New to site - Migration Agents??

[Guest AdrianintheUK]

Hi guy,

 

First time poster, long time reader.

 

I hope things are working themselves out for you Jodi&Tony.

 

I am also considering the big move downunder and looking at using an agent. I think I qualify with my skills, but am a bit confused about this MARA registration. Some of the firms I have spoken with have advised that it is impossible to get MARA registration unless you are an Australian Citizen, is this correct? I would prefer someone who can get the job done rather than just because they have registration. Are MARA rules applied if an advisor is giving advice from outside of Australia? Surely, local commerce laws and the like hold more meaning?

[Guest Gollywobbler]

Hi Adrian

 

Welcome to Poms in Oz.

 

I have started a new thread for you in order to give your own query more visibility than it would have at the end of a thread which became dormant a couple of weeks ago.

 

It is absolutely NOT necessariy to be an Australian Citizen in order to become a MARA registered Agent. Anybody can do that if they pass the exams and comply with all the other requirements.

 

It is a criminal offence to offer migration assistance on Australian soil unless one is either MARA-registered or is a Judge, MP, magistrate etc - people who can generally be trusted not to rip others off and who hold a public office in their own right.

 

There is no requirement for people offering help with Autralian migration in the UK to be registered with the MARA, but this has nothing to do with Australian Citizenship.

 

Has somebody been trying to sell you the odd porkie?

 

Word of mouth is by far the best recommendation that any Migration Agent could have and it is also the safest option for you. Several different agents, in the UK and in Oz, are regularly recommended on PiO.

 

Which skill are you planning to rely on in order to migrate to Oz?

 

Also, have you done battle with the DIAC website as yet? If not, you need to. I would suggest starting here:

 

Department of Immigration and Citizenship

 

and

 

Information Booklets - Applications & Forms - Visas & Immigration

 

Booklets 5 & 6 are essential reading for anyone contemplating skilled migration to Oz.

 

Cheers

 

Gill

 

Cheers

 

Gill

[Guest AdrianintheUK]

Hi Golly,

 

Thanks for the reply. I am looking at getting my skills assessed as an Accountant.

 

However, your reply has confused me even more. A couple of the firms I have spoken to have advised me to visit the mara website to confirm they can't get registration. This is what I have found:

 

Migration Agents Registration Authority

 

"Q: How can I become a registered migration agent if I am not an Australian citizen, or an Australian Permanent Resident or a New Zealander with a special category visa? A: You cannot become an Australian registered migration agent. The "Initial Registration" package gives all the relevant information on what is required in applying to be a migration agent. Information Sheet MARA 0103 sets out those categories of persons who can be registered as migration agents in Australia

 

Hmm, thinking I would be better off just doing this myself....

[Guest Gollywobbler]

Hi Adrian

 

Now two of us are completely confused because you do appear to be absolutely right about the restriction on MARA-registration. I have cross-checked it with this link:

 

Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice

 

There seems to be no doubt that your informants are right, so I stand corrected and thank you for teaching me something I had no idea of till I read your response.

 

How confident are you that you can cope with the skills assessment on your own? Should you need help with that bit, Alan Collett of Go Matilda would be your best bet, I reckon, because he is a Chartered Accountant in both jurisdictions as well being a Registered Migration Agent. He is a regular contributor to this forum but is on hols at the moment.

 

Alan signs himself thus:

 

Managing Director, Go Matilda, Go Matilda - Your Gateway to Australia - Visa, Tax and Financial Planning for Australia

Registered Migration Agent Number 0102534 and Chartered Accountant (England & Wales, and Australia)

Offices in the UK and in Australia

 

He also has a separate accountancy firm in the UK and you might find its website handy in terms of planning the financial/tax aspects of your move to Oz. Please see here:

 

Collett & Co

 

Alan migrated to Oz himself a few years ago, so he has been through the same sort of skills process as you would have to go through, I would guess.

 

Most people reckon that the visa application (the second stage with skilled migration) is a doddle compared to the skills assessment. Go Matilda is one of the firms which is quite content to help with as much or as little of the process as you wish. If you wanted them to help with the skills assessmment, but then you wanted to do the visa application yourself, they would not make bones about it.

 

Cheers

 

Gill

[calNgary]

To add another good company to your list try Visa Bureau,we used these and cannot fault there service,help or advice.Good luck with everything but think very hard before going it alone,,

Cal x

[Guest AdrianintheUK]

Hey guys,

 

Thanks for all the advice and sorry for not getting on here sooner; xmas holidays and all that.

 

Anyways, I have looked into all the firms above and also a few advertising elsewhere and have decided to stick with the original firm I contacted, Ambler Collins. They seem to be very concise in the requirements and the fees are pretty competitive.

 

Thanks once again and I will keep you updated on how I get on.