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please help!! Is using an agent the way to go ?


Guest Ray

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Hi guys

 

I am new to the forum scene and am looking for some advice.

My wife, 2 kids and I are looking to relocate to Perth and have just contacted Global Visas to assist us.

Does anyone know if they are ok ?:smile:

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Hi,

 

We decided (there are 5 of us, so similar to you) to do it all on our own. We found it to be easy to be honest as it's mainly just filling in online forms for everything. I was just reluctant to pass over a lot of money for what seemed to be easy. I don't know if other visa are difficult but our SS 176 was easy.

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We did it ourselves. If you do all the research, compile all the documentation and send it off, when you are assigned a case officer, they will tell you if you have missed anything and what you still have to supply. It might take a few weeks longer than an agent to do.

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Hi Ray

Being diplomatic, that particular company wouldn't be my own personal first choice. I've read numerous posts from members of the forums we run where they have been less than enamoured with the service. Google them , there's plenty of articles. Here's a couple - http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2010/06/global-visas-boss-liam-cliffor.html & http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2010/05/global-visas---complaints-are.html

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Hi we used Go Matilda and they were fab, I have to be honest ours should have been a straight forward 176 ss visa but there were unforseen complictions on two occasions and quite frankly if we hadnt used our agent we would have been in a bit of a difficult place. So for me using an agent was just completely the right choice. Lets face it if you dont get your visa you are going no where, make savings elsewhere I would say.

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Guest imigrate Australia

Hi Ray

 

If you are confident doing the process yourself, there is no reason to pay Agent fees. If you have any issues that concern you, or are not totally confident in the process, then it may be worth engaging an Agent. A MARA Registered Agent is regulated by a Code of Conduct and its near death if a complaint is lodged against them (publicised on the MARA site and questions asked of the Agent) - we avoid that like the plague (if the Agent is any good that is).

 

There are 'in between' services that Agents do offer (eg skills assessment processing, structured plan for you to do it yourself, final review of forms etc). These do not cost as much.

 

Bottom line is, Agents are like any other professional (there are good ones and ones that are not so service oriented). Its difficult to label a firm as good or bad, it really depends on your individual Agent.

 

As with anything, referral of an individual is often the best way to find a good Agent.

 

Hope that helps.

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hi,

thanks for the insight. I have since spoke to a guy called danial from global visas as he seems very good and confident about getting us to perth within 2 years! although the comments on that link are very concerning. OMG I dont know what to do!!!!

I think I could probably do the process myself though but the only things I'm not sure of are wether to apply for a 175 or 176 visa and the state sponsorship thing.

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Hi Chandi. Where is the best place to get the correct forms? I was on the australian government website and that seemed pretty good for forms and info. I just really need a step by step guide on what documents to get and where to send them.

I see you got a SS 176, how did you go about that ?

If I know what to do I really dont want to hand over my hard earned cash to someone who is only going to do what I can do myself!!

I soooo can't wait to go:ssign17:

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Hi,

 

From what I can remember because we started along time ago now is we looked on the Australian website to understand the Visa that we could apply for and we found that there is a summary page of what you need to do and the forms etc. If you are apply for the 176 Visa we identified the job that was in demand from the skills list document. This also has the assessment body and I then went to their website to download the application form. Completed that with all the information they needed. I needed more points so I sat the IELTS and once both were positive in result we applied online for the SS. This was a very simple form and you supply the skills assessment and IELTS codes along with some additional information I think.

 

We asked Konnecting who are a migration agent to look into our Visa options and for £150 it was the best money we overspent as they outlined the options and route then we just did it ourselves :biggrin:

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Guest imigrate Australia

Guys

 

Please be careful - the visa system changes in 5 weeks (1 July). The 175 and 176 become different visa subclasses and the whole process alters - the current visa wizard does not take that into account.

 

Have a look at my Skill Select visa thread - sticky

 

Cheers

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Hi guys

 

I am new to the forum scene and am looking for some advice.

My wife, 2 kids and I are looking to relocate to Perth and have just contacted Global Visas to assist us.

Does anyone know if they are ok ?:smile:

 

Please look at the recent track record of this company more closely, before handing over any credit card details. The Mirror did a piece on them a while back. Google.

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Do your research on any agent you are consiering is my very best diplomatic response also. Google the name and voila, plenty of food for thought. I didn't. Best of luck in however you do...If I was to start again with what i now know, I would probably use a recommended agent (from many sources).

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Guest imigrate Australia

Hi Craig6686

 

Short answer is yes. The whole system changes on 1 July.

 

Have you looked at the video I produced - SkillSelect thread.

 

Basically, from 1 July, if you have not lodged, its a case of lodging an Expression of Interest and then being invited to apply. The details are not available and won't be until a couple of weeks time, so I am not sure of the exact extent to which it may affect you (more updates will be given as I receive them).

 

Hope that helps.

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Hi Guys,

 

We've decided to go it alone! Scary! It all seems pretty straight forward tho.

We are in the middle of compiling the skills assesment data from my wifes employer (she's a hairdresser). And also have printed off the application form for the IELTS test. We will book a test in the next few weeks. If i'm correct, I need this info to apply for State Sponsorship. Can anyone advise if im on the right track please:biggrin:

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  • 1 month later...
Guest Rory
Hi guys

 

I am new to the forum scene and am looking for some advice.

My wife, 2 kids and I are looking to relocate to Perth and have just contacted Global Visas to assist us.

Does anyone know if they are ok ?:smile:

 

I was contacted by them in March 2011 and was told my 176 application would be lodged before 1st Jult 2011. It didnt happen! I finally got it lodged on 28th Jan 2012, CO allocated 8th Feb 2012. Have been in contact with my global visas agent weekly since to push the application as fast as possible as i have a job waiting for me in Perth but i have been waiting for the CO to request us to do our medicals. My partner found these forum pages yesterday to find out we could have done our medicals months ago and would prob have our visa at this stage if we had!!

The agents working for Global Visas dont seem to have a clue what is involved with the application process. We are disgusted that he couldnt tell us some facts that are clearly posted on the DIAC website. I will never recommend the company to anyone.

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We did it ourselves. If you do all the research, compile all the documentation and send it off, when you are assigned a case officer, they will tell you if you have missed anything and what you still have to supply. It might take a few weeks longer than an agent to do.

 

 

Hi from what I have heard an agent takes a long time !! Much quicker to do it yourself and now it can be done all online so no posting it off !! We did it ourselves and was extremely quick - Debbie

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I would not use them if i knew what i know now. we are in the final throws of waiting for a CO. I have done all the work, chased them all the time, had a number of different people working with our file. I have called Aus a few times to see where the application was, as GV were hard to get hold of. Now we are in the system, I have called the local hospital to check if they are ready for us to take the medical. I feel we have wasted our money with this company.

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Guest allagras

Hi - I would recommend going with a MARA registered agent (there are loads of them - just Google) if your case is anything other than straighforward. I'm not sure exactly how things are now, with the move to SkillSelect, but we didn't have a very straighforward case. Applied for a 176, but I only have basic (HNC) quals in IT, so had to do it all on work exp. Went back and forth with the agent on the ACS skills assesment - have to rewrite a couple of times, but managed to get positive assesment in a couple of weeks based on the suggested rewrites. Same with DIAC - they wanted more info on work experience, and agent was helpful - once rewritten got passed first time. It is an extra chuck of £££ that you can avoid spending if you DIY the application, but you need to consider what will happens if it gets rejected. You may be able to reapply, but perhaps u may be too old (like me - getting v close to the no points for age threshold).

 

It;s really up to everyone to make their own choice, but have a think, do your research and then decide - I believe using an agent helped us in the long run, but that is us. In terms of choosing one if u do decide to go that route - get in touch with them, ask then questions and see if they are happy to give u info without charging you up front for it - to me that is an acid test - I would not have gone with one that wanted paying before even answering basic questions!

 

Best of Luck

Grant :)

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Hi from what I have heard an agent takes a long time !! Much quicker to do it yourself and now it can be done all online so no posting it off !! We did it ourselves and was extremely quick - Debbie

 

Unless things have changed drastically in the last two years since we did ours, this just isnt true. If you use a good reputable Mara agent then there is no reason for it to be delayed in actual fact the complete opposite.

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  • 1 month later...

could you tell me how you are getting on i have started but hurdles already im just up the road in perth i started 175 visa now changed to 190 trying to go over as a drainer what about you? cheers scott

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