AN AFGHANI asylum seeker adopted by the Swan Hill community has been granted refugee status after a Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) hearing of his case on Wednesday.
Overturning an earlier rejection for permanent residency, the RRT referred Rohullah Hussaini’s case back to the Department of Immigration for reconsideration.
The successful outcome, which comes after a year of waiting, means Mr Hussaini’s bridging visa will remain in effect while his application for a more permanent visa is processed.
Arriving in Australia three years ago, Mr Hussaini’s claim for asylum rested on him belonging to the Hazaras, an ostracised ethnic group that faces persecution in Afghanistan.
Mr Hussaini’s original application for a permanent visa was denied when his paperwork was confused with the paperwork of another asylum seeker from Sri Lanka.
Now the Immigration Department will begin to conduct character assessments and police checks, before a more permanent visa can be granted.
For more on this story, grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (June 12).
