The Immigration Department has apologised for an administrative bungle affecting a Tasmanian-based British citizen.

The department informed James Thomason in a letter dated July 20 last year that he had been granted a spouse residence visa, allowing him to remain in Australia indefinitely.

But the 25-year-old became alarmed when he noticed the visa on his passport says his status is temporary, even though it bears the same date as the letter.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200610/s1770216.htm