A Chinese couple was sent home from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the second time this year after they were again caught traveling on counterfeit visas to find work in Argentina, the local border authority announced Thursday.
The unemployed couple, both in their 20s, spent more than 200,000 yuan ($31,746) on forged visas to Argentina in hope of finding jobs to support their new child, according to a press release from the Shanghai Airport Frontier Inspection Station.
The couple each held degrees from universities, but neither could find jobs that matched their expectations, the press release said. After their baby was born at the beginning of the year, their household budget soared, which angered their parents, who were picking up most of their expenses.
The couple got the idea to work abroad, thinking they could make money faster and with less effort, the press release said.
With the help of a relative, they purchased counterfeit visas, and planned to travel to Argentina in April.
However, border inspectors in the UAE spotted the forgeries while the couple was in transit and sent them back to China.
In the beginning of September, they tried again to travel to Argentina, but didn't bother changing their route. They bought their phony visas from the same counterfeiters, who told the couple that the documents looked more authentic this time, according to the press release.
They left from Shanghai in early September, leaving their infant with relatives.
After the UAE sent them back the second time, local border inspection officials informed the couple that based on their education, they could have obtained work visas to Argentina by applying legally.
The border inspection authority warned residents about the risks of traveling illegally and advised those seeking work abroad to go through a legal and certified employment agency.
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