Irish backpackers investigated over Australian visa fraud

November 11 2009 by Liam Clifford

Australian working holiday visa extensions are the subject of fraudulent applications.

Several Irish backpackers are currently being investigated or prosecuted in Australia for attempting to obtain extensions to their working holiday visas fraudulently.

One man was recently fined AUS$1,400 and was deported from Australia for immigration fraud. He had purchased employment verification for a second year working holiday visa for A$500. He needed the visa to allow him to continue to work and live in Australia for a second year.

In November 2005, the second year Australian working holiday visa extension programme was introduced for young Irish backpackers. To gain a second year visa, backpackers have to have worked in agriculture or in regional areas for three months of their first year. This type of work helps to fill labour shortages in seasonal, regional industries such as fruit growing.

However, many backpackers are tempted to stay a second year but do not want to do the hard work necessary to gain the second year Australian visa. As a result they risk imprisonment and/or a fine by claiming they have worked in agriculture when they have not. To do this, backpackers often buy the Australian business number (ABN) of a farmer who has previously hired immigrant workers. They then use this as evidence that they too worked for the farmer.

Since 2005, some 4,000 young Irish people have extended their working holiday visa by a year.

Irish Times

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