Australia: ‘Extensive migration fraud’ lands Perth-based Chinese national jail sentence of more than six years

The 38-year-old woman was jailed for six-and-a-half years after being found to have been working as a fraudulent migration agent.

A Chinese national who posed as a migration agent and obtained more than $300,000 from unsuspecting clients has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

The 38-year-old Perth woman was convicted on multiple charges relating to ‘extensive migration fraud’, including charging visa fees for applications that were never lodged, leading people to become unlawful non-citizens or being unable to enter Australia.

The Australian Border Force said many of her clients were vulnerable due to their limited English and knowledge of the Australian visa process.

The woman forged Department of Home Affairs documents which she used to falsely inform applicants they had been granted a visa.

“Maintaining the integrity of Australia’s migration program is paramount for our community and those seeking to become part of it,” ABF Commander for Operations West, James Copeman said.

The woman has been given a four-and-a-half-year minimum non-parole period and been ordered to repay victims a total of $188,235.

The ABF said many of the victims were unable to be identified as they live overseas.

Anyone with information about individuals falsely claiming to be a migration agent should contact Border Watch at australia.gov.au/borderwatch.

SBS