Visa overstayers, primarily young men from the United Kingdom, are becoming a nuisance for Australia’s immigration officials.
“Visa overstayers are people who come on a valid visa who then become unlawful overstayers,” says Australia’s immigration minister Chris Evans. “They’re often young Englishmen who have gone to a party and are a few days late because they’re having such a good time in Sydney. Or they’ve met a young lady and (they’re) having a good time.”
The most popular tourist visa to Australia gives UK travelers three months to get their fill of fun before they have to leave. Those who push their luck risk being banned from re-entry into the country.
“We take the integrity of our visa and migration program seriously,” a spokesperson for the Australian department of immigration told the Daily Mail.
The department of immigration isn’t exactly calling Closing Time early. After their three-month visas expire English lads have a full 28 days to pull themselves out of their hangovers and get on an airplane before being put on a blacklist that prevents them from visiting the country for another three years.
And immigration officials say there are consequences for those who leave (or are kicked out) without paying their tab. Violators cannot be granted another visa to Australia until they at least attempt to repay any debts owed to the Commonwealth, including for costs of removal.
So whether you are visiting Australia from the UK or anywhere else, be sure to follow the cardinal rule of having a travel visa: Remember what month it is.
And if that’s not in the cards for your trip then you’d better find a mate to hide out with for a while.
[Via: Daily Mail]
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