BB999

Hi all
New to this site!!! Myself and my wife are condisdering applying to emigtrate to OZ. My aunt has agreed to sponsor us which helps of course. I'm wondering whether or not to use an agent. Can anyone give me some advice on who or whether I should not bother with them. Thanks!!!

loz

If you have a straight forward case you can do it yourself but if you think there may be problems you may be better with an agent.
We have just got our visas but I honestly don't think we would have got past the first stage without our agent.
We used Synchronicity One based in Byron Bay (got them off the internet) and our agent Mira has been an absolute gem. In our case she was worth every penny (and she is now handling the in-laws Contributary Parents Visa application).
Perhaps you may get a better idea if you look on the web and take a free initial assessment and take it from there.

Good luck.

Loz x

GinaUK

We used "Go Matilda" and were very happy with them. Their website is here: http://www.gomatilda.com

Other agents with a good reputation that are often mentioned here are Ian Harrop and George Lombard. Do a search and their names and websites should come up.

Whichever agent you choose, make sure they are "MARA" registered! (the ones not MARA registered are "cowboys" and best avoided). The MARA website (including the register of agents) is here:
http://www.themara.com.au

Good luck!

Gina

Wendy

It depends on how much you know about the process, what to expect etc.

If you know nothing at all then get an agent as they will guide you through it and answer your questions. If you have some idea then this site will help you if you are a bit unsure.

Whichever you decide, Good luck

Gold Coaster

Hi,

I would advise anyone to use an agent even if you think you have a straightforward case. These are a couple of the best companies around www.thinkingaustralia.com and www.ianharrop.co.uk

Good luck with it all, whatever way you decide.

Tony

alkristensen

depends on circumstances.

basically if you have no convictions and no medical history and a straight for ward application, as in have all the poiints and qualificatgions needed, you may as well go ahead and do it on your own, but dont be frightened by salesmen at the visa people as i was told that i had no chance or very slim by go matilda and a possible at a few. Oe visas guaranteed that we would get the visas with a money back guarantee,(well the salesman did) and then went back on the guarantee saying that they could not guarantee the meds or pcc's in this deal as they were judged by different bodies, and actually said that "if its anything do to with us that you dont get a visa then you get the money back"

What could they possibly do wrong? It could all be litigated away in the long run and cost a fortune just to get £3k back so most people wouldnt bother.

Also this company is based in scotland and acts under "scottich law" whether that stand up in an english court is unknow to me, but erring on the side of caution id read read and re-read a doc before signing it.

We should have and didnt as the saleman was so slick, and with the money back offer why should we be wary?

So beware!

I had loads of medhistory and lots of convictions from a mis spent youth and was so desparate to get into oz, that i was blind folded into parting with my cash (£3000) and when i found this site it was too late.

Basically, read and study and do searches on this site about any problem u have, and if you dont find it then ask

most of us are here to help as we were helped when we knew nothing.

What goes around comes around.

So dont bother with an agent if you can help it as i did, they may have got me a visa but i still had to write all my history and get all my refs and get all my stat decs certified. Agents give you templates on how to word it all and then arrange it for you and send it off. they lost important documents o mine without any recompense or apology and the slick salesman manged to con at least a £1000 extra off us by tellng us we had to get married for the visa, but still charged us £500 more for being defacto. And i was charged £500 more for having a poor pcc history (as apparently it was extra work for them????) If anyone can tell me what they did apart from give me a template(prob what a previous client had written) and let me write it all. Yes i sent it for approval and they said that it was ok but that was all.

They take the burden off a little, but on the whole some of the agents helpers werent up to speed (which made me feel uncomfortable) when i told them the new laws in oz and other things by reading this site. They were heavily surprised that i knew things that they didnt.

In a year The only time i got to speak to the "registered migration agent" was when he called me on a saturday morning threatening me with no longer proceeding with my application as i was helping out someone of this site.


Hope you fall into the categories i listed above and you are succesful. Save your money if you can for flights!!

ak

Patrick Quan

As others on the chat site have noted, if you are confident and are clear about the requirements you could attempt it yourself. However, Australian registered agents and lawyers have access to useful resources regarding migration law which is not available to the public and are able to interpret the law and regulations to suit the client's case. In addition, they would have made many of these applications and as such should be able to provide you with a good service. As everyone's case and situation is different you can never guarantee your case will be as easy as the next person. I admit that I am biased, because I am an agent myself. As another has pointed out, use a registered agent or lawyer, because then you would have the assurance that they are regulated by a body.

If you would like, have a look at our website for further contact details www.qhpartners.com or email us at [email protected].

Patrick
LLB, GDLP, BA (Int Studies),
suite 6, level 1, 9-15 Field Street
Adelaide, South Australia, 5000
[email protected]
www.qhpartners.com

BB999

[
Thanks for all your help and advice guys. Very grateful and we have lots to think about!

Downies

I must admit I am very happy we went with an agent for our current visa application - get the information in managable bite sizes, clear written instructions, next day reply to email enquiries (some even same day!), general support throughout - I know you can get a whole lot from this site but knowing you have additional support in Oz is great.

We have so far paid $3600 for TRA and Full Visa application agency fees (nothing else to settle, paid up front - you can split in to two payments of $2000 if you want to but we opted for discount), $500 TRA fees, $2000 ish Visa application fees, £20 police checks (for two), £520 medical and xray costs for two, £50 solicitors fee for certified copies, £10 on photos, £40 postage and as we have been requested for additional specialist medical reports we are looking at another £110 (which is not bad!!).

The fact that we have professionals compiling and submitting our documents: PRICELESS!

Recommend Active Migration Australia (www.theozlife.com), Doulene Steyn or Hilda Dhanaraj at Australian Visa and Migration Services.

Good luck for the whole thing!

Paula

atkinsfamily

I agree with GinaUK we used Go Matilda. Brilliant firm would highly recommend

Patrick Quan

Hi Paula

Thats good to hear that you received a good service and charged reasonable fees.


Just to let everyone know that at Qh & partners (at www.qhpartners.com), we only charge $2500 AUD for a Tra and full Visa, and offer, free assessment, service and consultation up to the point of approval and general correspondence after that.

Naturally, all other departmental fees etc are in addition. Also once we have assessed you and we proceed with the application we offer a REFUND of half our fees, IF you are refused your visa!! of course conditions apply.

Have a good day
patrick
for all enquires [email protected]

crozz

hiya there we used concept australia in manchester they were excellent but what ever you do do not use migration bureau their right robbing b-------s cost us £3000 and we were only at the tra stage of our application.hope this helps crozz

wafc

I would personally recommend George Lombard at www.austimmigration.com.au He has a good repautation and frequently assists people on these forums. He has also advised me well with my application.

Good luck.

sherie_in_oz

How much about the application process do you know?
Usually theres quite a lot of paperwork with a sponsered visa.

Do you know everything required and the right place to send everything for the visa?
Its very stressful applying for a visa and people on here will tell you the wait and all the questions you want to ask is enormous, so IMO its well worth the money to have a good registered agent (a member of MARA is vital)

So many people want a cheap way of getting here but cheap doesn't mean its easy or you can find it all out on here or in a book, a good agent is well worth their money and able to put your best case forward....you should then have the best chance of getting a visa first time around.If there are problems they know how to appeal.

We used Ian Harrop and he was absolutely brilliant. Made it much easier for us.

SuperSeagulls

Hi

If you do decide to use one, check out ASA at

www.australia-migration.com

I used them and I'm now in Australia. They are fantastic.

SS