A SHEV or Safe Haven Enterprise Visa is basically one of two varieties of temporary protection visas accessible by individuals who come by boat, claiming asylum. This is a part of the current policy of the Australian Government that individuals who enter by boat and request asylum should not be granted permanent protection. With this visa, the holder is protected for five years. Its central focus is that individuals who hold it must have intent to study or work in a section of ‘regional Australia.’
When a SHEV is granted, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection provides the holder with a letter outlining the details of the visa. Additionally, the Department will provide a Visa Grant Notice that highlights the conditions of your visa, including its date of expiration. The Visa Grant Notice and a copy of this letter should be kept in a safe place for reference.
Travelling Overseas
As a SHEV holder, a condition is on the visa that the holder must not return to the country from which protection is being sought. If the country in which you fear persecution is entered, your visa could be cancelled. Furthermore, you are not permitted to go to any other country unless written permission is obtained from the Department. If this is done without written permission, the visa could be cancelled.
You will only be granted consent to travel to another country if it is believed by the Department that there are compelling or compassionate circumstances. Examples of compelling or compassionate circumstances include:
• To take care of close relatives who are extremely ill
• To visit close relatives who have not been seen for more than a year
• To go to the funeral service of a close relative
To request permission to travel, a Form 1454 will have to be completed, along with any supporting documents. If granted permission for overseas travel, you must apply to the Australian Passport Office for a travel document.
Services
As a SHEV holder, you could be eligible for services provided by the Australian Government. These include benefits from Medicare or Centrelink. For additional details regarding services that could be available to you and the ones for which you are eligible, visit the office of the local Department of Human Services or log on to www.humanservices.gov.au.
Work
As a holder of a Safe Haven Enterprise Visa, you can work in Australia without restrictions. Individuals working in Australia have protections and rights at work, including workplace conditions and minimum wages, which are stipulated by Australian law. The rights include being free from harassment, discrimination or bullying.
