MEDIA RELEASE
Media Enquiries: National Communications 02 6264 2244
104.10
31 October 2010
Immigration investigators target working holiday scammer
The arrest of a United Kingdom national in relation to a working holiday visa scam sends
a strong message that migration fraud will not be tolerated.
A Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) spokesperson welcomed the arrest
of the man by Australian Federal Police (AFP) today as he arrived at Brisbane Airport,
transiting Australia on his way home to the United Kingdom. He will appear shortly
before the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
The charge he faces relates to the supply of allegedly fraudulent information to the
department regarding a female acquaintance’s application for a second working holiday
visa.
“It will be alleged this man aided and abetted a breach of the Migration Act and therefore,
according to the criminal code, he is taken to have committed the same offence,” the
spokesperson said.
The arrest was part of an ongoing DIAC crackdown on fraud relating to second working
holiday maker visas. “Provided they fulfil certain requirements including three months of
regional employment in a specified industry, working holiday makers may apply for a
second 12-month visa,” the spokesperson said.
“However, these applications are closely scrutinised and assessed – in this case, the
applicant, who has already been fined $5000, and this man allegedly together provided
false and misleading information in an effort to secure a second visa for this woman.”
This financial year alone, DIAC has cancelled 162 second working holiday visas on the
basis of fraudulent claims. Investigations are ongoing across a number of states.
Some first-time working holiday visa holders had paid up to $1200 to people claiming to
be Australian farmers in exchange for the purchase of Australian Business Numbers so
they could falsely claim they had worked in a rural area for three months in order to
obtain a second working holiday visa.
“Temporary visa holders who become involved in immigration fraud can face charges
with possible jail terms of up to 10 years, as well as visa cancellations resulting in visa
exclusion periods for submitting false documents or false information to the department,”
the spokesperson said.
People who have information about immigration fraud are encouraged to contact the
department’s Dob-in Line on 1800 009 623.
NEWS 
