The complexities involved in making an application to enter and reside
in Australia are often too difficult for untrained people to manage and so they
look for someone who understands the system to give advice or even help them
with the application process. Australian migration law requires that anyone
providing migration assistance or advice to people must be registered with the
Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority. This requirement has
created the demand for suitably qualified and trained advisors who provide
their services for a fee as a Migration Agent. These qualified advisors may
have their own agency or work in a larger agency or legal practice that offers
these services.
Some of these agents are also Australian Legal Practitioners and as professional lawyers specialising in migration, have a thorough understanding of migration laws and the legal requirements surrounding the application process and, of course, the appeals process should an application be rejected.
The role of agency staff qualified as Migration Agents is to use their knowledge of Australia’s immigration laws and procedures to provide advice and assistance to people wishing to apply for visas to enter or to remain in Australia, or to apply for asylum. Although there are some migration agents and lawyers who work for voluntary organisations where assistance may be available free of charge, most charge for their services.
People seeking help from an agency should be aware that there are a number of unscrupulous people in the community who will take advantage of their desire to remain in Australia, and who will take their money and not provide the level of service that would be given by a legally registered agent. These people are preying on the emotions of desperate people, and should be reported to the authorities.
There are some things that a registered migration agent or an agent who is also a Sydney immigration lawyer cannot do. Once all the information has been given to them by their client, and the application forms and documents completed and lodged, they have no influence over the process. They cannot intervene further on the client’s behalf, and they cannot fast-track the visa process. Everything from this point is out of their hands. The role of the agency is to make sure all documentation accompanies the application, all questions are fully answered, and any time restrictions or constraints are noted and managed.
There are some people in the community who can provide assistance without having to be registered as a migration agent. They generally tend to be family members or public officials such as parliamentarians, diplomats and others acting in an official capacity, or the sponsors of the applicants. While these people are all well-meaning, a better outcome will result if a migration agent is used from the beginning, rather than appealing to others if something goes wrong in the process.
Some of these agents are also Australian Legal Practitioners and as professional lawyers specialising in migration, have a thorough understanding of migration laws and the legal requirements surrounding the application process and, of course, the appeals process should an application be rejected.
The role of agency staff qualified as Migration Agents is to use their knowledge of Australia’s immigration laws and procedures to provide advice and assistance to people wishing to apply for visas to enter or to remain in Australia, or to apply for asylum. Although there are some migration agents and lawyers who work for voluntary organisations where assistance may be available free of charge, most charge for their services.
People seeking help from an agency should be aware that there are a number of unscrupulous people in the community who will take advantage of their desire to remain in Australia, and who will take their money and not provide the level of service that would be given by a legally registered agent. These people are preying on the emotions of desperate people, and should be reported to the authorities.
There are some things that a registered migration agent or an agent who is also a Sydney immigration lawyer cannot do. Once all the information has been given to them by their client, and the application forms and documents completed and lodged, they have no influence over the process. They cannot intervene further on the client’s behalf, and they cannot fast-track the visa process. Everything from this point is out of their hands. The role of the agency is to make sure all documentation accompanies the application, all questions are fully answered, and any time restrictions or constraints are noted and managed.
There are some people in the community who can provide assistance without having to be registered as a migration agent. They generally tend to be family members or public officials such as parliamentarians, diplomats and others acting in an official capacity, or the sponsors of the applicants. While these people are all well-meaning, a better outcome will result if a migration agent is used from the beginning, rather than appealing to others if something goes wrong in the process.
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