For individuals who intend to include their families in their immigration plans or file for citizenship in Australia, immigration DNA testing might be conducted to help make the process easier and reduce immigration fraud.
Immigration DNA testing is a process for verifying a biological relationship without a credible document during an immigration visa application. Currently, there are about 44.9 million immigrants in the United States.
That said, DNA Testing for Immigration exists to verify the relationship between families with high accuracy. Through this testing, applicants are allowed to obtain their immigrant visa (IV), citizenship petitions, applications for passports, or to qualify for an immigration benefit for a familial link.
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What is the process of a typical immigration DNA testing?
For applicants looking for more information on DNA testing, here is a typical process;
A letter from the Department of Home Affairs suggesting you take a DNA testing
The Department sends you a letter containing detailed information about the DNA testing process, DNA laboratory selection, DNA sample collection, and other necessary details. Since DNA testing is optional, you are required to either follow through, opt out, or consult the counseling services of health personnel if you feel uncertain. Testing grounds such as the DNA testing in Houston TX have accredited places for you to go for your DNA testing.
Accept the Department’s suggestion.
If you opt out, the department will decide on your visa, citizenship by descent application, or passport application with the available documentation. If you follow through, the Department will offer you new instructions on finalizing the DNA testing process.
Choose a DNA testing center.
To choose a DNA testing laboratory, ensure you choose the laboratory accredited by testing organizations such as the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA). The association is responsible for approving legitimate DNA testing laboratories specializing in family law testing. To find an approved laboratory, go to the NATA’s website and search for approved laboratories by typing the words ‘Parentage Testing’ in the search window.
After choosing your desired laboratory, contact and arrange an appointment with them to get more information on their processes and pay their required fee.
DNA collection
Applicants will need to either go to the DNA testing center in person or choose a location for DNA collection known to the DNA testing center. A DNA sample kit will be sent there, and necessary bodily fluids will be collected and sent back to the laboratory for immediate testing.
For applicants abroad, the overseas processing units will provide a list of approved centers for DNA collection, which will be sent for immediate testing.
Testing and results
The smallest DNA is then rested for similarities or familial links, and the results are sent to the Department or government for official use.
FAQs
Why is DNA testing offered to some applicants?
The Department of Home Affairs recommends DNA testing for applicants to prove their biological link to the said person. Although when other forms of documents like birth certificates and family histories are present for review, DNA testing is still used to prove the biological tie of the concerned applicants in situations of documentation unreliability or mismatch.
Hence, if the Department of Home Affairs is unsatisfied with the present or existing evidence of your biological tie, a DNA testing may be advised to help meet the conditions of granting a visa for Australian citizenship.
Is DNA testing mandatory for all applicants?
DNA testing is not mandatory, nor is it required by the law. It is usually another form of documentation suggested by the government in place of a birth certificate.
However, if you decide to take a DNA test, the Department of Home Affairs will provide instructions on how to set up a test that meets their requirements, and any test that does not meet these criteria may be rejected. Also, for applicants who choose not to have their DNA test taken, the Department of Home Affairs will decide on your visa or citizenship by descent application based on the information available.
What is the designated cost for DNA testing?
The Department does not state a speculated or designated amount for DNA testing as the price may vary in approved testing centers. However, they have demanded that applicants for migrant visas or Australian citizenship by descent must pay the total costs for DNA testing. There was an exception for refugee visa applicants as the Department covers the entire DNA testing cost.
What will the DNA results be used for, and how safe is the content?
After the DNA testing, the Department assures the applicants that the content of the released results would solely be used for immigration, not citizenship purposes only. This privacy is also backed by The Privacy Act 1988.
The Act contains 13 Australian Privacy Principles that govern the Department’s collection and use of personal information provided by applicants. Before disclosing your DNA test results to the Department or a sponsor, the DNA testing laboratory must get your written authorization. They will also provide more information about the privacy and confidentiality of your DNA testing findings.
The Verdict
Getting an immigration DNA test is relatively straightforward. All it requires is a mail, call, letter, or fax from the immigration company to the nearest DNA testing center stating your name, Date of Birth (DOB), and other necessary information. The applicant contacts the testing center by fixing an appointment to pay all mandatory fees, and the testing center arranges a DNA sample collection appointment. Once the samples are returned, the center tests them and sends the result to the immigration company.
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