emmaizzy

Anyone tell me what they think or recommend anyone and also how much!!!

:lecture:

Loopy

Hi, if you use the search facility and search the forum you will come up with heaps of info on agents and whether people think they are any good. There are also agents who regularly contribute to this forum with websites that are well worth a look.

Personally we used an agent as our case was a bit complicated, but lots of people are successful without using one and save themselves a lot of money. If you decide to use an agent shop around get quotes and make sure they are approved. Some you can phone for an initial consultation and they will only take your case on if you have a good chance.

Best of luck

Loopy

r.bartlett

of course you can do everything yourself but
a

r.bartlett

i guess this service don't like the tab button so i'll have to use the space button

a (space;-) it's very time consuming and far more difficult than you'd think
b (space);-) very often you get a question that will stump you

i agree there is this forum (and quite fantastic it is too) but sometimes you do need professional advice and you can only push the professionals good enough to post here so far without taking the piss..(it is their living after all!)

cheers

richard
(tab)

cresta57

We also used an agent as time was short and we needed to ensure my skills were approved without any delays by the TRA. In that alone he was worth the cash [£1500] as if I had applied supplying what I thought would get a pass I'd have failed at the first and been to old for the necessary extra 5 points.
Sean

kevmitch

I see their role as vital. It's like most things, you can with sufficient time do it yourself - but I always believe you get what you pay for.

You can guarantee there will be something you will miss or forget, or find the agent can save you money/heartache on.

In comparison to the cost of relocating and establishing yourself in a foreign land, the fees charged are in most cases a very small percentage.

Personally, I can recommend Go Matilda extremely highly - I've had a great service so far and from other postings I've seen they appear amongst the cheapest

HazelG

we're using Go Matilda too, and agree with the above!!!!
Hazel

karen and andy

we also are using Alan Collett,Go Matilda.
He and his colleagues are extremely helpful and they are reasonably priced.

no visa no fee definately sounds like a win win situation if the migration agent accepts your'e case.

good luck

karen and andy

tinaj

The benefit with using a decent agent is that you know everything has been filled in properly and sent off.

Lots of people do it themselves and lots of them make the process longer because they don't send sufficient employer proof etc. They then have to be contacted by Adelaide and get the proof, send it back, wait again. Obviously this can delay you by a few months.

Also if you have a slightly difficult case or are borderline on points / age it must be a safer bet to use a good agent.

As the previous posters say Go Matilda are highly recommended and I think George Lombard has given good service as well.
£3000 sounds a lot of money - ring up and see if you can get a better quote.

Good luck

BritboyNZ

IMO agents for NZ Immigration are a complete waste of money. Unlike DIMIA, NZIS are extremely helpful & give you an opportunity to present further evidence if it is needed. Even the Minister for Immigration made a comment the other day referring to agents: "They're worried about being paid for lodging applications that people are perfectly capable of lodging on their own behalf"

I accept that for Australia, it's different as DIMIA dont exactly seem to be the most efficient govt. department, judging by processing times and some of the comments on this NG. But for NZ PR, you'd be better off (financially anyway) doing it yourself

Russ

aligali

We used Ian Harrop and would thoroughly recommend him.

We originally thought about doing it all ourselves but in the end we decided that it was one of the biggest decisions of our lives and therefore investing the money in a agent was well worth it.

Plus you have someone to talk to who knows what they are doing and knows whats going on!

Ring round and check costs they seem to vary dramatically.

Good luck

Alison

bussie

i used an agent for a skilled migration application and got ripped off as it ended up me doing all the work any way and it cost me £1500

my friend has just applied for migration and i have told him i would help him with his application and he is applying for the same catagory

he is in the final process waiting for his visa

he used forums like this and email to australia which he said was very helpfull

so if i was going to do it all again and apply under the same catagory then i wouldnt use a agent

but that is my choice and i have been through the process before

Inked

In my opinion, Agents are one of the necessary evils. They offer a psychological crutch, some one to at least be able to talk to on the phone, even if their answer leaves you still confused, at least they will talk back, unlike the Immigration department itself.

I think, as long as you accept that you will pay them a significant sum of money, definitely no less than 1000 quid, for what probably amounts to no more than (at the most) 5 hours of their time and in return accept that you will have to do most of the leg work yourself, including trying to understand not only what the requirements of the DIMIA are but also trying to understand exactly what the agent is asking you for then you should have no trouble at all.

Oh! and do read everything that they put on your application forms, mine for example had slipped onto my application to the Australian Computer Society that I was claiming a specialisation in C++ something I had never said to the agent. Little slips like this can mean the difference between those few extra points and being just left swimming with a pool mark. I think we made the mistake of assuming the Agents would guide us through it all and understand our stresses (since they must see it every day) but oh no, in the end they become another stress. If we were doing it all again, would we use and agent.. well I think so, its back to the Psychological crutch and not wanting to take a risk of loosing the opportunity, bit like insurance, we all know we are ripped off, but we still pay up….

Joe

Stan J

See this http://www.immi.gov.au/faq/general/general09.htm

sashimi

Quote:

In my opinion, Agents are one of the necessary evils. They offer a psychological crutch, some one to at least be able to talk to on the phone, even if their answer leaves you still confused, at least they will talk back, unlike the Immigration department itself.

I think, as long as you accept that you will pay them a significant sum of money, definitely no less than 1000 quid, for what probably amounts to no more than (at the most) 5 hours of their time and in return accept that you will have to do most of the leg work yourself, including trying to understand not only what the requirements of the DIMIA are but also trying to understand exactly what the agent is asking you for then you should have no trouble at all.

Oh! and do read everything that they put on your application forms, mine for example had slipped onto my application to the Australian Computer Society that I was claiming a specialisation in C++ something I had never said to the agent. Little slips like this can mean the difference between those few extra points and being just left swimming with a pool mark. I think we made the mistake of assuming the Agents would guide us through it all and understand our stresses (since they must see it every day) but oh no, in the end they become another stress. If we were doing it all again, would we use and agent.. well I think so, its back to the Psychological crutch and not wanting to take a risk of loosing the opportunity, bit like insurance, we all know we are ripped off, but we still pay up….

This is one of the weirdest reasons for employing an immigration agent I've ever seen.

Where's the psychological crutch if all they do is take your money, lots of it, cause you to be stressed, make a mistake that might have cost you your visa, or at least delayed the process by months, ask you things you don't understand, you do all the work anyway and they only do what boils down to 5 hrs of work!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you serious or taking the mick?
:scared:

sashimi