Indian Visa Scams Cash for Partner Visas

Tim Gregson made this Freedom of Information request to Department of Home Affairs

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

Department of Home Affairs did not have the information requested.

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

How many Indian Citizens have been investigated for potentially offering cash to Australian citizens to obtain residency as "partners" and ultimately citizenship in Australia within the last 12 months? How many prosecutions/deportations have there been for this?

Yours faithfully,

Josh.

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

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General information about travelling to Australia:

 

The Department of Home Affairs, “Entering Australia” site
[3]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...

 

·       For visa and our requirements for entry to Australia
[4]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...

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Thank you

Information updated 24 December 2021

 

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References

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1. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...
2. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
3. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...
4. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...
5. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/al...
6. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
7. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizens...
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FOI, Department of Home Affairs

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 22/01/00540
File Number: OBJ2022/1222

Dear Josh,

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

I refer to your correspondence received on 7 January 2022 seeking access to documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
Scope of request

You have requested access to the following:
How many Indian Citizens have been investigated for potentially offering cash to Australian citizens to obtain residency as "partners" and ultimately citizenship in Australia within the last 12 months? How many prosecutions/deportations have there been for this?

Your request was received by the Department on 7 January 2022 and has been allocated FOI request number FA 22/01/00540 . Please include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information Section.

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Your review rights in relation to your request are available on the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner here.

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Withdraw your request or reduce your scope - contact the FOI Section
Should you wish to withdraw your request as you no longer need the information or reduce the amount of information or documents you have asked us for, contact the FOI Section at [Department of Home Affairs request email].
Kind regards,

FOI Officer - Geoff
Freedom of Information
Department of Home Affairs

E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

show quoted sections

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

In reply, please quote:

Client Name:     Josh

FOI Request:    FA 22/01/00540

File Number:     OBJ2022/1222

FOI due date:    6 February 2022

 

Dear Josh,

 

Request for an extension of time:

 

This correspondence refers to an access request received by the Department
of Home Affairs (‘the Department’) under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (the FOI Act) on 7 January 2022, seeking access to:

 

How many Indian Citizens have been investigated for potentially offering
cash to Australian citizens to obtain residency as "partners" and
ultimately citizenship in Australia within the last 12 months? How many
prosecutions/deportations have there been for this?

 

Timeframe for processing your request:

The FOI Act provides a statutory period for processing your request of 30
calendar days unless an extension of time is agreed to, or provided for,
under a provision of the FOI Act.

 

The due date for a decision on your request is 6 February 2022

 

Request for an extension of time:

Unfortunately, the search and retrieval of documents related to the scope
of your request is taking longer than anticipated. The Department
therefore seeks your agreement (under section 15AA of the FOI Act) to
extend the timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days. The
additional time will support completing this process, and assist us in
making a decision on access within statutory timeframes.

 

If you agree to the extension of time please advise the Department before
4 February 2022 close of business, by email at: [1][Department of Home Affairs request email].

 

I apologise for the short notice.

 

For more information on section 15AA and the FOI Act:

[2]The Australian Information Commissioner FOI Guidelines

[3]Freedom of Information Act 1982

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to consider my request and I look forward to
hearing from you.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

Karen

Position: 60114871

Freedom of Information

Freedom of Information & Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy and National Resilience Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [4][Department of Home Affairs request email]
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

 

 

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Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
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References

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1. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
2. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
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4. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

1 Attachment

OFFICIAL

Dear Josh

 

 

FOI Request FA 22/01/00540

 

I refer to your FOI request received on 7 January 2022, seeking access to
the following:

           

How many Indian Citizens have been investigated for potentially offering
cash to Australian citizens to obtain residency as "partners" and
ultimately citizenship in Australia within the last 12 months? How many
prosecutions/deportations have there been for this? 

 

 

The Department has made a decision on this request. Please find attached
the decision record released under the FOI Act.  

 

This request has now been closed.

 

 

 

Regards,

 

Elaine position 60097486

FOI Decision Maker

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division

Strategy and National Resilience Group

Department of Home Affairs | [1]www.homeaffairs.gov.au

[2][Department of Home Affairs request email]

OFFICIAL

 

 

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

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1. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/
2. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]%0d