The Department of Home Affairs has cancelled the visa of a foreign national caught providing unlawful immigration assistance in Australia. The individual charged over 1,000 visa applicants large sums for advice, encouraging them to apply for a Protection visa despite knowing they were ineligible.
This illegal activity caused significant delays for genuine asylum seekers and others in need of Australia’s protection. Under Australian law, only registered migration agents or legal practitioners are authorised to charge fees for immigration assistance.
Protection visas (subclass 866) are designed to offer asylum to individuals facing persecution or significant harm in their home countries. These visas are not for those seeking to extend their stay in Australia to work. Applications require applicants to be in Australia on a valid visa and to meet stringent criteria.
Recent reforms to the Protection visa application process have drastically reduced processing times, ensuring quicker grants for those in need and swift refusals for ineligible applicants. Currently, more than 85% of Protection visa applications are refused due to non-compliance with eligibility requirements.
Applying under false pretences has serious consequences, including lifetime records of visa refusals, future visa complications, potential detention, and removal from Australia. Providing false information can lead to hefty fines or jail terms of up to 10 years.
Unregistered migration operators, often advertising on social media, exploit vulnerable applicants with false advice and exorbitant fees. Communities are urged to raise awareness about the risks of engaging unregistered advisers and the importance of truthful applications.
The Department warns against applying for a Protection visa without genuine asylum claims, stating such applications are swiftly refused. To stay informed and avoid scams, applicants are advised to only engage registered migration agents or legal practitioners.
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