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My father was refused a visa because he filled out the application incorrectly. He was convicted of possession of marijuana in Australia in 1962 (when he was 20) and went to jail for six months, and went back to South Africa after his sentence. When asked on the visa application if he had been deported, he filled in “YES”. I think he misunderstood the legal definition of deportation, as he was never given an official order. Australia still has all his prison records, but there is no evidence of any deportation order. He was refused a visa on the grounds he was deported. I appealed the refusal at a tribunal and was again denied because “although there was no evidence that he was deported, there is equally no evidence that he wasn’t deported”. How do you prove someone was not deported, if there is no evidence that they were? So what is my next step – I have spent a lot of energy and money appealing this and find the decision unfair, considering the nature of the crime, the amount of time since and his prefect record since. If he applies again, he has to fill in “yes” to “have you ever been refused a visa to Australia” so the whole thing starts again. I am an Australian citizen, and am expecting my first child, my father is my only living relative and I dearly wish he was allowed to visit my home and family. I don’t have a lot of money for immigration agents and lawyers, any ideas of what to do next?