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Sydney migration agent jailed for fraud
The Federal Government said that the jailing of a former migration agent for immigration fraud sent a strong message to the industry that fraudulent and illegal behaviour will not be tolerated.
Ms Xiao Ying Wu (known as Amy Wu), was based in Sydney's Chinatown and pleaded guilty to forging immigration documents and defrauding her clients, who were seeking assistance with visa applications, in order to obtain more than $80 000.
She was sentenced today in the Downing Centre District Court to 21 months' imprisonment, with five months to be served, in relation to two Commonwealth charges of using false documents to obtain benefits.
She also received 18 months' imprisonment with five months' minimum term (to be served concurrently) for two charges under the NSW Crimes Act of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage.
The court also made a reparation order in relation to the Commonwealth charges of $13 405 and $18 935 to the respective victims and a compensation order relating to the state charges of $31 550 and $10 000 for her victims.
Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said an investigation into Wu's activities began in response to a referral from the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority, as well as complaints received directly from the community.
Minister Cash said the case served as a warning to would-be fraudsters that the government will actively pursue the prosecution of people involved in immigration fraud and unlawfully obtaining Australian visas.
'The government takes allegations of fraud by those in trusted positions, such as registered migration agents, very seriously,' Minister Cash said.
Any individual who provides immigration assistance in Australia must be registered as a migration agent with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority. People wishing to find out whether an individual is registered as a migration agent can do so by visiting the Office the MARA's website at www.mara.gov.au.
Comments
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Thursday, 24 April 2014What is happening with Eddy Kang? Is he in jail yet ?
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Thursday, 24 April 2014hi liana,i already won the QCAT TRIBUNAL court case against eddy kang,but he has not paid yet and i register my case in nsw local court,so when government gonna throw eddy kang pig into sentence for all life and do the all kang victims will be eligible to get thier money back from eddy kang pls reply regards
· Liana - Allan likes this comment. -
Thursday, 24 April 2014
If you want to find out what is happening with Eddy Kang please email the Director of Investigations at the DIBP. Her name is Lesley Dalton and her email is Lesley.Dalton@immi.gov.au.
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Thursday, 24 April 2014
As per Minister Cash, frauds by registered migration agents are being taken very seriously. Well justified. What about frauds by unregistered migration agents offshore?
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Thursday, 24 April 2014
What about frauds by unregistered migration agents onshore?
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Thursday, 24 April 2014
Hi Liana,
Please come to Cabramatta NSW, people called themselves Immigration Specialist/Immigration Lawyer offer 457 Visa with the service fee $35,000-$40,000.
If you want commercial marriage, you got it (price tag $70,000).
Want more information please contact DIBP -
Thursday, 24 April 2014
dear liana,really appreciated your quick reply regards
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Thursday, 24 April 2014
Hi Guest can you email me privately on help@migrationalliance.com.au and I will come out to Cabramatta and have a look for myself? I am interested in coming to take photos and expose the fraud once and for all. If DIBP won't do it then I will do it. I will post the photos up here and then there is no excuse. Perhaps we can have some Pho Noodle when we are out there?
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Thursday, 24 April 2014
Migration agents offshore? Presume they are not registered with MARA?
I'm interested to know if agents need to have some sort of licensing or accreditation in the various jurisdictions of their clients e.g. what skills and qualification do they need to have in both the "from" and "to" locations to assist their clients? -
Thursday, 24 April 2014
I have experienced many unregistered Agents who work for the Registered agents and they always say that they are fully-qualified. I have also witnessed a Registered Migration Agent in Sydney who charged client 70,000 Dollars for the 457 Visa. Is this a criminal act?. The Office of MARA should spend time to visit these Agencies to investigate them.
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Thursday, 24 April 2014
What about IELTS frauds they taking a wholesum money and not being fair to the test takers. Their questions are not always the same level and nowadays they are tough enough for a international students they are making a good business . Why nobody cares in this matters and I know there are lots of other things that IDP Australia are discriminating non English speakers by toughning the level of question. Who says there is no partiality and discriminating community in Australia
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Friday, 25 April 2014
Hi Stacey Martin
Your question re offshore "unregistered migration agents" :
The requirement to register as a migration agent before one can render such assistance for a fee (a reward) is imposed by s 277 of the Migration Act 1958 Cth. That legislation is binding on those within Australia and its territories. Australian laws do not apply to people outside Australia (Australia cannot enforce its laws on individuals domiciled in other countries.)
So a person providing migration assistance in some offshore location is not necessarily legally bound be registered (and MARA does not endorse such individuals and neither can it control their activities). MARA will never acknowledge this for obvious reasons.
In fact any meaningful attempt at doing something (on the part of MARA) would necessarily require cooperation and involvement of foreign governments, in which case the foreign affairs department would be called in to assist. That process would in some cases require dealing with some foreign hostile governments.
So to cut the story short MARA cannot do much, if it all, about the offshore "unregistered migration agents". -
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Who will give us justice from eddi kang please somebody help us
Immigration blog
What happened to our friend Eddy K?