How Can I Tell Which Australian Immigration Agents I Can Rely On?

Many people have been taken advantage of by unscrupulous Australian immigration agents. People are frequently left with no savings in their bank accounts.

Worse, they were deported because the visa was forged!

The best way to ensure that the person you are dealing with is genuine is to check that they are a migration agent listed on the Office of Migration Agents Registration Authority’s website (MARA).

If you can’t find the ‘agent’ on MARA’s website, don’t deal with them.

There are other ways to tell if you’re dealing with the genuine article. Typically, the warning signs take the form of broken promises or outright lies.

The most typical ones that you’ll hear are listed below:

I’ll ensure that you receive a visa.

That is untrue. Nobody can ensure that you’ll be granted a visa. You can only be granted a visa by authorized Australian immigration officers and only if you have complied with all visa criteria.

Register for the migration program by paying today.

It doesn’t function like this. Only when you submit your visa application do you need to pay.

Please be aware that your migration agent may charge for their services and probably will. But these accusations will never be a surprise. The MARA code of conduct states that your contract with your agent must specify all fees for services provided by an immigration agency.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Even though it may be difficult to believe, some shady agents do phone people and offer them visas. Then it is presented as a chance that should not be passed up. All to get money from you!

You won’t ever receive a call from a MARA licensed agent offering you migration “options.” The client always initiates a relationship, thus you will get in touch with the agent.

Only I am able to pay the fees. Give me your cash, and I’ll cover the fees for you.

False once more. You can cover the cost of your own visa application. However, if you’re certain you’re working with a registered agent, you could still decide to let your migration agent handle it for you.

My relationship with the Department of Home Affairs is unique.

There are no “special relationships” between anyone and the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA). It just doesn’t work that way. All visa requests are handled equally and impartially by the DoHA.

I am a skilled migration service provider who is registered with the Australian government and department.

You should only work with Australian immigration agents who have a Migration Agent Registration Number (MARN). Do not rely just on an agent’s word! On the agent’s website or in their advertising, look for a MARN number.

There is no need to panic; the Department of Home Affairs is still processing your visa.

Don’t only accept this. Your agent has a duty to update you in writing on the status of your application. If required, request a duplicate of the confirmation letter.

For comments on your application, speak with the DoHA directly if the person is unable to provide you with a confirmation letter.

For the Department of Home Affairs, I must preserve your original passport, birth certificate, and identity document.

The DoHA typically just requires original documents’ certified copies. A DoHA visa officer will ask you for your original documents if the DoHA requests them. Why is it crucial to understand this? Because if you offer your personal documents to a scammer, you run the risk of becoming a victim of identity fraud.