George Lombard Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Warning about dodgy migration agents Tuesday, 29 October 2013 Visa applicants have been warned again to avoid unscrupulous migration agencies targeting people interested in migrating to Australia, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash said today. The repeated warning follows complaints to have recently resurfaced about AUSFIS, an offshore web-based migration agency. The agency is alleged to have induced individuals to pay for visa applications that were never lodged. Senator Cash said the website invites people to register their interest by submitting an online web-form with their contact details. 'Once registered, applicants are contacted by phone or email and are asked to pay a fee ranging from $300 to $3000 via credit card in return for an ‘Immigration Package to Australia',' Senator Cash said. 'However, several users of AUSFIS's services have alleged that, once payment has been made, they either hear nothing further, or receive an email advising they are ineligible to apply for a visa.' Where people have paid money by credit card to AUSFIS, or any other migration agency for a service they did not ultimately receive, they can contact their credit card provider and lodge a ‘disputed payment' grievance with them. The credit card provider may be able to retrieve all or part of the money paid. 'AUSFIS has no influence on visa decision-making and does not represent the Australian government,' Senator Cash said. 'The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has no record of visa applications lodged by AUSFIS and the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) does not list any registered migration agents connected with AUSFIS,' Senator Cash added. http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/mc/2013/mc209139.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight7 Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Pretty disgusting- there are always exploiters around. I would advise people to have a really good look at the Australian immigration website to see if they really need to use an agent in the first place. Often it is just a case of methodically filling out the forms and using a bit of commonsense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CollegeGirl Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Or you can just use a well-known, well-respected agent like George, above. (Bit biased as he's my agent, of course. lol!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Or the fab Go Matilda, just do your research! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Collett Posted November 2, 2013 Share Posted November 2, 2013 The annoying thing is that the Department of Immigration was apparently advised about this organisation ages ago. Regulators need to up their game when tipped off about fraudsters. In the meantime the rest of us have yet more "consumer protection" measures foisted upon us. Onwards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyFacer Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Just checked their website is still going. Surely with their scams it would be shut down??? To avoid anymore victims!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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