ISLAMABAD – Pakistanis planning to apply for an Australian visa have been advised to remain vigilant against visa scams and rely only on official information during the application process.
The Australian High Commission, in a social media post, warned prospective applicants to carefully check every stage of their visa application and protect themselves from fraudulent agents.
According to the advisory, fake agents are targeting Pakistani migrants by charging high fees, making false promises and using false documents.
The Australian High Commission said that anyone guaranteeing a visa or permanent residency should be treated as a scammer, as no one can guarantee success in a visa application.
The advisory also warned applicants against submitting false or misleading information or documents. Such actions can result in serious consequences, including large fines, visa cancellation, detention and removal from Australia, as well as a ban from entering the country for up to 10 years.
Applicants could also risk their family members’ chances of obtaining Australian visas, lose money or face long-term debt. They may also be required to pay thousands of dollars in removal costs and could face difficulties securing future visas for Australia and other countries.
The Australian High Commission stressed that there are no shortcuts to obtaining an Australian visa and urged applicants to use official Australian Government sources for trusted information and guidance on identifying common visa scams.
