Immigration & Visas · Melbourne CBD
2 visa cancellation & character (s501) firms in Melbourne CBD, Victoria, including Melbourne.
2 firms
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Australian Migration Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Partner & Family Visas and Skilled & Business Visas.
West Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Kindra Migration Lawyers (formerly WLW Migration Lawyers) provides legal services in West Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
These cases have serious consequences and very short timeframes. Specialist advice is essential.
Character cancellations can lead to detention and removal from Australia, even for long-term residents.
Section 501 of the Migration Act allows cancellation on character grounds, including mandatory cancellation after certain prison sentences. Ministerial Direction 110 guides decision-makers on revocation.
Understand the next step
Make the notice, current status and any custody or immediate timing issue clear at first contact. These matters can require specialist advice on the particular notice and history.
Confirm that the adviser can handle this type of cancellation and any related review or court work.
A Melbourne CBD search can be useful for comparing teams with different specialisations. Ask who will do the work and who will supervise it, especially when a firm has several practice departments.
For visa cancellation & character (s501), ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant VIC experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Melbourne CBD. Your home address alone does not determine the applicable process.
Gather identity documents, visa records, decision letters and application history. Confirm who will give the advice and their scope of work.
Ask which requirements and evidence need assessment, including translations or reports. No provider can guarantee the application outcome.
Agree who receives correspondence and tracks requests. Keep a complete copy of lodged material and understand what you approve before submission.
Separate professional fees from government charges, translations and other expenses. Preparing an application does not necessarily include a review or court proceeding.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Provide expiry dates and the entire decision letter immediately. Review rights and dates depend on the particular decision and circumstances.
In Victoria, the Magistrates' Court hears most criminal and minor civil matters, with the County Court and Supreme Court handling more serious cases. Residential tenancy, planning, building and discrimination disputes often go to VCAT. Lawyers are regulated by the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner, which also handles complaints.
Good to know
Cancellation of a visa because the holder doesn't pass the character test, for example due to criminal history.
Most matters start in the Magistrates' Court. More serious cases go to the County Court or the Supreme Court of Victoria. Family law matters are heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Practising certificates in Victoria are managed by the Victorian Legal Services Board. You can check a solicitor's status on its public register or by contacting it directly.
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.