What is worse?

[donnashuggy]

Those that overstay their visa that fly in (majority)

or

Those that arrive by boat.......with the possibily of seeking asylum (unlikely) and sent back.

I generally keep up with what is going on and don't understand the governments fixation with boats when the numbers are the clear minority.

[cherry*135]

The loophole for people moving to NZ to get citizenship as a stepping stone to Aust has long been closed.

[cherry*135]

Donna..please provide details on why you hold the opinion ' that it is clear more people arrive by plane than boat.'

I dont agree, especially in the last year or so when boat arrival passengers were ever increasing to20 000+.

The govt records state 1/2% of those on
short term visas overstay.

They also indicate that people on visas who only overstay by a day or week or a month are counted as overstayers in the annual period total.

[**meep**]

---

@donnashuggy wrote:

It was to demonstrate the numbers, well that is why I started the thread because the government does seem to be fixated on those that come via boat when clearly more fly in.

---

OK, the numbers.  According to the previous government, the reason the focus was not on the overstayers  was that  only a very small number of visitors overstayed their visas. Out of   4.5 million temporary entrants, an overstayer rate was less than half percent and majority of that very small percentage were visa extensions.

[cherry*135]

I can see why the govt focus on boat arrivals, especially since the number of people arriving by boats has increased from a few hundred in the last few years to 20 000+ plus.

[cherry*135]

Yes..the 1/2 % overstaying visa holders (incl those that overstay short term)has already been mentioned twice before early on in this thread. Seems to me any facts that dont suit are ignored but the same old claim keeps getting repeated with no basis to it.

[**meep**]

so what did you work that out to be?  15k+ overstayers compared to 20k+ IMAs?

[donnashuggy]

I think the government should be investigating the bogus claims of those arriving on student visas 🙂

[**meep**]

i think it is also worth mentioning that:

Persons who overstay their visa by more than 28 days may become subject to an exclusion period that prevents them from being granted a temporary visa to travel to Australia for three years. This exclusion period applies whether they leave voluntarily or not.

Even after the exclusion period has finished, the person cannot be granted a visa unless they repay any debt they owe to the Commonwealth, including for costs of removal, or they make satisfactory arrangements to repay their debt.

[spotweldersfriend]

I've known of people that come to Australia on tourist visas multiple times and work under the radar on several visits.

[donnashuggy]

The bottom line is that the risk of staying illegally is worth it for many, they would rather be destitute here than anywhere else.