multicultural Hot Words

Overstayer...

Definition

Many people enter Australia under visas that are valid for a specific time period – as students, tourists, working holidaymakers and so on. Overstayers are people who have entered Australia with valid papers, but whose visas have subsequently expired.

What makes it hot?

The Australian Government has put in place extra constraints and fees for those applying to enter Australia from particular countries with an overstayer proportion of 5% or more. This is seen as discriminatory by some people who argue that the vast majority of overstayers are from countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland but the restrictions apply only to countries such as China and Brazil.

Date Added:

10 March 2002