newlifeincoming Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Hi. This is my first post here and I would just be interested in your thoughts as to what the benefits are of using a migration agent. I am applying for state sponsorship as a nurse and have already applied for the skills assessment so it is just the process of state sponsorship and the visa application. I don't envisage it being a particularly complicated application but I don't want to spend all that money on the visa fee and have it turned down because I missed something or worded something wrong. The lowest quote I've had so far is $1900 which I don't think is probably pretty good but I don't want to spend this money if it is really that simple a process that I would be spending money unnecessarily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bensdad Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Hi my application was not exactly straight forward I had a dependant not wanting to go and refusing medicals plus I'm self employed. However I have done it myself with no agent on a 176 ss visa all I'm waiting for is medicals. You will fond most of the answers on here IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I don't envisage it being a particularly complicated application but I don't want to spend all that money on the visa fee and have it turned down because I missed something or worded something wrong. What you say above is probably one of the main reasons we went with an agent. Peace of mind, is an apporopiate phrase i could use and just to have someone answer my questions, tell me what to write, where and then to check everything was well worth the money. Cal x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Hi.. I am currently going through the process also as a nurse.. If you can afford to do it independantly I would say go for it.. I looked into it and was quoted £5000.. I am currently with an agency that have been very informative, helped me through the registration forms.. Once that has been approved they will be helping to find a job in the specialised area that I am looking for.. Once I have a sponsor; they then will be putting me through an australian agent who they co-work with; to advise me of schools, housing etc.. and they help out with a accomodation for a short period until you are settled... The only down fall I have found is that I will be going on the 457 visa.. but am hopeful that at a later date I can get permenant visa.. hope that helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LB2011 Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Hi, We are using an agent for a 176 ss visa. Although she has been really good and comes back to me at the drop of a hat if I had to do it all again I would have done it on my own. There fees worked out at just over £2000 and now having been through the process I see that we could have saved the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AustrAnglian Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Hi, I'd agree with BensDad that if you anticipate any complications with your application then an RMA can be particularly useful - this can be because of an urgent application, impending birthday that, a known family medical issue, qualifications, proving or figuring out work experience or many other reasons. Many do apply successfully without an RMA but in my opinion you'd need to be really organised, good with paperwork and form-filling and be prepared to put in a lot of research to know the right activity to do at the right time in the right order. You can also second-guess yourself at times - even if you make the right choices you can wonder if there was a better way. All the best with your decision and application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlifeincoming Posted July 7, 2011 Author Share Posted July 7, 2011 If you can afford to do it independantly I would say go for it.. I looked into it and was quoted £5000.. what do you mean by affording to do it independently? do you mean by doing 176 as opposed to 457? I don't have the ready cash to pay for it but I felt that the benefits of immediate PR outweighed the cost. it's looking like about $6000 all in if I use an agent. i do have a medical condition which may be an issue but i don't think so (a treatable cancer but which does require lifelong follow up) but maybe this would justify using an agent. thanks everyone for your advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graemsay Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I think that the advantages of using an agent would be: They are more familiar with the process, so the application is likely to be completed faster. They are more likely to stop you from making stupid mistakes. DIAC hold seminars to inform agents about upcoming changes in policy, which means that they're probably better informed about this than the average PiO member. Someone who got caught on the wrong side of the September 2009 changes might have had a different outcome from the first point, but in general I don't think that a month or two delay would be significant. The second point is often cited as the reason to use an agent. I made a couple of mistakes in my application (nominating wrong ASCO code to the ACS, miscalculation of points for a 175), but I was able to rectify them. (ACS granted me the "right" code, and I was able to do a last minute IELTS test to get the points.) My suspicion is that the process isn't as brittle and prone to sudden failure as agents would have you believe. If you're organised, don't have any issues that might cause problems (medical, criminal), have access to PiO to ask questions, and aren't in a real hurry then I think that it's not that hard to run a DIY application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I have joined a nursing agency who are currently helping me to go through the process of applying for my papers etc.. They dont do the leg work, they show me the forms, give me information about how to fill in forms and what is needed in the forms etc,, they do say that APHRA is the hardest part in filling in the forms.. but the rest is more straight forward.. Once and hopefully if my registration is accepted they then will help me to find a job and relevant information on how to fill in the visa 457.. then once I have done that, they help me when I get to OZ with temp accomodation, then helping me with a representative in OZ to find schools, house to rent, medical insurance etc... they are more of a guidance and very helpful once it has all gone through So far I have paid to date.. Notary Solicitor: £95 for certifying documents to be true NMC: £34 APHRA: £308 Solicitor for affidavid: £75 which is for single parents for children born before 2003. now its just a waiting game.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graemsay Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 it's looking like about $6000 all in if I use an agent. i do have a medical condition which may be an issue but i don't think so (a treatable cancer but which does require lifelong follow up) but maybe this would justify using an agent. I've heard of some people who have health concerns front-loading their medicals, and getting feedback from that first. Whilst you might have to redo your medical again later, that is somewhat cheaper than applying for a visa or engaging an agent. I can't remember the rules, but I believe that any long-term condition that is likely to cost over $20,000 is grounds for failure. Edited to add: You have my sympathies. My mother's going through chemo at present, and it's not been a pleasant experience for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlifeincoming Posted July 7, 2011 Author Share Posted July 7, 2011 Thanks for all your advice today. I have instructed an agent this afternoon as he has given me a really good price and after a long phone conversation with him, I am confident that it will make the application process much smoother. Graemsay, I have mentioned your comment about front loading medicals to the agent and will see what he says. I hadn't told him about my condition. Keeping my fingers crossed for a swift and successful application Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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