A passport to a second year
A government crackdown on fraudulent second-year working holiday visa applications has resulted in rising numbers of backpackers withdrawing their applications, according to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
DIAC director of working holiday section Deirdre Russack told delegates at the Adventure and Backpacker Industry Conference (ABiC) an Irish backpacker had his visa cancelled after he was found to have submitted a fraudulent application.
He bought the visa documentation in a pub for $500, was fined $1,400 and had his visa cancelled.
Russack told Tumbrella that, since the crackdown on fraudulent applications, ”we’ve been having more of them withdrawn”.
She refused to comment on industry rumours that up to half of all second year working holiday visa applications are fraudulent.
Meanwhile, Russack told ABiC delegates Australians travelling overseas on working holidays can assist in expanding the number of visas granted to international visitors.
“If we had more Australians going overseas for working holidays then the government would feel comfortable increasing the number of arrangements we have,” she said.
I agree more Australian should become involved in WHVs, and student exchanges etc.
I am concerned that Australia’s PR, image or brand for some segments has decreased due to obsessions about migration, rorts, population etc.
Confirms what many think, Australia is over regulated and bit authoritarian…..
Cheers Andrew AIEC
By: Andrew Smith on November 16, 2009
at 2:20 am
[...] The former treasurer loves to talk about his role in encouraging Australians to have more children. A government crackdown on fraudulent second-year working holiday visa applications has resulted in …. DIAC director of working holiday section Deirdre Russack told delegates at the Adventure and [...]
By: Australia News 15 November 2009 « AIEC QUEST Australian International Education on November 16, 2009
at 2:42 am
Why is it that the second year applications are fraudulent?
By: Carmel on November 20, 2009
at 1:51 am
Hi Carmel
The applications are fraudulent when travellers pretend they have done the three months regional work required for applying for a second year, when in reality they haven’t. A fair number of backpackers have managed to blag the visa either by paying a farmer to vouch for them, or simply making up farmwork altogether and hoping nobody checks.
Cheers
Dumbrella
By: dumbrella on December 14, 2009
at 3:50 pm
I think for my friends over there, it becomes home so quickly because it is such a great place and its hard to imagine leavin to back to the same old, same old. Applying is a drawn out process according to them and they can understand that its possible sometimes people make shortcuts.
By: australialover on November 21, 2009
at 4:06 am
If a working holiday maker has undertaken the 3 months regional work then the process is actually very quick. My fianceé’s 2nd WHV was granted in just 46 hours after she applied online. I can understand why so many WHM would blag their 2nd visa. A friend of mine was promised a sponsorship by his employer to get him to stay on working as a chef. However the sponsorship never came and he was left with no time to fulfill the obligations of the 3 months regional work that the 2nd WHV requires and thus, he had to leave.
Some of the employers here in Oz can be pretty heartless. I also know of another Brit that paid a farmer $400 to sign her 2nd WHV paperwork.
My fianceé really enjoyed picking strawberries for 3 months, we did it together and aside from the shockingly low money, it was a great experience
By: El on December 27, 2009
at 11:58 pm