Applying for a Visa-Do we need a Migration Agent-Confused?

[CarterTucker]

Hi,

Could anyone help me please? To apply for a visa, do we need to get a migration agent? If so, how do we choose one, is this just personal choice, recomendations etc..?

My husband is a roofer & owns his own business here, he is 30 years old, I am 32 years old (Stay at home Mum) We have 2 children age 15 & 5 years & we are looking to move to Queensland, possibly the Sunshine Coast.

Any help that anyone can give me will be greatfully recieved, as it is all a little confusing at the moment.

Thankyou in advance,
Kelly.

[STGO]

Well done on finding this site, it will help you.

So, you don't actually need an agent for the application process, i have personally known 4 different expats and families to go over without using one.
They are quite expensive. But,

If you do use one, they will ensure that all paperwork etc is done properly and this in turn will lessen the likelihood of any delays due to wrongly applied or filled out forms etc.

Sorry i can't be more specific help, i am sure someone will be along soon (or overnight if they are in Oz!) that can give you more info and advice on selecting a suitable agent should you choose to go this way.

Good luck.

[SOMV]

There is no requirement for you to use a migration agent at all.

With simple applications - no issues with qualifications, experience, health, character - and if you have time to figure things out yourself (and you love paperwork), you should be able to do things on your own.

If you are not good with paperwork, or there are some serious issues that make your application complicated or risky, or if you want someone else to take care of everything for you step by step, then an agent may be a good idea.

Most provide a free assessment service to let you know whether you do qualify for a visa and which visa you qualify for. You may want to take advantage of that, and then decide.

[scottishcelts]

hey c.t, no you certainly do not need a mirgation helper of any sort.

We have our visas now and had help from no one.

Take our advice, do it yourself, save a fortune and from what i've read in the past via forums, you'll get things done quicker yourself and you'll be on the ball the whole way through, without having to wait for updates from the middle man!

Hope this helps.

[CarterTucker]

Originally Posted by scottishcelts

hey c.t, no you certainly do not need a mirgation helper of any sort.

We have our visas now and had help from no one.

Take our advice, do it yourself, save a fortune and from what i've read in the past via forums, you'll get things done quicker yourself and you'll be on the ball the whole way through, without having to wait for updates from the middle man!

Hope this helps.

Hi, thanks for your help, this really does help & gives me the confidence to do it myself. So often I am found saying 'if I could do it myself I would, it would surely get done quicker' so mayby, daunting as it is at the moment, this is the way to go.

But could I just pick your brains a little more please! Where do I start now, where will be my first port of call?

Thanks again, Kelly.

[CarterTucker]

Originally Posted by SOMV

There is no requirement for you to use a migration agent at all.

With simple applications - no issues with qualifications, experience, health, character - and if you have time to figure things out yourself (and you love paperwork), you should be able to do things on your own.

If you are not good with paperwork, or there are some serious issues that make your application complicated or risky, or if you want someone else to take care of everything for you step by step, then an agent may be a good idea.

Most provide a free assessment service to let you know whether you do qualify for a visa and which visa you qualify for. You may want to take advantage of that, and then decide.

Hi, many thanks for your usefull information.

That seems like us. But when you say 'no issues with qualifications' what does that mean? We have had an online pre-assesment done & we passed that, but it was a really basic one.

Thanks again, all the information is really usefull,
Kind Regards, Kelly.

[CarterTucker]

Originally Posted by STGO

Well done on finding this site, it will help you.

So, you don't actually need an agent for the application process, i have personally known 4 different expats and families to go over without using one.
They are quite expensive. But,

If you do use one, they will ensure that all paperwork etc is done properly and this in turn will lessen the likelihood of any delays due to wrongly applied or filled out forms etc.

Sorry i can't be more specific help, i am sure someone will be along soon (or overnight if they are in Oz!) that can give you more info and advice on selecting a suitable agent should you choose to go this way.

Good luck.

Thankyou for your message, I think that once I find out a little more about what these forms need to be filled in with & if you do get stuck on anything, if there would be anyone that could help, then I will be better equiped to know if I can take on the job myself!

As I am a 'stay at home Mum' I do have time to take on this 'job' so, it would be possible & very handy for us to save the money, as we have decided that we are taking our two pet dogs with us & they are going to cost us a fair bit!

Kind Regards, Kelly.

[scottishcelts]

Hello Kelly, yes the forms are very daunting but remember here we are now sitting with our visas and waiting to sell the house, so once it's all done that's it and it's all worth the hassle of doing it alone.

Anyway obviously the first thing to do is (if you are doing an on-line application that is, we did and it was so fast and efficient) is start bit by bit and fill in the on-line application and take your time, just do a wee as you go along. As always with form filling, read everything and follow instructions religiously. Also the visa people will let you know as you are going along what they need sent next.

Have your hubby done his tra yet? I think we done that first of all then filled in the on-line application once the tra gave us the thumbs up.

[kaz101]

We used an agent because we wanted to get it right first time and we had already been told by 2 agents that we wouldn't be able to get in.

Our agents kept us informed every step of the way and were always there at the end of the phone when we had questions. Back then I didn't have the confidence to do it all on my own and because the agent corrected us a few times I don't think we would have got in as easily without them.

I think they were value for money.

As others have said it depends on your situation.

Regards,
Karen

[diaclone2008]

Hi. I'm really sorry, this is a bit off-topic, but I'd like to know how long it took for scottishcelts' visa to come through?

I myself have not used an agent, we've used the on-line application: I have my TRA (which took about 6 working days once they received it), we've completed ALL the forms asked for (passport copies, qualifications, etc), we've even had the medicals and the police checks: the police checks were uploaded last week, and the medicals were done about 2 weeks ago, so we're waiting for that to go through.

I think we may have done things a bit too quick, so I'm wondering how long it may take from this stage?

Obviously the medicals getting to them is not up to us, it's how long it takes for them to be sent off and processed, etc (although the doc who examined us thought it would be quick as we had our TRN number on the forms).

Ours was quite straight forward, form-wise (as far as I'm aware, anyway!), but as I'm not sure if I should have done the medicals and the police-checks so early, right now I can't say if I've done the right thing!

If anyone can give me a timescale, that would be great.

We've gone through the Skilled Migrant, points test, by the way, and my occupation is on the MODL (both the old one and the new one from May this year), so I'm hoping that helps speed things up!

Thanks for your time!