To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

Old Dec 28th 2003, 7:28 pm
  #1  
Cheekymonkey
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Default To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

Hi

I have been a daily vistor to this newsgroup for quite some time, and I
would like to contribute with the below post.

I am hoping to make a PR application under Skilled Migration Independent to
Oz within the next six months. I am an IT profressional. I am aware of the
IT employment crisis down under, but, being an optimist and knowing the
application process can take so long, I am hoping there will be a pick up in
the market, should my application ever come to fruition (fingers crossed).

My question applies to migration agencies. I am keen on using one to
simplify the process and to ensure my application is accurate and complete.

1. I would appreciate to hear anyones experience of using an agency. Being
from England, would you recommend, a local agency or an Australian based
agency ? Regular posts by George Lombard should be commended and reflects a
lot of expertise, hence the reason for my question.

2. Are there any agencies that are familiar with IT - I would feel a
whole lot better if I knew they understood what my experience and
qualifications represented.. In fact do agencies need to know this in any
great depth ?

3. Should I have an agency deal with my ACS assessment ? I have 7 years
experience, with a heck of a lot of Cisco certs, a CISSP and an Honours
degree ( ...... in Applied Biology! ... ooops). This leads me to my final
question.

4, I read in a recent post that the ACS are reviewing, in January, the
possibilty of including Cisco certifications on the assessment. Is this
true ?

Regards

Iain
 
Old Dec 29th 2003, 7:36 am
  #2  
Jaj
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Default Re: To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

Hi Iain

    >1. I would appreciate to hear anyones experience of using an agency. Being
    >from England, would you recommend, a local agency or an Australian based
    >agency ? Regular posts by George Lombard should be commended and reflects a
    >lot of expertise, hence the reason for my question.

It's up to you as to what you go for. Many people are quite
comfortable dealing with an Australia based agent by phone/email/fax
etc. (especially email). Bear in mind that if you use an agent
elsewhere in the UK, you're likely to use exactly the same modes of
contact most of the time.

The MARA website does have details of Australia-registered migration
agents in the UK - if you really do want someone UK based I've only
heard good things about Ian Harrop.

Also bear in mind that Australia-based agents won't have to charge you
GST (Australian VAT).

    >2. Are there any agencies that are familiar with IT - I would feel a
    >whole lot better if I knew they understood what my experience and
    >qualifications represented.. In fact do agencies need to know this in any
    >great depth ?

If you're looking for an ACS assessment, then it helps if the agent
concerned has experience of dealing with ACS assessments. Ask the
agents you shortlist what experience they have with IT/ACS.

    >3. Should I have an agency deal with my ACS assessment ? I have 7 years
    >experience, with a heck of a lot of Cisco certs, a CISSP and an Honours
    >degree ( ...... in Applied Biology! ... ooops). This leads me to my final
    >question.
    >4, I read in a recent post that the ACS are reviewing, in January, the
    >possibilty of including Cisco certifications on the assessment. Is this
    >true ?

I've heard the same. Can't confirm it. On the basis of what you've
posted already, RPL looks like the only way to go to get an ACS
assessment. Unless you discover an Australian relative who can
sponsor you, in which case you may be able to use Vetassess instead.

All IT specialisms are off the MODL so CISSP won't help you there,
although it *might* help in getting a state nomination (eg for STNI).

Jeremy

This is not intended to be legal advice in any jurisdiction
 
Old Dec 29th 2003, 9:48 am
  #3  
Cheekymonkey
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Default Re: To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

Thanks for you help.

I never considered STNI. But I cannot imagine many 'IT' state nominations ?

It is a pity too that WA doesn't support such a program.

Iain


"JAJ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi Iain
    > >1. I would appreciate to hear anyones experience of using an agency.
Being
    > >from England, would you recommend, a local agency or an Australian based
    > >agency ? Regular posts by George Lombard should be commended and
reflects a
    > >lot of expertise, hence the reason for my question.
    > It's up to you as to what you go for. Many people are quite
    > comfortable dealing with an Australia based agent by phone/email/fax
    > etc. (especially email). Bear in mind that if you use an agent
    > elsewhere in the UK, you're likely to use exactly the same modes of
    > contact most of the time.
    > The MARA website does have details of Australia-registered migration
    > agents in the UK - if you really do want someone UK based I've only
    > heard good things about Ian Harrop.
    > Also bear in mind that Australia-based agents won't have to charge you
    > GST (Australian VAT).
    > >
    > >2. Are there any agencies that are familiar with IT - I would feel a
    > >whole lot better if I knew they understood what my experience and
    > >qualifications represented.. In fact do agencies need to know this in any
    > >great depth ?
    > If you're looking for an ACS assessment, then it helps if the agent
    > concerned has experience of dealing with ACS assessments. Ask the
    > agents you shortlist what experience they have with IT/ACS.
    > >
    > >3. Should I have an agency deal with my ACS assessment ? I have 7 years
    > >experience, with a heck of a lot of Cisco certs, a CISSP and an Honours
    > >degree ( ...... in Applied Biology! ... ooops). This leads me to my
final
    > >question.
    > >
    > >4, I read in a recent post that the ACS are reviewing, in January, the
    > >possibilty of including Cisco certifications on the assessment. Is this
    > >true ?
    > I've heard the same. Can't confirm it. On the basis of what you've
    > posted already, RPL looks like the only way to go to get an ACS
    > assessment. Unless you discover an Australian relative who can
    > sponsor you, in which case you may be able to use Vetassess instead.
    > All IT specialisms are off the MODL so CISSP won't help you there,
    > although it *might* help in getting a state nomination (eg for STNI).
    > Jeremy
    > This is not intended to be legal advice in any jurisdiction
 
Old Dec 29th 2003, 10:00 am
  #4  
 
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Default Re: To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

I agree with JAJ and often recomend that some applicants Do Not need an agent.

simple straight forward stuff - do it yourself.

Where there are issues (health/character/work experience/child custody/de-facto etc etc )- or you dont have the time to diy - or there is too much at stake if you make a faux pas and are rejected after 17 months awaiting grant

call a MARA registered agent. see www.themara.com.au.
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Old Dec 29th 2003, 1:18 pm
  #5  
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Default Re: To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

Hi

We are using GoMatilda. http://www.gomatilda.co.uk

The reason for this is that my career falls under a asco code but not precisley.

Once the preliminary assesment was over we were assured we had a chance. We have now submitted my TRA assesment and are now in the process of the Visa.

I can recommend Gomatilda due to the fact they are baseds in the uk and austrailia.

Are mira registered.

Have vast experience of dealing with the TRA.

We considered doing it ourselves but chose an agent due to the asco code problem with my job. The sample documents we receivied giving you an idea of what was needed for a succesful "employer statement" were vast indeed. We would never have done them like that and feel if we had gone alone we wpuldn't of be succesful.

All the best
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Old Dec 29th 2003, 3:14 pm
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Default Re: To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

Call Owen Small at oe Visas

0131 625 6920

He was dead straight with us and is registered.
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Old Dec 29th 2003, 3:35 pm
  #7  
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Default Re: To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

I´ve been nominated for STNI by Victoria under the System Security Specialization (E-Commerce).

As you can imagine is not easy but possible..

Wish you luck!...

Originally posted by Cheekymonkey
Thanks for you help.

I never considered STNI. But I cannot imagine many 'IT' state nominations ?

It is a pity too that WA doesn't support such a program.

Iain
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Old Dec 30th 2003, 8:23 am
  #8  
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Default Re: To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

I have been going through an agency and have found the whole process a joke. I too am an IT professional and went through this agency as I know they got a friend of mine successfully through the application. I submitted my papers with them to lodge with the ACS at the end of June 03. I was told this could take up to ten weeks. After ten weeks I was chasing them up asking why it was taking so long. I was told it was currently taking twelve weeks. This I put to the test by asking on this forum how long it was taking and I was getting replies of between 3-8 weeks. After twelve weeks I chased them agaian and again and again. Finally after NINETEEN WEEKS, I get told by them theat the ACS had requested further information just FIVE DAYS after my papers were received. The agency claim to not have received the email requesting this, but I find that hard to believe. My point here is that I guess that if this is their profession, they should have known it should not have been taking that amount of time and should have been chasing it up rather than me doing it for them. I immediately sent them the info they requested on the 3rd Nov and still have not heard anything. All in all, I have been waiting SIX MONTHS just to get my assessment back from the ACS!!! During this time, the catagories on the MODL have changed and the one I was applying under was removed during the period of time I was waiting which reduced my points to 110. Now I have to get those back by putting $100k into some Government Bond for a year. Talk about buy your way in!
My advice would be to do your homework and find a reputable agency before going ahead with anything. So far I have have shelved out about £400 for my agency to send two letters and a couple of emails - do the maths and good luck!!
Woz.
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Old Dec 30th 2003, 12:24 pm
  #9  
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Default Re: To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

Hi Woz,

What agency did you go through? Can you say?
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Old Dec 30th 2003, 12:31 pm
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Default Re: To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

Why not do your homework and do it yourself?
It is not complicated and YOU are in control.
G
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Old Dec 30th 2003, 12:48 pm
  #11  
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Default Re: To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

Well... I suppose not all agents are equally good on their services.

I am also going with an agent and have no claimings at all. Just made my meds and pcc after 3 months on sublass 137 (which BTW was sugested by my agent as a mean to shorten processing times).

good luck I guess...
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Old Dec 30th 2003, 2:53 pm
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Default Re: To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

I'd rather not say in case they use this forum, but it's acompany in London.

Woz.



Originally posted by JonnyArman
Hi Woz,

What agency did you go through? Can you say?
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Old Dec 31st 2003, 10:53 am
  #13  
Jaj
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Default Re: To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

    >On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 10:48:17 +0000 (UTC), "CheekyMonkey" <[email protected]> wrote:
    >Thanks for you help.
    >I never considered STNI. But I cannot imagine many 'IT' state nominations ?

Not many in IT now, fewer than there were even recently.
IT security seems to be the 'in' thing currently.

    >It is a pity too that WA doesn't support such a program.

If you find an employer outside Perth keen to hire you, then the
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme might suit.

Jeremy

This is not intended to be legal advice in any jurisdiction
 
Old Jan 1st 2004, 10:27 pm
  #14  
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Default Re: To Use Or Not To Use An Agency?

Well, I have had experience of both, that is hubbie and myself applied ourselves (skilled Independant) it took just over 12 months from start to finish and it was a lot of reading and checking but if you head is screwed on properly and you dont rush it is pretty straightforward.
We were however worried after not hearing anything for 50 weeks - not even a request for a medical so emailed our case officer - and hey presto she found our file and processed it very quickly, ( I guess we got lost in the volume of applicants at that time).

I am also in contact with an agency. My parents wish to migrate with us,and I felt as we would possibly be leaving them here in the UK for a while while the process was going on it would be less stressful for them to use an agency. After speaking to my brother (who lives in Australia) he contacted Go Matilda in Oz and sounded them out. (along with other agencies I might add) Go Matilda seemed very helpful and emailed me a contact at their UK branch. Having a branch in the UK was a real plus for us.
I contacted and instructed the UK branch on my parents behalf, and to be honest cannot fault Helen, our UK contact.

So in conclusion to your original question, yes, I would go it alone if doing our application again, but if you want the stress taken out of it all for you, or like me you are applying for parents etc. then I recommend Go Matilda.


Maggie Lou
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