Israelis accuse government of visa delays and denials

Jewish groups have accused the government of delaying and denying visa applications by Israelis by demanding extensive details of military service.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Jewish groups have accused the government of delaying and denying visa applications by Israelis by demanding extensive details of military service.

The claims come three weeks after right-wing former Israeli government minister Ayelet Shaked was denied a visa to come to Australia on character grounds, which sparked fury from the Netanyahu government.

The government, through a Declaration of Service or 1399 form, can at its discretion ask travellers applying for a visitor visa to outline their military service, as a part of the “character test”.

The form has been used since Peter Dutton was home affairs minister, but Jewish groups claim it has been applied more widely in recent months to vet Israelis, most of whom would have participated in compulsory military service.

There have been noticeable increases in visa wait times, from a few days to more than a month, the Zionist Federation of Australia said.

“We are aware of many cases of visa delays that have never occurred previously, and individuals who have never been asked to provide military history before,” ZFA president Jeremy Leibler said.

The ZFA said in a further statement “there is a strong belief within the community that this has led to what can only be described as a form of shadow bans or additional barriers in visa processing that has previously not been problematic before October 7, 2023, and the subsequent conflict”.

“(It is) adding to the perception that the Jewish community in Australia is being targeted following a drastic rise in anti-Semitism.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s office said the form was “standard” and was “in use under the previous government for visa applicants with a military background, which is used by officials whenever they believe the information on the original application requires further detail”.

The Weekend Australian understands that in the past 12 months, people from 20 countries have had additional military service information requested, among them Israel, the US and the UK.

Mr Leibler demanded more detail from the government about shifting policies or requirements for Israelis, saying “there is clearly an issue with Israelis obtaining their visa to visit Australia”.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said the form may not be new, but appeared to be a fresh requirement for Israelis wishing to visit Australia, who “must now complete that form in addition to the standard visitor form”.

“This was not previously required of them. This new practice appears to have been introduced only over the last several months. To my knowledge, no notice of this change was given to the Jewish community, many of whose members have relatives in Israel,” Mr Wertheim said.

“The minister’s explanation fails to provide a reason for this changed practice.”

Liberal senator Dave Sharma said it appeared the 1399 form was being placed on all visitor visa applicants from Israel and he had been contacted by a number of concerned constituents with family in Israel.

“At this time of Australia’s relationship with Israel hitting new lows, and the government inflicting wilful damage upon this relationship, it is incumbent upon the minister to provide a public explanation,” he said.

An Israeli who recently arrived in Australia to visit his cousin and friends, and did not want to be named, said it took him a month and a half to have his visa approved on an Israeli passport, after he was asked to fill out the 1399 form.

This week, numerous Israeli media outlets picked up a local story about the two siblings who applied for visas to attend the 100th birthday of their great grandmother and Auschwitz survivor Jolan Berger two months ago, but are still waiting after being asked to fill out the 1399 form.