Officers from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will visit Newcastle on June 10 to meet with the local community about migration and visa matters.

A DIAC spokesman said the department’s regional visits program enabled people in communities outside the major metropolitan areas to sit down and talk about specific issues they may face directly with an immigration officer.

“These visits attract a range of people, from community groups and small business owners to farmers and students and individuals, who might want general information or to discuss a complex personal or professional matter,” the spokesman said.

“While the department has a great deal of information available over the phone or on the Internet, some people may not be aware of recent policy changes or they may prefer to speak to officers face-to-face, and these visits meet those needs.

“In the past, the most popular topics related to citizenship, working visas, visas for family members and the process for proposing refugees.”

The immigration team will be at Northern Settlement Services, 8 Chaucer Street, Hamilton from 9am. Appointments can be made by calling (02) 4969 3399

Media Enquiries: National Communications Branch (02) 8862 6261