Introduction of Public Interest Criterion 4020 (Integrity and Fraud Prevention)

Policy effect

Introduced Public Interest Criterion (PIC) 4020 into the Migration Regulations, establishing mandatory refusal criteria for applicants who provide bogus documents or information that is false or misleading in a material particular in visa applications [3.1.3].

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

Trainee) visa [2] Paragraph 1.40 (3) (a) omit courses or an occupational trainee insert courses, or an applicant for a Subclass 442 (Occupational Trainee) visa [3] Subparagraph 2.03A (3) (a) (iii) omit UT insert TU Federal Register of Legislative Instruments F2011L00336 Schedule 3 Amendments relating to public interest criteria 12 Migration Amendment Regulations 2011 (No. 1) 2011, 13 Schedule 3 Amendments relating to public interest criteria (regulation 5) [1] Schedule 2, clause 495.220 omit 495.224, [2] Schedule 2, clause 496.221 omit 496.227 insert 496.228 [3] Schedule 4, Part 1, after clause 4019 insert 4020 (1) There is no evidence before the Minister that the applicant has given, or caused to be given, to the Minister, an officer, the Migration Review Tribunal, a relevant assessing authority or a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth, a bogus document or information that is false or misleading in a material particular in relation to: (a) the application for the visa; or (b) a visa that the applicant held in the period of 12 months before the application was made. (2) The Minister is satisfied that during the period: (a) starting 3 years before the application was made; and (b) ending when the Minister makes a decision to grant or refuse the application; the applicant and each member of the family unit of the applicant has not been refused a visa because of a failure to satisfy the criteria in subclause (1). Federal Register of Legislative Instruments F2011L00336 Amendments relating to public interest criteria Schedule 3 2011, 13 Migration Amendment Regulations 2011 (No. 1) 13 (3) To avoid doubt, subclauses (1) and (2) apply whether or not the Minister became aware of the bogus document or information that is false or misleading in a material particular because of information given by the applicant. (4) The Minister may waive the requirements of any or all of paragraphs (1) (a) or (b) and subclause (2) if satisfied that: (a) compelling circumstances that affect the interests of Australia; or (b) compassionate or compelling circumstances that affect the interests of an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen; justify the granting of the visa. (5) In this clause: information that is false or misleading in a material particular means information that is: (a) false or misleading at the time it is given; and (b) relevant to any of the criteria the Minister may consider when making a decision on an application, whether or not the decision is made because of that information. Note Regulation 1.03 defines bogus document as having the same meaning as in section 97 of the Act. [4] Further amendments Provision omit insert Paragraphs 487.228 (a), 487.230 (d), and 487.324 (a) 4004 and 4010 4004, 4010 and 4020 Clauses 495.225 and 495.322 4005 and 4010 4005, 4010 and 4020 Paragraphs 175.223 (a), 175.225 (d), 175.322 (a), 176.224 (a), 176.226 (d), 176.322 (a), 475.224 (a), 475.226 (d), 475.322 (a), 476.222 (a), 476.224 (d), 476.322 (a), 485.224 (a), 485.226 (d), 485.322 (a), 495.229 (a), 885.224 (a), 885.226 (d), 885.322 (a), 886.225 (a), 886.227 (d) and 886.322 (a) Paragraphs 887.223 (a), 887.225 (a) and 887.322 (a) 4007 and 4010 4007, 4010 and 4020 Federal Register of Legislative Instruments F2011L00336 Schedule 3 Amendments relating to public interest criteria 14 Migration Amendment Regulations 2011 (No. 1) 2011, 13 Provision omit insert Clauses 496.228, 496.324, 880.225, 880.322, 881.228, 881.324, 882.228, 882.229, 882.324 and 883.225 4009 and 4010 4009, 4010 and 4020 Subclauses 880.227 (1) and 881.229 (1) Paragraphs 119.223 (a), 119.225 (1) (a), 119.322 (a), 121.224 (a), 121.226 (1) (a), 121.322 (a), 496.231 (a), 856.223 (1) (a), 856.225 (1) (a), 856.322 (1) (a), 857.223 (1) (a), 857.225 (1) (a) and 857.322 (1) (a) Subparagraphs 883.228 (a) (i), 883.228 (a) (ii), 883.324 (a) (i) and 883.324 (a) (ii) Paragraphs 457.224 (a), 457.227 (1) (a) and 457.325 (a) 4013 and 4014 4013, 4014 and 4020 [5] Further amendments — omissions The following clauses are omitted:  175.222  176.223  475.223  476.221  485.223  487.227  495.224  496.227  880.224  881.226  882.226  883.223  885.223  886 …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other Australia changes operative in 2011

• 2011-07-01New General Skilled Migration Points Test and English Language Evidence Rules
• 2011-07-01Restriction on Migration Review Tribunal Fee Waivers