An international student had his visa torn up at Adelaide Airport after Border Force officers discovered evidence on his phone that he was illegally working excessive hours while studying.
A viral post on Threads over the weekend shared a document reportedly issued to the student by Australian Border Force (ABF) officials.
It is reported that the student admitted to working up to 60 hours per week for Uber while on a subclass 500 student visa, which only permits international students to work a maximum of 48 hours per fortnight.
The student, whose identity remains undisclosed, originally entered Australia in 2022 to pursue a Bachelor of Information Technology. However, he dropped out in July of that year and later enrolled in a Certificate III in Carpentry, followed by a Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) in December 2023.
“During a baggage examination on arrival, the visa holder stated to Australian Border Force (ABF) officers that he is aware of the conditions of his visa, and how many hours he is allowed to work,” the official document reads.
“The visa holder admitted that he consistently worked more than 48 hours per fortnight while his course of study was in session. An examination of his mobile phone was conducted by an officer authorised to conduct digital device examinations under s252 of the Migration Act.”
Section 252 of the Migration Act allows officers to search non-citizens’ property, including electronic devices, if there are “reasonable grounds” for visa cancellation.
The phone search reportedly revealed screenshots of Uber earnings and work hours, confirming the student had worked as much as 66 hours in a two-week period in March.
During a formal interview, the student conceded he had exceeded the work limit while his studies were in session. His visa was subsequently cancelled, and he was removed from Australia.
A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs declined to comment to news.com.au on the specific case, citing privacy reasons.
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