An Indian-origin businessman in Melbourne is being investigated for allegedly charging tens of thousands of dollars for Australian visas which never eventuated.
The Australian Border Force recently raided the office of YABS Services, a migration company in Melbourne run by Avniesh Bhardwaj, the reports.
An investigation by ABC’s 7:30 program claims YABS Services charged would-be migrants up to $50,000 in exchange for jobs and visas in Australia. It claims, after the visas failed, the company hasn’t refunded the money after making the initial repayments which, in some cases, were many years ago.
Mr Bhardwaj is a prominent figure among Melbourne’s Indian community and had offices of YABS in Melbourne, Sydney, Delhi, Ludhiana and Kuala Lumpur. Though his company’s website seems to be down, it’s Facebook page reveals it offered skilled visas, parent, partner and student visas besides employer sponsored visas.
Avniesh Bhardwaj with former Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Source: Facebook
The ABC claims to have spoken to a number of would-be migrants who had engaged YABS’s services for Australian visas, including a cousin of Mr Bhardwaj who had worked with him in Delhi and a Pakistani national Sohail Khan who claims to have paid YABS 35,000.
Mr Bhardwaj’s personal mobile phone and the contact number for his Sydney officer were switched off.
A Border Force spokesperson told the ABC the agency was aware of the allegations against YABS and it was investigating the publication of fraudulent information on their website.
The ABF is asking for anyone with complaints or information to contact Border Watch.
