Visa Processing Officer – Santiago – Job Description
|
AGENCY |
Department of Home Affairs |
|
POSITION NUMBER |
|
|
POSITION TITLE |
Visa Processing Officer (VPO) |
|
CLASSIFICATION |
LE3 |
|
SECTION |
Santiago Visa Office |
|
REPORTS TO (TITLE) |
Senior Migration Officer |
About the Department of Home Affairs
The Department of Home Affairs is a central policy agency, providing coordinated strategy and policy leadership for Australia's national and transport security, federal law enforcement, criminal justice, cyber security, border, immigration, multicultural affairs, emergency management and trade related functions.
Immigration Programs Division delivers the permanent migration and temporary visa programs to maximise the long-term economic and social benefits to Australia across the Skilled, Family and Resident Return visa programs, and through Temporary entry to support tourism, education and international relations.
About the position
Visa Processing Officers play a critical role in achieving the Department’s broader strategic goals in relation to Australian permanent migration, visitor and temporary residence visas across the Americas. Under general direction, this position is responsible for the assessment and/or finalisation of visa applications. Visa Processing Officers undertake these duties while also completing appropriate verification activities to ensure the integrity of the migration program.
The key responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:
- Undertake visa related casework (assess, investigate, decide) for temporary and/or permanent entry to Australia, applying the relevant legislation and policy to make lawful and fair decisions in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations.
- Apply and interpret relevant legislation, policies and procedures to process visa applications, within service standards in a pressured environment, escalating sensitive and more complex cases to senior staff in accordance with office protocols.
- Investigate the integrity of documents and other information in connection with visa applications and escalate any instances of possible fraud.
- Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders including with local authorities and visa delivery teams to achieve departmental business objectives.
- Prepare moderately complex written documentation for visa applicants, including the preparation of visa decision records and client correspondence.
- Respond to and resolve routine telephone and emails queries and refer complex enquiries and provide information by phone and in writing.
- Organise and take responsibility for own workload, work cooperatively and harmoniously to deliver services to clients in accordance with the client service charter standards and program outcomes.
- Provide general administrative support and back up as required.
Qualifications/Experience
- Demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of clients from a variety of backgrounds and with varying demands.
- Ability to respond and adapt to change, apply initiative, flexibility and willingness to pursue continued improvement in the context of change within the organisation.
- Highly developed time management skills, both individually and as part of a team, and the ability to work effectively, cooperatively and flexibly in a team environment to respond to priorities and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated analytical skills with an ability to use multiple datasets and/or interpret and apply complex legislation and apply sound judgement in all cases.
- Fluent oral and written English and Spanish communication skills.
Desirable
- Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field.
- Experience in an application processing environment.
- Portuguese (or other) language skills
- Proficiency in computer software applications including Microsoft Word and Excel, and the capacity to learn new systems.