Why use a registered migration agent?
You don’t have to use a migration agent. All travellers require a visa to lawfully enter and depart Australia. Australia has dozens of visas to cover every purpose for travelling to Australia. From business talent visas to prospective marriage visas, from temporary skill shortage visas to permanent residency employer nominated visas; from child visas to visitor visas; from student visas and graduate visas to guardian visas and parent visas, the list of Australian visas is extensive.
And for quick and simple Australian visas like the Electronic Travel Authority, which is the tourist visa many passport-holders can apply for, we would recommend you apply for this online. (Some travel agents organise your tourist visa for you when you book your flight to Australia).
However, visas like temporary skilled visas, partner visas, business visas and applications for permanent residency require additional information to prove the identity, qualifications, professional history, skills, character, health, spouse or de facto relationship, dependents, and financial assets of all those applying for an Australian visa.
Some visa applications, meanwhile, are time sensitive. This means we have to gather all the supporting information, present it in a way the immigration department can understand, and submit it before a certain deadline.
Some visa applicants experience complications when lodging their visa. Some people face delays in the processing of their visa and even rejections when they have tried to lodge a visa themselves.
When visa applicants, business sponsors or partner sponsors use a registered migration agent like ours at the Australian Business Migration Group, they find the visa processing time is reduced, they experience fewer delays, they save time, enabling them to work on their day job and they save money by getting the visa application right the first time around.
This is what our clients tell us. You can read the reviews and watch video testimonials describing their experience working with our migration agent above.
Choosing a registered migration agent for Australia visas
When you choose a migration agent, check they are registered by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority and that they have a current Migration Agent Registration Number (MARN).
You can find out if an agent is an experienced migration agent. Take our registered migration agent for example. Having practised for over a decade, he has has dealt with many situations and, more importantly, has found solutions for them.
The right registered migration agent can reduce visa processing times and ultimately save you unnecessary visa costs. For example, the advice you receive from our migration agent will be frank and candid about the prospects of success.
Having assessed your situation, our migration agent will propose the most efficient way forward. Sometimes this might be different to the skilled visa, a business visa or a partner visa you had in mind. However, the way forward is designed to save you unnecessary extra visa fees and save you time – which will save you money.
When you look for a reliable migration agent, check the reviews and ask around. It is with great pride, the Australian Business Migration Group offers a service that provides genuine value to our clients. That’s what our clients say.
How to check if a migration agent is registered
In Australia, only registered migration agents or migration lawyers are allowed to provide legal advice and assistance on visa and migration matters. This includes helping visa applicants prepare documents for a visa, lodge visas and representing clients when dealing with the Australian immigration department. This applies to temporary skilled visas, permanent residency, partner visas, student visas – it applies to all Australian visas.
Registered migration agents are registered by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority. This is an Australian Government body that regulates the profession of Migration Agents.
Becoming a registered migration agent requires tertiary training and obtaining, at the very least, a Graduate Diploma in Migration Law, a Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice and a Capstone assessment or a legal practising certificate.
A government approved registered migration agent receives a Migration Agent Registration or MARN number. The MARN number is only issued by the Migration Agents Registration Authority. When you engage a migration agent, check the agent has a valid MARN number and is a registered migration agent. If the migration agent is not registered, they shouldn’t be providing you with migration or visa advice.
Having become a registered migration agent, migration agents must continue to study to maintain their registration. This requires regular professional development to ensure we keep up-to-date with the changes happening with Australian migration law affecting temporary skill shortage visas, business visas, partners visas and family visas.
The Australian Business Migration Group invests seriously in the training and development of our registered migration agent. In addition, through membership with the Migration Institute of Australia and the Migration Alliance, our registered migration agent is able to draw on this wealth of knowledge to assist and advise our clients in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide – in fact all around Australia and overseas.
Your registered migration agent should be across the ins and outs of Australia’s migration law. The visa advice they provide should be accurate and reliable, whether it’s for a temporary skilled visa, sponsoring an employee, sponsoring a partner visa, applying for a bridging visa. Whether your migration agent is in Melbourne or your migration agent is in Sydney or if your migration agent is in Perth, the visa advice you receive should be reliable – and always in your best interests.
Which is the best migration agent for Australia?
All Australian registered migration agents must adhere to the Code of Conduct issued by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority. The Code of Conduct sets out what clients should be able to expect from their registered migration agent. Migration agents should be professional in their dealings with clients, knowledgeable, provide reliable advice and always act in the best interests of their clients.
At the Australian Business Migration Group, we take this very seriously. Your rights and interests are of paramount importance to us. Australian migration and visas can be complicated. Our aim is to make the visa process simpler for you. We take pride in offering a service that offers our clients genuine value.
Working with our Registered Migration Agent
The Australian Business Migration and our registered migration is set up to serve Australia-wide. One of the ways we pass on value and savings to clients is by reducing the amount of time spent in meetings. As well as making ourselves available to clients by telephone and online during regular hours, clients can also reach us outside of normal office hours as well – helpful when many of our clients are busy working during normal work in hours – and reassuring if you have an urgent visa question.
When you engage us to provide you with Australian migration and visa advice and representation, you will receive the direct line of our migration agent. This means you can get in touch when its convenient for you and, in most cases, you will receive a prompt response. In fact, our commitment to regular communication is a feature many of our clients like. They know how their visa application is tracking, what they need to provide and in the time frame they need to do provide it in. It also means urgent visa questions can be dealt with swiftly by our migration agent.
Our Australian registered migration agent
Greg Nicolson B.Comm IT, Dip.Migration Law
Greg’s recruitment experience spans more than 20 years and covers sectors ranging from mining, agriculture, heavy industry and hospitality. In 2009, Greg became a registered migration agent in Perth, an achievement which recognises his skills and expertise both across Australia and internationally.
Greg proceeded to combine his migration expertise with his recruitment experience to help small to medium-sized businesses resolve their skilled staff shortages. This involved advising businesses on becoming a standard business sponsor, undertaking international recruitment, the selection process (when no Australian workers are forthcoming) and facilitating the migration and sponsorship process for Australian employers, employees and employees’ families.
He has also represented refugees, has participated on a number of task forces and has supported individual clients with 457 temporary skilled worker visas, bridging visas, transition to permanent residency, partner visas and business migration visas.
Book a FREE migration assessment today!
If you’re seeking advice or assistance regarding your business or personal migration needs, speak to us at the Australian Business Migration Group today! Our friendly and experienced team can answer any questions you may have and guide you along the entire process. For more information, or to book a free migration assessment, please do not hesitate to contact us today.