Whenever you make contact with DIAC you should keep a note of the time and the name of the officer with whom you spoke. Notes of the advice received from any officer should be kept. Copies of every document that is lodged with DIAC should also be kept. Whatever application you make to DIAC, a file number will be allocated to it; whenever you contact or write to DIAC this file number should be quoted. Most application forms provide a space for you to give reasons in support of your application. These spaces are often not large enough to tell the complete story. Any further material you wish to put to DIAC in support of your application should be attached to the application form.

Almost all applications take a long time to be processed by DIAC. If you receive no response to your application for several months this is not unusual and not a cause for worry. However, if after contacting DIAC to enquire as to the progress of your application, you do not receive a satisfactory explanation, then you may wish to contact your local Commonwealth Member of Parliament to make enquiries, or the Commonwealth Ombudsman if you believe there has been unreasonable delay.