A British cybersecurity expert has achieved permanent residency in Australia after demonstrating his skills by hacking into government systems during his visa application review. Jacob Riggs, aged 36, received the 858 National Innovation visa in December following a rigorous seven-month process.
While working from his home in Bexley, London, Riggs identified a significant vulnerability in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (DFAT) networks in July, completing the task in under two hours. His findings met critical severity thresholds under the CVSS framework and he reported them to DFAT, earning recognition on the department's disclosure program honour roll.
With an approval rate of less than 1%, the 858 visa aims to attract top talent in various fields, including cybersecurity. Migration consultancy VisaEnvoy notes that out of more than 9,000 expressions of interest, only 304 applicants have been invited and around 85 have successfully obtained residency. Riggs' approach to the assessment aligned with his professional methodology, emphasizing his qualifications in a highly competitive program.