DIAC shuts down yet another illegal advice syndicate. Why do people ignore good advice to use only registered agents?

Hi everyone

Yet another criminal syndicate providing unregistered migration advice to foreign nationals was shut down following a police operation in Perth early yesterday.

The investigation involved DIAC officers with the assistance of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in which the scheme’s unregistered migration agents claimed to be able to arrange ‘working visas’ for non-citizens. 

"Organisers were charging exorbitant fees for unregistered migration assistance, and were also lodging visa applications which contained false information relating to claims for asylum,” the spokesman said. “Over the past 12 months, DIAC has conducted a series of targeted operations in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia aimed at dismantling this syndicate.”

“People who practise as unregistered migration agents in Australia are breaking the law and may be subject to fines of up to $6600 or imprisonment for up to 10 years,” a DIAC spokesman said.

My comment:

Reading the story above led me to think:

"Why do people not listen to all the advice given by DIAC, the MARA and registered migration agents about the dangers of using agents who aren’t registered?"

As long as visa applicants continue to use unregistered and unqualified immigration advisers, they will continue to run the risk of losing large sums of money, be exploited and possibly lose their opportunity to live and work in Australia – all with no recourse because the MARA has no power over unregistered agents.

There is absolutely no point in signing up with someone who speaks your language, or knows a friend or relative, if they are going to cheat you or give you bad advice. There are many registered agents who speak languages other than English. You can find them on MARA’s Register of Agents: www.mara.gov.au.

There is absolutely no point using an unregistered agent because you think you'll save money - because in most cases you won't - just refer to the case above as an example.  You can find MARA's list of average fees charged by registered migration agents here.

And there is absolutely no point in signing up with someone who guarantees they can get you a visa. No-one can guarantee that, because DIAC’s rules change so fast and every case is different.

You don't have to use a migration agent to manage your visa application, but if you do intend to use one, please STOP and THINK before you sign up with an unregistered and unqualified immigration advisor. You will be trusting them with your, and in many cases, your family’s entire future – surely it’s worth a few minutes reflection about whether using them is a wise thing to do.

People wishing to find out whether an individual is registered as a migration agent can do so by visiting the Office of the MARA’s website, or viewing their immigration agent’s MARA registration certificate, which will include their photograph and a seven digit MARA registration number. All registered agents are listed on the Register of Migration Agents.

Don’t be the next victim of immigration fraud; and don’t let your friends be, either – only use agents registered with OMARA, so that if anything goes wrong, you do have some recourse.

Best regards

Susan

Susan Wareham McGrath

MARA-registered Migration Agent

MARN 0601990