Australian working holiday visa fraudsters deported
January 14 2010 by Liam Clifford
In the past two weeks at least a dozen young Irish people have been deported from Australia after abusing the Australian working holiday visa system.
The fraudsters were detained at airports after trying to re-enter
Australia following visits to Ireland for Christmas. Australian
immigration claims they had extended their Australian visas into a
second year by using false information.
A spokesperson for Australian immigration minister Chris Evans said
this kind of immigration fraud was a “serious offence that will not be
tolerated”. He added, “temporary visa holders who acquire a visa
fraudulently are liable for cancellation of their visa and removal from
Australia and can also face criminal charges with jail terms of up to
10 years and/or a fine of up to $110,000.”
To obtain a second year Australian visa for a working holiday young
people must work for three months in regional or agricultural work.
Some backpackers pay up to $500 for the business details of a farmer
who has previously hired Australian visa holders. They then falsely
claim they have worked for that employer.
Traditionally, only around one in ten visa applications is closely
looked into, but a crackdown since Christmas has led to more arrests
and more deportations.
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