CHOOSING A MIGRATION AGENT
YOUR 6-STEP GUIDE TO AVOID BEING SCAMMED
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Not all individuals and businesses who provide migration advice are legitimate. Scammers pretending to be migration agents charge people huge fees for Australian visas they don’t qualify for.
Before you engage a migration agent, ask them the following questions to help make sure you’re getting the right visa advice.
1) CHECK THE AGENT’S CREDENTIALS
| ▢ How long have you worked as a migration agent? ▢ Do you have client testimonials or references I can verify? ▢ Are you active in professional networks or migration associations? If so, can you show me evidence of this? ▢ Are you registered as a migration agent with the Australian Government’s Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) or are you an Australian legal practitioner? If so, can I see your Migration Agent Registration Number or your legal practising certificate? |
It is a good idea to get visa advice from an Australian registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner. All Australian registered migration agents are subject to knowledge, character and professional requirements and must comply with a Code of Conduct when providing visa advice. You can check if a migration agent is registered by looking them up on the official OMARA register (see QR codes). |
2) CONFIRM THEIR OFFICE AND CONTACT DETAILS
| ▢ Where is your main office located? ▢ Do you operate from Australia or Bangladesh? ▢ What is your official email address and phone number? ▢ What is your official website address? |
Avoid agents using only Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail email accounts or WhatsApp. If they don’t have an official business email address, they may not be legitimate. |
3) ASK ABOUT FEES AND PAYMENTS
| ▢ What are your total fees, and what do they cover? ▢ Can you give me a written contract explaining your services and all fees before I pay anything? ▢ How do I pay? ▢ Will I get an official receipt for every payment? |
Never pay cash upfront or send money to a personal bank account. |
4) CONFIRM YOUR VISA OPTIONS
| ▢ Which Australian visa do you recommend for me, and why? ▢ What are the eligibility requirements? ▢ Does the visa you recommend let me work legally in Australia? ▢ Can you provide information from the Australian Department of Home Affairs website to support this? |
Not all visas to Australia come with work rights. Check the ‘Visa Finder’ page on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website to make sure the visa recommended by the agent lets you work legally in Australia (see QR codes). |
5) ASK THEM ABOUT BIOMETRICS (PHOTO AND FINGERPRINTS)
| ▢ Will I need to provide my biometrics to get a visa? ▢ Can you explain the biometrics process to me? ▢ When in the application process will my biometrics be collected? ▢ What information will I need to provide at my biometrics appointment? |
If an agent says you’ll receive your visa at your biometrics appointment, or your biometrics will be processed faster if you pay more, they’re lying. Biometrics are collected by VFS Global, a contracted service provider. VFS Global do not make visa decisions, and they cannot discuss your visa application with you. |
6) CHECK HOW THEY’LL REPRESENT YOU
| ▢ Will you communicate with the Australian Department of Home Affairs for me? ▢ Can I get a copy of all forms, letters and emails? ▢ Can I check my visa application before you lodge it with the Australian Department of Home Affairs to make sure all my details are correct? ▢ How will I receive updates about my application? |
An agent should always share your visa application with you in ImmiAccount, the official Australian Government immigration portal for visa applications. Find out how the agent can do this by visiting the ImmiAccount page of the Australian Department of Home Affairs website (see QR codes). |
Need more help?
Scan the QR codes to learn more about how to safely apply for an Australian visa and protect yourself,
your family and your community from scam migration agents.
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| Australian High Commission in Bangladesh |
OMARA Self-Service Portal |
Australian Department of Home Affairs ‘Manage your application’ |
Australian Department of Home Affairs Visa Finder |