agree 100%-wished i had done the same

check any agent out beforehand -have to admit the names of agents that appear her regularly seem to get great reviews from all who have used them(strange the one i used doesnt appear here at all!!!!!!)

Hi

I have just got my skilled independent visa through after applying myself in February. If you have enough points and there is nothing dodgy on your application I do not see why you need a migration agent. The hardest bit is getting all the paperwork together. Just be careful to check the DIMIA website - they change points twice a year (Jan & July I think). You may find your points score has changed, especially if yours was/is a preferred occupation.

Good luck

Alan,

Agree with you completely on using a reigistered migration agent and I am more than happy to correct you on this matter. Global Visas does employ Registered Migration Agents, we are also registered with the Migration institute of Australia, and are Members of the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment.

I am not sure if your organisation or any others posting in this forum are assoicated with these other bodies that regulate conduct in our industry, or the Office of the Immmigration Services Commisioner (OISC) in the UK, but can assure you that as a Global Provider for immigration we are obliged to be registered with all recognised organisations to protect the integrity of our clients, and the advice that we offer them.

Should you wish to discuss the matter further please feel free to give me a call anytime 020 7317 9431.

Handbags at twenty paces.....?

Chris,
can I just say that we used Global Visa's services (Annie Weir) and that we were very, very happy with the information, help and assistance we received. It was worth every penny and I would have no hesitation in recommending Global Visa's services to anyone....in fact I have done!

I would only use a migration agent if your case was difficult, or you had a spare £2000 to spend. If your sure you've passed the points then go ahead and start filling in the application. It really isn't that difficult. Your going to have to fill out the forms yourself anyway. If I can do it anyone can do it!!

Dave.

Hello Chris, and welcome to the Forum.

As I am always interested to know more about the competition(!) thank you for clarifying the fact that you now have a MARA registered agent employed with your company. A couple of points though if I may:

- Your website (at the Accreditations page) says that Global Visas (ie the company) is a MARA registered agent. MARA registration attaches to a person, not an organisation, and so the wording might need to be amended.

- The last posting on this thread was in October 2003. The agent with the registration number mentioned on your website was registered with the MARA on the 5th of December 2003 ...

Best regards.

Dave,

Don't be so dismissive of those considering using an agent. I have seen too many cases where people have "gone it alone" only to find that they have been unsuccessful because they had overlooked something, or misunderstood a technical issue (deeming dates on trade skills assessments and the consequences on work experience to name but one). As a result they have lost months out of the process.

Similarly, some apply on their own thinking they have a chance at visa grant, when an early assessment would tell them they do not have a basis for applying - and fees payable to the Department of Immigration aren't known for being cheap.

Though I can be accused of having a vested interest I would therefore argue that £2,000 is money well spent in the context of a life changing decision (and in our firm our fees are usually much less than that, save for business skills applications).

And finally ... as a general rule our clients don't fill in their own visa application forms - we complete them using the Department of Immigration's online Legend service, which we print and ask clients to approve.

Best regards.

I agree with you. If you find the whole process confusing then go for an immigration consultant.
It would be money well spent.
However, if you feel confident of handling the process yourself then go for it.

Sandi,

Thanks for your support and recommendation, it always a pleasure to hear the team at Global Visas are doing well.

Alan,

Thanks for the welcome. The date you have listed is the date of the most recent registration. Looking at the MARA site and making an assumption such as you have made would suggest looking at your listing, you have only been a MARA registered agent since June of this year, which I am sure is not the case.

We have employed agents registered with the MARA for some time, again if you wish to publish a comment about our company I am more than happy to run you through anything you might need to know as this would save anymore inaccurate information being published in a public forum.

I'll take a look at that wording on the website, thanks for your concern.

Best,

£2000 seems a lot. Our agent charges £975 +VAT for skilled or skilled aus. spons. applications. (+ all fees for visa, medicals, skill assessment etc). They are registered and very helpful. She always answers my queries either by prompt email or on the phone. They are called Ian Harrop & Associates and have a websit if you want more info.

Best regards,

Jo

Using an agent was an ABSOLUTE WASTE OF MONEY for me. You have to collect all your own evidence whether you do it yourself or use an agent. The only thing the guy did as far as I'm concerned was put it in a different envelope and post it off for me. I was busy and thought the company would take the stress out of things and save me time. What a day dream!
If you have all the points you need and can read English, go for it yourself - without question. It's not hard.

Chris
You are correct to say the MARA website shows the date of most recent registration. However, an agent's seven digit number shows the year of first registration as the first two digits (ie '03' meaning 2003).

One couldn't come to the same conclusion about Alan as his MARA registration number begins with '01' showing first registration in 2001.

I did notice another agent on the MARA website as part of your firm, registered in September 2003.

Jeremy

Sounds like you make a bad choice of agent then ...

Best regards.

Thanks Jeremy.

If anyone is interested, details of our team (including MARA Registration Numbers) are here:
http://www.gomatilda.com/contact.cfm

To be fair, there are a number of migration advisors in the UK who are not registered with the MARA, but who have much experience working in the Department of Immigration. It is only MARA registered agents though who are required to maintain their knowledge of Australian immigration law through attendance at relevant courses - this is checked annually when we seek re-registration with the MARA.

Best regards.