An RMA and member of the Migration Alliance reports that there is a widespread scheme in China which systematically and blatantly rorts the sc457 visa system.

The RMA who makes regular trips to China says that, “Some offshore agents (not Australian RMA's) are advertising a service fee of RMB 1million (about AUD$180,000) to get a fake 457.” 

Apparently, the fraud involves the applicant providing to the employer the contract salary upfront. This is then recycled back to the visa holder after the grant of the visa in the form of wages.

 “It's going on in the major cities where Australia has consulates.  It's going on blatantly and yet it seems DIBP in China is asleep at the wheel…they can't seem to get out and make the most simple of checks. The damage being done to Australia's reputation is incalculable.  Decent agents who will not join in this scam are not respected, in fact, we are the brunt of jokes,“ reports the RMA.

This report, amongst others conflict with the ‘clean bill of health’ proclamation by the sc457 review committee and the Minister for immigration Mr Scott Morrison. The Minister said he is satisfied with the program on the basis that government's four-member panel for the sc457 Review found "no evidence to back the widespread rorting claims of the program made by the previous Labor government when they referred [to] 10,000 visa rorters".

Audits by the Fair Work Ombudsman have found up to 40 per cent of foreign workers employed under 457 visas were underpaid, not performing the jobs they were supposed to do or no longer employed by the person who sponsored their entry into Australia, a recent report in The Sydney Morning Herald noted.

The Federal Court has thrown out a challenge by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) to measures introduced by the Abbott Government making it easier for foreign workers to be employed on offshore oil and gas projects, reports the ABC.

The action by the MUA was in response to Senator Michaelia Cash’s move which invalidated legislation deeming oil and gas projects to be within Australia’s migration zone. Senator  Cash said the controversial move was necessary to restore certainty to the $200 billion offshore oil and gas sector.

The MUA claimed in court the Federal Government did not have the power to use the legislative instrument in that way. However, the Federal Court has dismissed the legal challenge. It did not find the use of the legislative instrument invalid.

Speaking to the ABC, AMMA chief executive Steve Knott said the court case had been the latest attempt by maritime unions to gain control over an industry that historically operated outside their traditional coverage.

Mr Knott said the ruling gave certainty to both Australian and non-Australian workers in the offshore resource industry.

Scammers are preying on visa hopefuls from the Indian subcontinent and China with the promise of visas, ready jobs with high salaries and short work hours in the fruit-picking and livestock industries.

DIBP has issued a statement that, “[DIBP has] become aware of a fraudulent website work4australia.com that claims to provide genuine migration services to Australia.

“The scam is an offer of a five-year eVisa with a USD4700 fee. It directs individuals to travel to Thailand, where a representative from the supposed organisation receives the payment and provides travel documents to Australia," notes the DIBP statement.

The website was registered sometime in April this year with the registrant listed as Alexndar Kriss according to the domain checking service whois.com. I tried calling the number but there was only an automated answering service response requiring my details be left behind for a callback.

More tell-tale signs of the scam were street address listed as follows: “Stree-11 / Town Point 90 Sippy Downs Dr, Sippy Downs QLD 4556, Queens Land Australia “

The website provides seven images of people representing various nationalities all of whom except the registrant are without surnames. None are registered migration agents. (http://work4australia.com/contact.php)

Join us for

Exclusive SIV cocktail event

Following the successful SIV cocktail events held in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne,  Migration Alliance is delighted to invite migration agents who practice in, or have an interest in Significant Investor 188 and 888 applications to an exclusive event by our sponsors NAB Private Wealth to be now held in Perth.

Interview by: Tanaya Das
Photo inset: Eddy Kang running to avoid ABC cameras after a CTTT hearing.

The Department of Fair Trading is now actively investigating Eddie Kang.