agents home or away??

sikofbrit · #1 (**permalink**) 18th August 2008, 10:28 AM

hi

we are still trying to decide on which agents to use as there are just so many... for all of you who used agents to do everything were they all in the same country you lived or as anyone actually used one that were based in oz? im presuming the only difference would be the cost for postage and phone calls etc

thanks

CarterTucker · #2 (**permalink**) 18th August 2008, 12:43 PM

Excuse the 'pun' for the title line!

Thats an interesting question & I too shall look forward to hearing what people say, as I am in the same situation at the moment, researching migration agents.

I sent out a bulk load of emails to agents that advertised in the 'Australia & New Zealand magazine' & waited for the replies...They were all pretty much the same with the exception of one, George Lombard, who gave me some interesting information & some new ideas to try.

How are you going about narrowing down your search?

(other than waiting to see if its better to have someone based here in the Uk&Australia or just Uk or just Australia)!

Kind Regards, Kelly.

CarterTucker · #3 (**permalink**) 18th August 2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarterTucker

Excuse the 'pun' for the title line!

Der! Just seen youve already done the 'Home & Away' joke in your title line!!!

anj1976 · #4 (**permalink**) 18th August 2008, 03:48 PM

We are using an agent who is in Perth, as for the postal cost is concerned, it comes out to be the same.. the papers anyway have to be sent there, so the cost would be the same. It would be lower if the agent plans to apply online. And I guess it helps using an agent who is sitting in OZ.. Its just a thought,, don't know how true it is.

And there are no phone calls, it is emails for everything that we need to ask or tell.
Another benefit that I saw was the extra services that they would be offering, I guess it was initial assistance in rentals etc, some bit of assitance in finding a job, if at all they are able to manage it and a few other things which I can not recall right now.

anj

sikofbrit · #5 (**permalink**) 18th August 2008, 05:25 PM

hi

the main agent in the uk is global visas i have read a couple of folk have used them on here but the main reason being my brother used them and was succsesful,but he initially applied himself 1st and his application was rejected so thought thney may be worth a go.

the other reason im taking so long at deciding is the costs

and with global visas you dont have to pay up front they break there charges down to 6monthly payments

but for some reason im still researching othe agents

weird i no

ellisa · #6 (**permalink**) 18th August 2008, 06:59 PM

Hi

We are also using an agent based here in the UK they are all Australians and are excellent. My cousin migrated with them two years ago and since then 5 of her friends, all of which were sucessful. We have only just started the process but they have been wonderful!!

Lisa

kaz101 · #7 (**permalink**) 18th August 2008, 08:30 PM

I think whether you use an agent in the UK or Oz is just a personal choice. Dolly I know used George Lombard for their visas from the UK to OZ. I wasn't really on any forums back then (when we applied it was several years ago) so I was looking at agents in the UK since they were the ones advertising there and at the expos back then.

I liked having an agent in the UK since there were times when I calling them with a lot of questions and they were local.

As long as you choose someone you can work with and is giving you the services that you require I don't it matters where they are.

Regards,
Karen

anj1976 · #8 (**permalink**) 19th August 2008, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sikofbrit

hi
but he initially applied himself 1st and his application was rejected so thought thney may be worth a go.

the other reason im taking so long at deciding is the costs

and with global visas you dont have to pay up front they break there charges down to 6monthly payments

see, I know people who applied and got the visa on their own, you should be prepared for any kind of info they need and should be able to manage it all on your own, but if you have a little doubt, you should use an agent, as in your brothers case, his application got rejected, I wont say the agents cost is too much or too litttle because in-case your application gets rejected, you loose all that money and will have to pay twice later...

sikofbrit · #9 (**permalink**) 19th August 2008, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellisa

Hi

We are also using an agent based here in the UK they are all Australians and are excellent. My cousin migrated with them two years ago and since then 5 of her friends, all of which were sucessful. We have only just started the process but they have been wonderful!!

Lisa

hi

just out of interest which agent is it your using? maybe iv not been on that website

thanks

CarterTucker · #10 (**permalink**) 19th August 2008, 08:06 AM

Hi again,

Dont know if youve tried this yet, but if you look in the back of 'Australia&New Zealand Magazine' (from WHSmith) They have a page full (10 in total) of the best migration agents, all MARA registered, they include, George Lombard-Austimmigration, Alan Collett-Go Matilda, Michael Fidler-Accessmigration, among all well respected migration agents.

What I did, was contact about 7 of them, with the same email & waited for the responses, most were the same, but 2 were very interesting & gave me some money saving ideas & really seemed to take an interest (rather than their 'standard reply') I think that then narrows down your search.

Just an idea...

Good luck...Kelly.