Why should I get a migration agent? 

Do I need a Migration Agent? What type of assistance and guidance can I expect from a migration agent? Many questions might come to your mind when it comes to deciding if you should get the help of a migration agent for your visa processing. To answer those questions, it is imperative to understand the following.

Who are Registered Migration Agents?

Registered Migration Agents(RMA) are the only professional agents that are legally allowed to provide migration advice. A qualified Migration Agent must hold a current legal practising certificate issued by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority(OMARA). 

In Australia, it is illegal for anyone else other than a Registered Migration Agent to provide migration advice.

It is mandatory for migration agents to abide by a Code of Conduct regulated by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) and stay up-to-date with all migration provisions, and procedures. They must also renew their registration annually.

With detailed knowledge of Australian migration law and procedure, registered migration agents are expected to provide you with an honest assessment of your circumstances and advise you the most suitable visa options. However, it is also important to note that an agent can only do this if you give them all the information they need. It is for your best interest that you must be honest with your agent and provide them with your full details and a clear picture of your circumstances.  

Benefits of a using a Migration Agent 

• Access to Up to date information: A registered migration agent must be up to date with the current legislation, types of visas and migration provisions. Correctly interpreting a myriad of migration provisions is not an easy task especially if you are not familiar with the Australian immigration system. The provisions are also regularly amended and it is difficult for a layman to be up to date with all the recent changes. 

• Assessment & Genuine advice: Migration is a complex process and trying to figure out what’s the best visa pathway for you can be a daunting experience without access to up to date information and correct guidance. A migration agent has the knowledge and experience of working with different types of visas that enable them to provide you with a true assessment of your circumstances and provide you with genuine advice on the visa options as well as help you choose the best pathway.

• Answer to all your migration queries: A migration agent answers all your visa related questions identifying your issues and possible solutions, clearly explaining the pathways, options and alternatives based on your situation. 

• Save time and stress: Based on your current situation a migration agent will assess, research and identify pathways using available information and relevant knowledge of the legislation in preparing your visa application and liaise with the Department of Home Affairs on your behalf saving you a lot of time and stress.

• Prevent mistakes that may end up costing you a fortune: Using a migration agent can prevent you from making mistakes in your visa assessment and application that may end up costing you thousands of dollars otherwise. There have been many cases where DIY applicants misinterpreted the instructions and ended up ruining their visa outcome. A registered migration agent is expected to be competent and up to date with the legislative requirements of the visa procedure which implies that using a migration agent leaves no room for error. 

• Higher success rate: Even though a migration agent cannot guarantee you the successful outcome of visa applications, it is a fact that registered migration agents have high success rates given their experience and expertise in the field.

Using a migration agent has many benefits, however, neither can a migration agent fast-track your visa application nor can they guarantee you any particular visa outcome.

RISKS of not using a registered migration agent: 

• Incorrect interpretation of eligibility: While trying to interpret the information available on the Department of Home Affairs website, there is a high tendency of incorrect interpretation that leads to individuals making mistakes that lead to visas being refused. The most common error is people not understanding the eligibility criteria properly that leads to them having the misconception that they are eligible for a visa when in reality they are not. 

• Lack of understanding of the process: Another huge risk is not having a complete understanding of the entire visa process and other key factors such as migration skill assessment. Fulfilling the visa requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs becomes complex when you do not understand the process clearly. From uploading wrong documents, not knowing the correct format to prepare official documents, or not providing substantial evidence; there are many potential risks that you are vulnerable to without a migration agent; that can lead to visa refusals. Many people tend to take this lightly to save money that would have been spent on agent fee, however, a mistake ends up being way costlier in the long run and a visa refusal leaves a negative immigration record that will impact your future visa application to any country.

• Lack of accountability: While one may get information about visas from people, it is crucial to understand that any other individual than your nominated registered migration agent cannot be held accountable for the information or advice they provide you. If a registered migration agent misguides you or does not provide the services that he must, you can hold them accountable and report them to the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA).

How to choose a migration agent?

With the increasing number of migration agents, it has become crucial to be able to filter out the rest and choose the best one for your visa processing. We hear about cases of registered migration agents misleading clients for their own benefits making the clients suffer more in the long term, which has created some sort of negative image of migration agents. Lodging a visa application based on incorrect advice by providing false hope to clients is one of the most common mistakes that careless migration agents commit. Dishonest agents take advantage of the fact that clients are eager for a positive outcome of visas with little to no information about migration. 

Following are some crucial factors that you should consider while selecting your migration agent.

Knowledge and experience: The more experience a migration agent has, the better understanding they have of the migration scenarios and the better advice they can offer. Make sure that the agent you are choosing has ample knowledge and experience in dealing with cases similar to yours. Nevertheless, one must keep in mind that more experienced agents charge higher fees for their service.

Professionalism & Ethics: Professionalism and ethics are the foundation of migration advice. A good migration agent is professional in his dealing with clients and provides ethical guidance that is best in the interests of the client. One can assess this on their first consultation with the agent.

Honesty: A good migration agent is honest. They understand the fact that no migration agent can promise a positive outcome of a visa and alert their clients about any potential risks involved. Make sure you do some research on your own, so you can cross-question your agent. 

Accessibility: As a migration agent, one must be easily accessible when clients need their service. How long does the agent take to respond to your queries? Do they call you back when they say they will? How good are they at managing time for their clients? All of these play a strong role in a quality migration service experience.

Cost: If you have decided to look for a migration agent, cost should be the least powerful factor in determining who you select. However, you must consider the cost so it aligns with your budget. The cost of using a registered migration agent will vary depending on the number of factors for e.g., their level of service, their expertise and specialization, etc. However, the industry-standard service fees and charges are regulated by OMARA that means you cannot be ripped off in the service fees by any migration agent. 

Last but not the least, the  most important steps you must take while choosing a migration agent is:

Check the registration of your migration agent: All registered migration agents are listed on the  Register of Migration Agents. You can go to  https://www.mara.gov.au/ to check if the migration agent you are considering is registered or not.

Check reviews and referrals: Do not forget to check reviews of the migration agent that you are considering. Getting opinions from people who may have taken their service before is one of the best ways to assess a migration agent.

The above-mentioned information is general guidelines to help you decide if you need a registered migration agent and how to select a good one if you do. 

If you have any migration-related queries or need a consultation with a registered migration agent, please contact us to schedule a free appointment. We are here for you!