred asylum seekers face an October 1 deadline to lodge their applications for Temporary Protection visas or Safe Haven Enterprise visas or face deportation.

The federal government has given asylum seekers until that date to formally apply for protection, or face deportation.

Around 30,500 people in Australia who arrived by boat from August 2012 are eligible to apply.

And while most have submitted an application, Department of Immigration and Border Protection figures show up to 1,500 people nationally have not.

Refugee legal aid activist David Manne says some asylum seekers who have not applied may be confused and frightened.

“One of the central reasons is really terrible vulnerability. Extreme vulnerability that many people experience having fled in fear for their lives from their home country, from places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Rohingya from Myanmar,” he said.

“One of the key reasons for why some people have not yet applied has been not only that they have been confused, but they have also been very frightened about the process,” Mr Manne said.

The federal government announced the October 1 deadline in May prompting lawyers and interpreters across Australia to come forward and offer free help to asylum seekers in completing their visa applications.

Mr Manne said the application document was complicated and onerous and it is critical people get the free legal assistance available.

“There are forms with over a hundred questions, plus a detailed written statement of someone’s fears that have to be lodged all in writing and all in English,” he said.

The Department Immigration and Border Protection has said it will be assumed those who do not apply before the deadline no longer intend to seek protection in Australia.

Mr Manne said those who did not lodge an application faced being deported without a hearing.

“First, they face the prospect of the government not considering any protection visa application in the future. So that is not allowing people to apply for protection as a refugee in Australia. And also ultimately, they face the risk of being deported without even having their case for protection heard,” he said.

Mr Manne urged anyone who still needs legal help to come forward.

“It is absolutely essential that if anyone in this group hasn’t yet applied, that they seek legal help, free legal assistance to understand their rights and to make that application,” he said.

Asylum seeker Mehak Ahmed, from Afghanistan, said the visa application process was very difficult.

“I could not fill out the form myself, it was too complicated. But I was fortunate to have an Australian friend who helped me with it,” Mr Ahmed said.

“I would recommend to anyone to get some help because you only have one chance to get it right,’ he said.

Applications can be lodged online and via post.

If the application is lodged by post, enough time has to be allowed for it to be received by the Immigration department before October 1.

Laurie Nowell
AMES Australia Senior Journalist