LE3 Visa Processing Officer
Agency: Department of Home Affairs
Location: Australian Consulate-General Shanghai
Position Number: Various
Position Title: Visa Processing Officer
Classification: LE3
Reports to (title): Team Leader
Status: Non-ongoing, Full-time
Gross Annual Salary: RMB 124,699.20
The Department of Home Affairs(HA) section of the Australian Consulate-General Shanghai is seeking applications for the locally engaged staff position of Visa Processing 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
The Home Affairs office in Shanghai is one of the Department’s largest visa processing offices.
Under the direction and supervision of the Team Leader, Visa Processing Officer 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 Visa Processing Officer is responsible for providing excellent client service while making fair and lawful decisions on visa applications to varying degrees of complexity.
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.
Record written outcomes clearly and concisely in English in case notes and records of decisions.
Translate documents and undertake interpreting, as required
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. Such situations may include: telephone interaction, interviews, liaison and representation, preparing reports and correspondence.
Ability to respond and adapt to change. Ability to 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.
Excellent written and oral English language skills and fluency in Mandarin, including writing clear case notes and decision records, and translating and interpreting between languages.
Additional information
The position is initially for a period of up to twelve months, however successful applicants may be offered a further contract. The successful applicant is required to complete relevant pre-employment procedures before commencement.
Applications are invited from both Chinese and Australian nationals. Australian national employees receive a salary loading in lieu of local benefits they are not eligible to receive.
Australian nationals must be able to obtain Chinese work visa and residence permit to be able to enter and remain in China to work for the Consulate. Due to current international travel bans and strict local entry restrictions as a result of COVID-19, Australian applicants are likely to face significant obstacles when seeking residence permits or entering China. Potential applicants should familiarise themselves with the latest restrictions and processes before applying. The Australian Consulate General Shanghai does not provide relocation assistance and any costs associated with taking up the position would be the responsibility of the successful candidate.
The successful applicant(s) will be required to work across a range of teams within the Home Affairs section and agree to change position (at level) if required.
How to Apply
Submit an application via email to recruitment-sh-diac@dfat.gov.au by 5.00pm, Wednesday 10 August 2022. Applications received after the closing date and time may not be considered. The subject line of your email should include the Position Number and Position Title you are applying for.
Your application, written in English, should include:
A statement of claims for the position separately addressing each of the selection criteria (1 page maximum);
Curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages); and
Contact details for two work-related referees.
Applications must be in either Microsoft Word or PDF format, with a maximum email size of 3MB.
For inquiries regarding this position, please contact the Human Resources section at recruitment-sh-diac@dfat.gov.au.
Please note that due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to respond to each applicant. We endeavour to respond to applicants of interest within a period of four weeks from the application closing date. If you are not requested to attend an interview, please consider your application unsuccessful.