coolshadows

Before deciding on a specific migration agents to use, has anyone used go-to-australia(.com)? If so, are they any good, what are your experiences??

scrum

We used Peter Chiam of www.ptlabs.com.au and he was fantastic. Couldn't recommend him highly enough.

He does specialise in IT submissions.

Trish

Jamie Smith

Their website seems to be an information portal for members, with migration agents SOMEWHERE to answer queries. They do say in one section of the website "no expensive migration agents" yet on the other hand invite a query of these people.

Those several typos indicate a person born overseas, or just someone careless, is behind the website.

Under Aussie laws, anyone giving migration advice in Aus must be a registered agent, and as registered agent they must display their registration number on their website.

I couldn't find it.

Not only that, there appears to be no business of this name tied to an agent who is registered with MARA. The agents list the various business names they work with, and this one is missing.

Surely if they had a tie up with an agent then they should mention the agent name to reassure visitors? Surely the agent associated with the website would not want to be tied up with someone who was perhaps breaking the law?

This site appears to be the resource of a migrant, who has added some useful info and is trying to make a buck out of it, without being a registered agent. Unlike an RMA they would as responsible for any advice they give, unless it was given in the name of the RMA they claim to link with. Although the living info might be useful, the visa info might be unreliable and comeback against bad advice could be limited.

Any one else hear some alarm bells ringing?

If there is a genuine agent behind this website, and it is quite stylish one, then I suggest they give it a makeover to bring the RMA contacts into the open and make the website comply with legal requirements.

coolshadows

Thanks for the quick replies. Some very good advice from those who clearly know what they are talking about.

Reedy

Have you thought about doing it yourself?? You will get plenty of help on BE....

Funkey Monkey

We did ours ourselves and did it okay... (I think)

Mr Lombard seems a jolly nice well informed chap too

Good luck to you x

coolshadows

Yes we have thought about doing it ourselves.

I'm in the process of getting references together in preparation for a skills assessment by the ACS. I'm also sorting out police checks via the GMP website.

To support the skills assessment I need to contact a solicitor (Notary) to get copies signed.

I then think once I have the results of the skills assessment and the police checks we can then complete the visa application online.

Does that sound about right??? I though by looking at a migration agent they might help with signatures etc... but then I don't know as yet how much they charge!

Reedy

The documents can be signed by anyone who is authorised to sign in the UK e.g. Doctor, Nurse, Civil Servant, Police etc. Basically someone who you could use to sign a passport application.

Do you have a friend who could do this for you?

I got my friend who is a Senior Officer in a Local Authority to do mine - I sent them to the TRA and Vetassess with no questions asked.

This might save you some money......

Funkey Monkey

have to tell you we don't know our outcome yet but think we ticked all the right boxes...

our friends who have made the move already had an agent who charged 1100 quid...

truly put us off. I know that forms etc are a pain but they are do-able yourself if you do a bit at a time.

Thought our cash would be better off spent on new furnature oz style!!!

Got our certified copies done at my work as I work at solicitors so not much help there I am afraid...

very best of luck to you though whatever you decide x

coolshadows

hmmm, I got our passports signed by an old college lecturer. Don't think they qualify.

That fee you mention is a bit off-putting as I can't imagine what they could possibly do to earn it!

Funkey Monkey

know what you mean, as i say it did put us off.

I suppose it may depend on how straightforward your application is, if there are any probs etc.

There are some great agents (big up the lovely Mr Lombard again) who give great advice on here...

I know who I would like to give my cash to if I had to, but if not, see how you go yourself...


Very best o'british whatever you decide x

Dorothy

What they can possibly do to earn the fee is to let people know simple things like a college lecturer is not a qualified guarentor. They also make sure you have included all the necessary information to put forward an application with the best chance of being approved.

Some of the things we see at the agency where I work shock the life out of us. People who are specifically told what to include and still don't who think their applications will be fine. Uncertified documents, missing documents, reference letters that are not correctly formatted, etc.

By all means, do it yourself, but be aware that the vast majority of applications that fail are done without the assistance of an agent.

deano66

While the process is not rocket science, it can be stressful from 10,000 miles away and the amount of questions asked on this forum about one form or another is evidence that you'll never be 100% sure you got it right.

In hingsight, we could have done it ourselves but we used an agency (Dorothy's actually ) and still glad we did. Shame they can't speed up the ASPC.

Dorothy

No we can't speed up the ASPC, but we can speed up the process by making sure your application is submitted correctly from the get go.

Reedy

I am sure that I read a document from DIAC recently which suggested that they are considering prioritising visa applications submitted by agents....

Or perhaps I dreamed this

No I didn't imagine it here's the link (phew - not going mad)

http://www.themara.com.au/ArticleDoc...dvice-prof.pdf


Laura