Migration agents assist an applicant to prepare and submit documentation for a visa application, and provide advice around the process. Potential migrants are encouraged to use a registered migration agent to obtain advice in order to thoroughly understand their options. Migration agents deal with visa issues on a regular basis and are able to quickly see the issues relevant to an individual’s application.
If you decide to use a migration agent to help with your visa application, you should consider whether the agent has the right skills and experience to assist you. The following migration agent questions may be helpful to ask:
- Are you registered? Only registered migration agents can legally give immigration assistance in Australia. To do this they must be listed on the Register of Migration Agents held by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (www.mara.gov.au). You can ask the agent for their Migration Authority Registration Number (MARN) and access the MARA website to verify their response.
- Do you belong to any professional institutions? Such type of professional bodies – such as the Migration Institute of Australia – support migration agents and many have developed a code of conduct for members to adhere to in order to uphold good migration practice.
- Can you provide testimonials of people who have used your service? If your migration agent has experience in assisting people of a similar background and profession to you they will be more familiar with the type of visa you require and the process involved.
- What are the fees for your service and what does this include? Some might argue this is the most important of migration agent questions to ask, however determining the agent is right for you and your needs is equally significant. Related questions to ask a migration agent include if there are any associated costs for family members included on the visa application.
- What is the processing time? This will of course vary according to the type of visa you are applying for but an experienced migration expert will be able to provide an estimate so you can better manage other aspects of your relocation.
You may have other questions to ask a migration agent. Ultimately by asking a migration agent questions, you should be able to get a good idea on what the agent offers and feel confident that they can provide you with a clear understanding of what you need to do to apply for a visa.