Irish Echo News

An Irishman has been convicted of fraud, and many others are under investigation as the Department of Immigration gets tough on a scam over second Working Holiday visas.

The convicted man was involved in the hustle where Irish backpackers, looking for a second year Australian Working Holiday Visa (WHV), were being duped by people promising to help them for a fee of $400.

It works like this: the visa applicant lodges $400 into a bank account and is then given an Australian Business Number (ABN) said to belong to a farmer who hires backpackers. In order to get a second WHV you must work for three months in agricultural or regional work.

The ABN is used in the WHV application as “proof” of having worked on a farm. But the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has been aware of the scam for some time and decided to act.

A DIAC spokesperson told the Irish Echo that: “The Department has successfully prosecuted an Irish national for second working holiday visa fraud. Another case has recently been accepted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and others are under consideration,” the spokesperson said.

Though there have been instances in other states, so far this is predominantly a New South Wales issue.

“The department has recently cancelled 32 second working holiday visas in NSW on the basis of fraudulent documentation, and refused many (other) applications,” the spokesperson said.

A simple internet search revealed several cases of people discussing the scam and/or admitting they had used it.

The department does not release specific information about cases under investigation, but the spokesperson confirmed they are “closely scrutinising online advertisements offering fraudulent documentation for the purpose of applying for a second WHVs.

“Visa applicants found to have committed fraud have their visa refused or cancelled, and may be excluded from entering Australia for up to three years. Any future visa application will be closely scrutinised,” the spokesperson said.

One Irish backpacker told the Irish Echo that he was contacted by email after he placed an ad on the online classified site Gumtree looking for farm work which would help him get a second WHV.

“The email said if I gave them $400 they would give me details on how I could get the visa without having to do any farm work,” he told the Irish Echo.

 He turned down the offer, but many others did not and may now be under investigation.

People convicted of fraud under the Migration Act may be liable for imprisonment for up to 10 years, and/or a fine of up to $110,000.

by Pádraig Collins