Protecting Your Rights Through the Appeals Process

A refusal of a visa, citizenship application, or migration-related decision does not always mean the end of the process. In many cases, applicants may have the right to seek a review or appeal of the decision through the appropriate Tribunal, Court, or an administrative authority.

Understanding your rights and acting within the required timeframes can make a significant difference to the outcome of your case.

A citizenship or migration appeal is a formal process that allows an applicant to challenge a decision made by an immigration or citizenship authority.

Visa cancellation matters are complex, technical, and often urgent. Our team understands the high stakes involved and works quickly to provide practical legal solutions tailored to your circumstances.

If your visa has been cancelled or you have received notice that cancellation is being considered, obtaining legal advice early can significantly affect your options and outcomes.

Our Head of Legal, Ismail Rasheed is a highly accomplished legal practitioner with over 25 years of combined experience across Australia and New Zealand. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Waikato in New Zealand. He is an Australian Legal Practitioner admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland, and a Solicitor of the High Court of Australia. He is also a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. He is entitled to practise as a solicitor in any Federal Court in Australia and in any court in New Zealand. He has significant experience in complex immigration litigation and advocacy, having appeared before the Australian Administrative Review Tribunal and New Zealand Immigration and Protection Tribunal in numerous matters involving visa cancellations and deportation proceedings under section 501 of the Migration Act 1958 (Australia) and under Part 6 of the Immigration Act 2009 (NZ). Ismail has successfully represented many clients on both sides of the Tasman in challenging character-based visa refusals and cancellations, achieving favourable outcomes in many high-stakes cases.

Following is a selection of our successful appeals.

Judicial and Tribunal Decisions – Our Success Stories

[Click Case Name to Read]

YFNF and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2025] ARTA 2058 (3 October 2025)

LQXN and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2025] ARTA 2353 (4 November 2025)

BTCX and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2025] ARTA 1728 (25 August 2025

ART Decision, No: 2025-1776, 3 June 2025, unreported

QN (Parent) [2024] NZIPT 207094

JB (Fiji) [2023] NZIPT 505986, unreported

Case (Skilled Migrant) [2022] NZIPT 206344, unreported

VR (Skilled Migrant) [2021] NZIPT 206251

VF (Skilled Migrant) [2021] NZIPT 20624

Victim of Domestic Violence [2019] NZIPT 205201, unreported

JH (Skilled Migrant) [2019] NZIPT 205306

PR (Skilled Migrant) [2018] NZIPT 204549

OS (Skilled Migrant) [2018] NZIPT 204528

NF (Skilled Migrant) [2018] 204424

VK (Skilled Migrant) [2017] NZIPT 203740

Ismail says “Often, you get the opportunity to help people who are in desperate need of your help. It feels good to be that person”.

If you have received a citizenship or migration decision and would like to discuss your options, contact our team today. We can help you understand the appeals process, protect your rights, and pursue the best possible outcome for your case.

L 2, Bell Gully Building, 40 Lady Elizabeth Lane, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

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