Maz Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 Hi, i'm new to this and looking for advice. Has anyone used an agent to apply for Visas. We have been contacted by a company called Migration Unit based in Surrey but not sure if this company is legit. We had to send them £145 to make up a report for us, we've now got this and they want over £4,500 to do it for us. When we tried to contact the agent that we believed was based in Surrey, we were redirected to offices in South Africa. Would love to hear from anyone who has used them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keily Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 Hi, i'm new to this and looking for advice. Has anyone used an agent to apply for Visas. We have been contacted by a company called Migration Unit based in Surrey but not sure if this company is legit. We had to send them £145 to make up a report for us, we've now got this and they want over £4,500 to do it for us. When we tried to contact the agent that we believed was based in Surrey, we were redirected to offices in South Africa. Would love to hear from anyone who has used them! HI MAZ AND WELCOME TO PIO [ANOTHER FELLOW SCOT] !! NOT PERSONALLY HEARD OF THEM BUT WE ARE ALSO USING AN AGENT . OUR TOTAL COST WAS $5500 WHICH WORKED OUT ABOUT £2400. I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN QUOTED IS WAY TOO MUCH. WE ALSO DID NOT PAY ANYTHING UP FRONT FOR THEM TO DO ANY REPORT/ASSESSMENT. WHAT VISA ARE YOU APPLYING FOR ? MRS KEILY [JULIE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommo64 Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 Hi Maz, Four and a half grand seems a bit steep to me. We are using Go Matilda based in Southampton - approx £1650 inc. VAT for skills assessment and skilled visa application. I would double check what you are getting for this amount of money if I were you. Also, check they are MARA registered. MARA is the governing body for all bona fide Auatralian migration agents. By using a registered agent, at least you have some sort of guarantee that the agent is competent (they have to sit regular exams I believe) and hopefully some sort of come back if things go pear-shaped. Hope this helps. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bonnie and Clyde Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 Hi Maz, We have looked at 4 or 5 agents. All MARA registered - a must. We have been quoted £1500 plus VAT to £1750 plus VAT. Try the VIsa Bureau. This agent will give you half an hour over the phone free assesment and loads of info on the process, but there are plenty of others tried and tested here by lots of peeps. We have decided to go it alone due to funds! We wish you the best of luck, Bonnie and Clyde Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maz Posted November 4, 2007 Author Share Posted November 4, 2007 Hi Julie, Sorry seem to keep missing you on The Lounge. We are applying for a Skilled Independant visa, my fiance is a plumber, which company are you using and how are you getting on with it? Maz HI MAZ AND WELCOME TO PIO [ANOTHER FELLOW SCOT] !! NOT PERSONALLY HEARD OF THEM BUT WE ARE ALSO USING AN AGENT . OUR TOTAL COST WAS $5500 WHICH WORKED OUT ABOUT £2400. I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN QUOTED IS WAY TOO MUCH. WE ALSO DID NOT PAY ANYTHING UP FRONT FOR THEM TO DO ANY REPORT/ASSESSMENT. WHAT VISA ARE YOU APPLYING FOR ? MRS KEILY [JULIE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maz Posted November 4, 2007 Author Share Posted November 4, 2007 Hi Tom, Thanks for the advice. We checked the MARA register and one of the directors (Ryan Kroonenberg) seemed to be listed but it was under a different company name but the address was the same!?! They claim to do all the forms and donkey work for you, send your CV out to companies in Australia 3 months before you go, organise somewhere for you to rent and general advice on schools etc. They also have a seperate department called Relocation Unit which helps you once you are there and they stay with you until your citizenship is completed. They almost sound too good to be true (apart from their fees)! Think we will definately contact Go Matilda as there seems to be a few people recommending them. What stage are you at just now and when do you hope to go? Maz Hi Maz, Four and a half grand seems a bit steep to me. We are using Go Matilda based in Southampton - approx £1650 inc. VAT for skills assessment and skilled visa application. I would double check what you are getting for this amount of money if I were you. Also, check they are MARA registered. MARA is the governing body for all bona fide Auatralian migration agents. By using a registered agent, at least you have some sort of guarantee that the agent is competent (they have to sit regular exams I believe) and hopefully some sort of come back if things go pear-shaped. Hope this helps. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chellemounfield@aol.com Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 Hi, i'm new to this and looking for advice. Has anyone used an agent to apply for Visas. We have been contacted by a company called Migration Unit based in Surrey but not sure if this company is legit. We had to send them £145 to make up a report for us, we've now got this and they want over £4,500 to do it for us. When we tried to contact the agent that we believed was based in Surrey, we were redirected to offices in South Africa. Would love to hear from anyone who has used them! :)Hi, We are using Thames Consular and they have been excellent all the way through the process. Approx £1800. £4500 seems really expensive. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fatpom Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 Hi Julie,We are applying for a Skilled Independant visa, my fiance is a plumber Why don't you consider doing the application yourself. Unless there is some out of the ordinary issue with your particular situation then the process is very easy to do yourself. Many people have done it themselves and saved themselves lots of money. If you hit a problem which requires specialist legal help then you can always get it at that point I presume? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gollywobbler Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 Hi Tom, Thanks for the advice. We checked the MARA register and one of the directors (Ryan Kroonenberg) seemed to be listed but it was under a different company name but the address was the same!?! They claim to do all the forms and donkey work for you, send your CV out to companies in Australia 3 months before you go, organise somewhere for you to rent and general advice on schools etc. They also have a seperate department called Relocation Unit which helps you once you are there and they stay with you until your citizenship is completed. They almost sound too good to be true (apart from their fees)! Hi Think we will definately contact Go Matilda as there seems to be a few people recommending them. What stage are you at just now and when do you hope to go? Maz Hi Maz I generally keep out of the hoary old chestnut about which Agent to use because there are so many who deserve recognition and so many others who are incompetent cowboys in my opinion. I have heard of Ryan Kroenenberg - from a guy in South Africa. The client had met him and was very pleased with the advice he had received, which sounded OK to me too. For you, though, I'd say "Why add this extra layer of complication because if you use Mr K, the chances are that the contract of engagement between you and him would be governed by South African Law?" I haven't a clue whether South African Law contains any notions of consumer protection but English Law and Australian Law both definitely do. My own instinct is to say that if the client is in the UK then an Agent in the UK or in Oz would be the best and simplest option. Cheers Gill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kia1 Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 :wubclub:HI, I WOULD DO IT YOURSELVES IF ITS THE VISAS YOURE APPLYING FOR DO IT ONLINE THERE IS LESS TO FILL IN IT GETS SENT TO THEM AS SOON AS YOU SUBMIT IT. THEN YOU GET A CHECKLIST STATING WHAT THEY WANT AND THEY TELL YOU TO GO FOR MEDICALS AND POLICE CHECKS WITHIN HOURS OF YOU FORWARDING IT. THE CERTIFIED COPIES OF EVERYTHING NEED TO BE SENT TO THEM THEY WILL CONTACT YOU ONLINE IF ANYTHING IS MISSING, ALL IT COST WAS $2060 AND THEN YOUR MEDICALS AND POLICE CHECKS MUCH EASIER AND QUICKER. GIVE IT A GO YOU CAN GO ONLINE DO THE FORMS BUT YOU DONT HAVE TO SUBMIT THEM JUST GO THROUGH THEM AND SAVE IT. MAKE SURE YOU SAVE THE NUMBER TO LOG BACK ON TO COMPLETE THE FORMS OR CHECK THEM. HOPE THIS HELPS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommo64 Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 Hi Tom, Thanks for the advice. We checked the MARA register and one of the directors (Ryan Kroonenberg) seemed to be listed but it was under a different company name but the address was the same!?! They claim to do all the forms and donkey work for you, send your CV out to companies in Australia 3 months before you go, organise somewhere for you to rent and general advice on schools etc. They also have a seperate department called Relocation Unit which helps you once you are there and they stay with you until your citizenship is completed. They almost sound too good to be true (apart from their fees)! Think we will definately contact Go Matilda as there seems to be a few people recommending them. What stage are you at just now and when do you hope to go? Maz Hi Maz, They do seem to offer quite a comprehensive service don't they? I guess it depends what you're after - basic service or all the 'whistles and bells'! I would recommend shopping around a bit, coparing prices against what they are offering, etc., as prices do seem to vary considerably and I'm sure you don't want to spend more than you need. All that said, I suppose as long as you get that visa in the end that's what matters. Apart from Go Matilda, there are a few names that get mentioned alot on here, namely: Visa Bureau, Ian Harrop and a guy called Phil Olsen (based in Perth WA I think) to name but a few. I can only comment on Go Matilda from a personal basis. We went with them in the end because, a) their prices were reasonable, b) they were the only ones who said I was eligible for a skilled independent visa and as they claim to have a 100% success rate I have confidence in them. We have just completed the first stage of the skills assessment process (preliminary assessment). We are about to start stage 2 - the actual application. So its fingers crossed for a successful outcome. If all goes well, I will be applying for the visa next April time. Don't know where we will go yet - I think its a toss up between Brisbane and Perth at the moment. Anyway, good luck with your application whoever you decide to go with. Cheers, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ngourley Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Hi Maz, Here's a great tip....If you're looking for an agent then identify 10 or so that you think are legit - you've already had a look at the MARA website so that's a great start. Then address one e email to all of them, explaining your situation and what you already know and what you need to know... I recommend asking them why you should choose them as opposed to the other 9 agents you've mailed. The good, professional agents will see that you're serious AND that they've got competition and will get back to you quickly and answer your questions clearly and well and explain where to go from there. You'll be able to judge which one's are worth following up on. From my experience the Agents mentioned earlier have a good reputation as do True Blue Migration in Perth and Concept Australia in the UK. Do the thing that's right for you and your family and arm yourself with as much knowledge and information as possible. There are amazing agents out there who'll go the extra mile for you and from the number that have been struck-off the MARA list there's some cowboys out there as well. I'll be 100% open & honest here... I'm a Life & Success coach and work with people migrating from the UK to Oz. I want respect the ethos & T&C's of PIO so if you think I can help further please sent me a private email. Best of luck with what you decide & keep posting. Neal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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