Who can provide Australian Immigration Assistance?

It is unlawful for anyone to give immigration assistance in Australia if they are not a registered migration agent, Australian legal practitioner or exempt person.

Any person who gives unlawful immigration assistance in Australia should be reported using the Border Watch Online Report on the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) website.

Use the form to report suspicious or illegal immigration, visa, customs and trade activity. The Department takes all reports of suspicious activity seriously and you can choose to remain anonymous. Please be aware that intentionally providing false or misleading information to Border Watch is a serious offence.

It is important to know that any person who helps with your immigration matter cannot guarantee you a visa.

You may choose to remain anonymous. If you decide to give us your name and contact details we will treat this in accordance with our Privacy policy.

The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) is part of the Department and is the regulatory body for registered migration agents in Australia.

The OMARA:

• assesses and decides applications for registration as a migration agent in Australia
• monitors the conduct of registered migration agents, investigates complaints, and takes disciplinary action if necessary.

The OMARA cannot help you with a visa or sponsorship application or order a registered migration agent to refund fees to you.

The Code of Conduct for registered migration agents requires registered migration agents to:

● be honest about your chances of getting a visa

● provide correct advice and keep you informed of the progress of your application and any changes that may affect it

● act within the law, your interests and protect your privacy

● tell you if they have an interest that conflicts with your interests and take appropriate action

● give you a written statement before starting work on the services to be provided, estimated fees and other costs

● keep funds in a separate bank account if you pay in advance

● give you an invoice listing the actual services completed and the amount payable

● keep proper records on the processing of your application.

The full Code of Conduct is available on the OMARA website.

Certain people, such as Australian legal practitioners and exempt persons, do not have to be registered as a migration agent to provide immigration assistance in Australia.

You can be appointed as an authorised recipient to receive documents on behalf of another person relating to their visa matter, but you must not provide immigration assistance unless you are also a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person.

When an authorised recipient is appointed, the Department will:

• send all written communication about the visa matter to the authorised recipient

• deem written communication to be received by the person for whom the authorised recipient has been appointed.

You should be aware that the documents sent to your authorised recipient might include sensitive information about matters such as your health and character.

In many cases the person who has been appointed to provide immigration assistance has also been appointed as the client’s authorised recipient.

Parts B and C of the Form 956 can be used to advise the Department that the client has withdrawn the appointment of an authorised recipient.

Alternatively the client can notify the Department in writing of the withdrawal of an authorised recipient, or complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient.

Speak to an interpreter through the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)

www.tisnational.gov.au

☎ 131 450