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Is the breach of PIC 4020 on your visa application a result of an innocent mistake? And do you want to appeal the Tribunal’s decision? Let a professional migration lawyer see and handle your case. Schedule a meeting and speak to one of our senior consultants.
A Public Interest Criterion 4020, or simply PIC 4020, is a legal requirement for most visas in Australia. This includes business visas, student visas, skilled visas, and employer-sponsored visas, among others. In order for a visa application to be granted and approved, the applicant must satisfy the criteria under PIC 4020.
PIC 4020 simply states that any bogus, misleading, and dishonest information or documents submitted to the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) or Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) will result in visa refusal and, by extension, a minimum three-year ban in any Australian visa application.
The PIC 4020 was designed to uphold the integrity of Australia’s migration system. It aims to prevent applicants from gaining favourable visa application outcomes out of submitting fake documents. If proven that the accused applicant did submit dishonest information in their visa application, it will not only result in refusal but also a ban in applying for any Australian visas in the future.
A three-year ban may be imposed if the applicant submits bogus documents and misleading information, such as:
Meanwhile, the ban on visa application could extend up to 10 years if the PIC 4020 violation is about fake identity and/or identity theft. There is no waiver for cases involving fake identities.
It might sadden you upon knowing that your visa application is not only refused, but also that it allegedly broke an important Australian immigration law. Here’s why seeking professional legal advice is extremely important for the following reasons:
The PIC 4020 requirement may be full of legal jargon that may be confusing and difficult to understand among non-legal professionals. Immigration law experts can help simplify the terms and make you better understand the guidelines.
Compared to hiring an experienced migration agent, doing it by yourself or relying on someone who’s not a legal professional may actually cost you more in the end. Seek assistance only from an expert with an in-depth expertise in all areas of immigration law.
If you want to greatly improve your chances of having your visa application accepted/approved, without resorting to unethical practices, a PIC 4020 specialist can provide expert help. They can give best recommendations, ask the right questions to fully understand your case, and serve as your partner in securing your visa and PR dreams.
Despite fulfilling the requirements and submitting the correct documents, you may still experience the heartbreak of a visa rejection. A qualified migration agent could help you submit a persuasive appeal or present your case as deserving of a PIC 4020 waiver. This is provided that your lawyer sees compelling evidence that will support your appeal.
Talk to one of our Visa Experts Now.
You will not just get a lawyer to represent you in all your legal steps and processes. We’re invested in your case and fighting for your visa grant. Here’s how we can help you with your PIC 4020 case.
Evaluating your eligibility is a major and important first step. With a registered migration agent, you can gauge your chances of winning against the PIC 4020 requirement.
After learning more about your case, that’s when we provide expert solutions and advice to give you the best options that’ll help you make a smart legal decision.
Expect only a highly qualified migration specialist to handle and manage your case. We will make it a personal mission to help you win a visa grant.
We can lodge and process your application or appeal as your proxy and make sure all your documents and forms are completed and submitted on time.
Our support doesn’t stop after your application. We’ll keep you updated about any progress and provide ongoing assistance and guidance as needed.
We are so positive you’re going to get that visa that we’re keen to help you plan your next best steps, whether it’s simply extending your visa or becoming a permanent resident!
Our customers are always happy to share their thoughts with us.
Here is what some of them have said!
The team at parish Patience Immigration Lawyers were incredibly helpful throughout the application process. Their assistance made our lives so much less stressful and their expertise cleared up any confusion we had. They remained engaged with us the whole time and quickly responded to any questions with thoughtful, detailed answers. Special thanks to Usman Ali and Shan . We highly recommend the team at Parish patience immigration lawyer for anyone considering help regarding any kind of visa .
Highly recommended lawyers! Extremely professional and reliable service, with outstanding outcomes. A special thanks to Mr Thong and Marlene, for helping us with our difficult case. Not only did they ensure that everything was ready to go, but their professionalism came in favor when we were granted our visa within just under 6 months!
Thong and Marlene helped my partner gain permanent residency in Australia. We did the application ourselves but it turned out lots of information we needed to provide was missing. Thong and Marlene picked our case up and helped amend it. I really appreciate their help and guidance and look forward to contacting them again in the future. I am pleased by their efforts and professionalism.
Successfully handled my case. He had been prompt, caring and very professional in dealing with my case. I am glad to have received very strong support, guidance and service from them. I would highly recommend Parish patience immigration lawyers. I wish the best for their future prospects.
I’m really thankful for the guidance and assistance I’ve received regarding my Partner visa from Shan and his assistance Asha at Parish Patience. They handled my matter professionally and there were clear instructions from the beginning till end. I got my partner visa 820 granted in less than 7 months, thanks to their knowledge and expertise. I wish them all the best and highly recommend Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers for any sort of immigration matters.
Entrust your PIC 4020 and other visa-related concerns only to immigration experts from Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers. We’ve helped countless individuals and businesses have their visas approved in the smoothest processes possible.
Whether your purpose is travel, work, study, business, or seeking refuge in Australia, our team of accredited lawyers can make obtaining a visa a lot less stressful and exhausting for you, and help you to have a surer pathway to gaining permanent residency.
Speak to a lawyer today for professional consultation!
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Visa Refusal Australia June 2, 2025 - Does Visa Refusal Affect Future Visa Applications? If you’ve encountered visa refusal before, you might be worried that this may affect future applications. You may… Public Interest Criterion (PIC) 4020 is a requirement that most visa applicants need to honour in order to get their visa application approved. PIC 4020 simply states that you must not provide bogus or misleading information in your papers, or your visa will be refused and suffer from ban, fines, and even imprisonment, depending on the severity of your case.
First introduced in 2011, PIC 4020 is an integrity measure that aims to avoid fraudulent attempts of obtaining a visa to Australia.
Bogus documents are any submitted documents for a visa application that are false and misleading, such as fake passports and birth certificates, and untrue claims about one’s work experience. All of these will result in visa denial, unless proven in an appeal or a request for PIC 4020 waiver to be either a result of a genuine mistake or deserving of reconsideration on compassionate grounds.
Yes, PIC 4020 may be waived if there are compassionate and compelling grounds for a waiver. However, this is often difficult to obtain, as you really need to convince a case officer that your visa must be granted, such as that the refusal of your visa may negatively affect an Australian citizen or the country as a whole.
Failing to meet the requirements set under the Public Interest Criterion 4020 will result in a visa refusal. Apart from that, the applicant who submitted bogus documents may be subjected to a three-year ban on applying for a visa. If it’s related to fake identity, the ban could stretch to over 10 years.
