Iranian Visa Processing Shut Down Amid Warning of Possible Corruption Amongst Migration Agents
The Australian government has temporarily shut down its visa processing operations in Iran after it received warning that some migration agents were corruptly obtaining visa through a contact in the Australian embassy in Tehran.
Investigation for such allegations has been referred to the Australia’s peak corruption watchdog, the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI), which accused certain locally-based migration agents of exploiting a “special relationship” with a contact in Tehran.
Serious Concerns Raised About the Integrity of Australia’s Immigration System
The ABC has previously reported on a fake 457 visa scam and migration agents ripping off their clients by setting charges amounting to tens of thousands of dollars to secure visas for individuals both in Australia and Iran that normally cost a fraction of that, all of which has raised serious concerns about the integrity of Australia’s immigration system.
A letter – which was sent by the Australian Iran Migration Consultants Association – pointed ACLEI to a noticeable increase in the number of Iranians who were being granted temporary entry visas, despite having relatives in Australia on protection visas. However, typically there is a very small chance of such visa being granted, due to the likelihood that they will also apply for protection visa upon arrival.
“These applications were not based on compelling and compassionate reasons…. we request the embassy investigate the allegations and let our Association members be assured that the decision of refusal or granting the visa to the applicants is based on the Australian Migration Act and Migration regulations", the letter said.
Response Requested From Department and Home Affairs
The Department was requested to perform investigation and gather information from their system, for example, “on how many visitor visa applications [each agent] lodged in the last five years, and compare and look into the merits of each case.” However, the Department declined to answer directly whether concerns about possible corruption lay behind the decision.
Concerns Around Home Affairs Employee
There seems to be a number of concerning relationships between one person employed in the Tehran visa processing section and some migration agents in Australia and Iran.
As of recently, one migration agent had her registration cancelled by the Migration Agent’s regulatory body, OMARA because she was found to charge large fees but failed to secure visas for her clients. In the published decision, she advised that she collaborated with a colleague in Tehran to follow-up on visa matters as he was well-known within the Australian embassy.
It has been alleged the embassy man has particularly close ties to a Department of Home Affairs employee in the embassy. The ABC has confirmed that he has approved visa applications for a particular Tehran-based businessman, dating back at least nine years.
Getting Assistance
It is paramount for all migration agents to familiarize themselves with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) Code of Conduct on a consistent basis. Migration agents and lawyers are expected to hold the highest set of ethical standards, and are therefore obliged to act in the best interests of their clients.
How Can We Help
If you are a Registered Migration Agent, please feel free to contact our Immigration lawyers for professional guidance or legal representation on OMARA complaints. We have two (2) Accredited Specialists in Immigration Law. Please contact us on 02 7200 2700 to book in a consultation.
We also speak fluent English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Indonesian, Spanish and Malay. If these aren’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.