The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) employs a variety of measures to locate unlawful non-citizens in Australia. Because of increasingly sophisticated technology and information sharing protocols, it is probably fair to say that overstayers are more vulnerable than ever before.
Probably the easiest and most common way for an overstayer to be identified and located is by way of ‘dob in’, that is when a member of the public rings DIBP and provides details of someone they either know, or have good reason to believe is in Australia without proper lawful status.
The motivations that drive those to ring the Department are as many and varied as life itself – they can be jilted lovers, concerned employers or simply ordinary citizens anxious to see that our laws are being obeyed.
Other, more sophisticated means of locating overstayers include data matches by DIBP with other government agencies such as the Australian Taxation Office and Centrelink that may hold information on overstayers paying tax or claiming benefits. They also conduct "field visits" to places of employment. DIBP also has access to information held by other agencies such as state and federal police services, road and traffic authorities and utility companies.
Probably the easiest and most common way for an overstayer to be identified and located is by way of ‘dob in’, that is when a member of the public rings DIBP and provides details of someone they either know, or have good reason to believe is in Australia without proper lawful status.
The motivations that drive those to ring the Department are as many and varied as life itself – they can be jilted lovers, concerned employers or simply ordinary citizens anxious to see that our laws are being obeyed.
Other, more sophisticated means of locating overstayers include data matches by DIBP with other government agencies such as the Australian Taxation Office and Centrelink that may hold information on overstayers paying tax or claiming benefits. They also conduct "field visits" to places of employment. DIBP also has access to information held by other agencies such as state and federal police services, road and traffic authorities and utility companies.
