Most potential migrants are unaware of just how expensive it is to migrate to Australia. When hit by a $7,000 visa processing fee on top of travel, document verification and many other hidden costs, hiring a registered migration agent is the last thing on their minds.
However, submitting an application without professional help is probably one of the worst mistakes a visa applicant can make. Not only is the process very complex and difficult, getting it wrong the first time will impact the success of any follow-up applications.
Whether you are looking at applying for a visa or have a loved one who is, check out the information below on why using a migration agent is the right way to go:
What is a migration agent?
A migration agent is a person who has been licensed and registered as a professional who can help give prospective visa applicants advice or who can help represent them as they file their visa application.
What can a migration agent do for you?
A migration agent can:
Can I trust a migration agent?
Migration agents have a duty to keep your confidential information and not to disclose them unless it is with your knowledge and consent and disclosure is in your best interest.
Migration agents have a license and any misconduct committed by them in the course of their work as migration agents can be made the subject of complaint.
What difficulties may I encounter when dealing with a migration agent?
A migration agent may have many clients and so the migration agent may be under a lot of time pressure to meet deadlines and to see and confer with clients. They may not always be available for face-to-face meetings and so you will have to contact them through email or their mobile phone. This may be difficult for persons who may have restricted access to the internet or to mobile phones.
Migration agents may have specializations: some specialize in humanitarian and refugee visas, others specialise in partner visa, etc. You must find a migration agent who specializes in the kind of visa you want to obtain so that you can be assured of the migration’s experience and expertise.
Migration agents are under a contract for services and so they will charge a professional fee for their services. This is on top of the fees for filing the application and other fees for obtaining copies, verifying and translating documents. This professional fee is also on top of any fees for any assessments for your health, character and skills which you may need in support of your visa application.
How can I tell which migration agent to trust?
A trustworthy migration agent:
IMPORTANT: Please note, this does not constitute Immigration advice. Always seek advice from a Registered Migration Agent before applying for an Australian Visa. Migration Law is constantly changing. This information is accurate only at the time of publication.
Emma is the founder and principal migration agent at Freedom Migration. She is extremely passionate about uniting partners and families with their loved ones overseas. It might be because she's a product of a partner visa family.
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