Have you ever been tempted to pay an employer to sponsor you? Perhaps you’ve been solicited by an employer looking to gain an advantage by paying you less in exchange for sponsorship? Maybe you’ve been asked something as simple as to reimburse a sponsor for their sponsorship application fees? If so, the Australian Government has you in their sights!
The new Migration Amendment (Charging for a Migration Outcome) Bill 2015 has now become law and is designed to crack down on behaviour labelled as ‘payment for visas’ activity. This means that giving or accepting personal benefits to help a visa applicant succeed will land the sponsor, the visa applicant and any third parties in serious into trouble.
It is now a criminal offence for a sponsor to benefit from offering a migration outcome for a visa, and it substantial civil fines also apply. Payments, discounts, services, property, or even gifts that influence your visa outcome can all add up to a maximum of a sentence of two years imprisonment, a $64,800 fine or more – but that’s not the end! The new laws also give case officers a discretionary power to consider cancelling a visa if they suspect it was granted in connection to any ‘payment for visas’ activity.
Don’t be tempted to accept offers from dodgy employers – a genuine 457 application is a path to permanent residency in Australia. Don’t risk exploitation, cancellation, criminal charges, or worse. Call The Migration Place today and speak to our experienced migration lawyers on (07) 3229 4025.