Application fraud, fake documents, false information, and visa conditions breach are increasingly being targeted in a “risk-based approach to support the integrity of Australia’s border, immigration, detention and citizenship programs” according to DIBPs Annual report 2012-2013.

The Risk Fraud and Integrity Division (RFID) boasts that it works with local and international agencies to filter out visa fraud at all levels. Comprising of several units focusing on various aspects of the systems integrity, the division in particular administers and enforces Public Interest Criteria 4020 (PIC 4020).

Also known as the "application integrity criteria', PIC 4020 has quietly taken a life of its own over the last few years and has recently survived a court challenge where an applicant's visa refusal, inspite of corrected information, was upheld by the court because the original information provided was false and thus caught by PIC 4020.

Beside visa refusal and cancellation one of the most severe consequences of PIC 4020 is a ten year ban for applicants on making further applications.

Some of the work of the various units of the RFID are set out in DIBP's reports as follows:

Forensic Document Examiners

DIBP reports that its “forensic document examiners” received 1381 new cases during the year and completed 1326 of those on hand. Of those, 93 documents were determined to be counterfeit and a further 124 were found to be fraudulently altered. Findings of counterfeit and fraudulently altered documents were referred to relevant visa program areas to assist in the determination to grant or refuse a visa application.

Program integrity

Another unit within the division is the Program Integrity Unit (PIU) which is responsible for monitoring subclass 457 (Temporary Business Entry) and 400 series visas sponsorship obligations, using inspectors and monitoring officers. This includes completing audits of sponsorship obligations and taking action against more serious breaches which may result in sanctions, infringements or civil action.

The PIU undertakes onshore integrity verification site visits on behalf of visa program areas to investigate integrity concerns relating to the employment or relationship claims prior to a decision being made on a visa application. During 2012–13 the PIU completed 1951 monitoring events and 1231 onshore referrals to support program and policy areas. This included serving a total of 68 infringement notices totaling $289 020.

National student integrity

National Student Integrity Unit's key responsibilities include managing of student visa cancellation activity, engaging with education regulators, liaising with education providers and students and implementing Knight Review changes. It proactively engages with key stakeholders to promote compliance through education. This unit also manages allegations and is tasked with evaluating students in breach of visa conditions.

The unit also assisted in the implementation of a new discretionary cancellation framework for student visa holders and has established a set of risk priorities following the abolition of the automatic and mandatory cancellation regime as a result of the Knight Review.

During 2012–13, the National Student Integrity Unit recorded 4777 decisions to cancel a student visa for breach of visa conditions.

Visa Cancellations Unit

Visa Cancellations Unit assists in maintaining the integrity of temporary and permanent visa programs through assessment of grounds for possible visa cancellation (except section 501 —Character) and takes action in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Migration Act.

The Unit completed a total of 480 complex cancellations (excluding s501) with 1348 otherwise finalised during the program year. A total of 18 869 subclass 457 visas were cancelled with 11 510 otherwise finalised.

Visa Cancellations Unit processed 5313 requests for voluntary cancellations on all visa subclasses (except student and subclass 457) during the program year

Information Collection Unit

The Information Collection Unit (ICU) is the single point of contact where all community phone allegations are recorded, classified and triaged for forwarding to a range of stakeholders. This work unit is managed in partnership with the Global Manager, Client Services.

A total of 11 543 telephone calls were transferred to the ICU during 2012–13 program year. Of those transferred 9827 were serviced by the ICU.