Foreword

The Australian Immigration Department strikes again!

Officials conducted a surprise raid on Chinese undocumented workers.

One was deported on the spot, while the other was surprisingly granted a visa?!

The reason behind this shocking difference…

01: Immigration Raid on Undocumented Workers

One Deported, One Allowed to Stay

According to the Department of Home Affairs, approximately 70,000 people are illegally residing in Australia, many of whom entered the country on student or visitor visas but overstayed after their visas expired.

Australia has been tightening its crackdown on undocumented workers, frequently launching surprise raids that leave people unprepared.

Just yesterday, netizens noticed that the Department of Home Affairs issued a sudden update regarding a recent enforcement action against undocumented labor.

The report stated that earlier this month, compliance officers conducted an immigration enforcement operation in Queensland, targeting employers exploiting migrant workers and hiring undocumented labor.

Authorities inspected about 20 farms and businesses in southern Queensland and interviewed over 300 workers.

While no illegal businesses were identified in this particular raid, the operation clearly demonstrated Australia’s increasing crackdown on illegal labor and worker exploitation.

Severe Penalties for Employers

Under Australian immigration law, anyone found employing undocumented workers may face:

• Up to 2 years in prison
• Fines up to AUD 594,000

With such harsh penalties, business owners are unwilling to take the risk. In this latest compliance operation in Queensland, no businesses were caught violating the law.

The Department of Home Affairs even included a link in their announcement, encouraging the public to report potential immigration crimes or suspicious activities.

The Raid on a Sydney Farm

On this particular day, immigration officers conducted a raid at a farm in Western Sydney, where two Chinese workers without valid work visas were targeted.

The officers first identified an older woman and attempted to verify her identity and visa status, but she refused to cooperate.

Meanwhile, another man was found hiding in the reeds. The officers instructed both workers to sit together for further questioning.

However, both individuals were extremely agitated and unwilling to cooperate with the investigation.

When asked about his age and date of birth, the man responded in Cantonese, “It doesn’t matter what I say.”

Both workers refused to disclose their names or ages, making it impossible for officers to verify their identities.

The officers then decided to search their living quarters for identification and work-related documents.

With the farm owner’s permission, they found the man’s passport, which had expired in 2005.

Upon investigation, it was confirmed that the man had overstayed his visa for seven years and had no valid work authorization.

The woman, though silent, was also found to have no valid Australian residency status.

Both workers were taken to the New South Wales headquarters for further questioning and were officially confirmed as illegal workers.

But Their Fates Were Completely Different

In the end:

• The woman was deported back to China.
• The man, surprisingly, was allowed to stay and even granted a temporary visa!

The employer received a warning, while the labor broker could face fines up to AUD 66,000, and individuals could be fined up to AUD 13,200 per worker.

Why did the two individuals, both caught working illegally, receive such drastically different outcomes?

02: Holding a Hong Kong Passport = 5-Year Visa

PR in Just 3-4 Years

Although the program did not explicitly state why the man was allowed to stay while the woman was deported, many speculate that he held a Hong Kong passport.

For Hong Kong passport holders, Australia has long established a special immigration pathway.

Australia’s Special Immigration Pathway for Hong Kong

On July 9, 2020, Australia introduced a new visa arrangement for Hong Kong passport holders and British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders.

From that date, current and future visa holders from Hong Kong have their visas automatically extended by five years.

Additionally, Hong Kong passport holders applying for 457, 482, or 485 visas would continue to enjoy a unique five-year visa validity.

This policy officially took effect on July 9, 2020.

PR with No English, No Job, No Skills Assessment, No Points

On October 30, 2021, Australia amended its laws, creating a special PR pathway for Hong Kong and BNO passport holders.

This pathway is unbelievably easy, requiring:
✅ No English test
✅ No job requirement
✅ No skills assessment
✅ No immigration points

Basically, PR on a silver platter!

Pathway 1: PR via Regional Residence (3 Years)

If a Hong Kong or BNO passport holder holds a 485, 482, or 457 visa and lives, studies, or works in a designated regional area for three years, they can directly apply for a 191 PR visa.

Unlike regular 191 applicants, Hong Kong passport holders don’t need to meet any income threshold—just fulfill the residence requirement.

Pathway 2: PR via General Residence (4 Years)

If a Hong Kong or BNO passport holder holds a 485, 482, or 457 visa and resides in Australia for four years, they can directly apply for a 189 PR visa.

✅ No immigration points
✅ No English test
✅ No skills assessment

Even more convenient, the four-year residency requirement allows for travel—you can leave Australia for vacations and still qualify.

Dependents over 23 years old can also be included in the PR application as long as they were classified as a dependent at the time of the original visa grant.

With such relaxed criteria, PR is practically being handed out!

So, if the Chinese man caught in the immigration raid held a Hong Kong passport, it makes complete sense why he was allowed to stay.

03: Australia Tightens Immigration, But Hong Kong Passport Holders Remain Exempt

Since last year, the Australian government has been aggressively tightening immigration policies to reduce migration numbers.

In December, Australia announced major migration reforms, with a focus on cutting net migration numbers to more “normal” levels:

• 375,000 migrants in 2024
• 250,000 migrants in 2025

International students have been the primary target, facing stricter visa approvals, higher requirements, and shorter post-study work visas (485 visa).

New Restrictions on 485 Post-Study Work Visa: