Frequently asked questions
General information about visas, agents and the process. Your own situation may differ — these answers are not migration advice.
Working with a registered agent
Do I actually need a migration agent?
No — you can lodge an application yourself, and many people do. An agent is worth considering when your matter is complex, when a previous application was refused, when evidence is difficult to assemble, or when you simply want the application prepared and managed properly. What an agent cannot do is change the law or guarantee an outcome.
What does "registered" mean, and how do I check it?
Registered migration agents are regulated by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) and must comply with the Migration Agents Code of Conduct. Every registered agent has a MARN — ours is 1686653. You can search any agent's MARN on the public register before engaging them, and you should.
Can anyone guarantee me a visa?
No. No agent, lawyer or consultant can guarantee a visa grant — decisions are made by the Department of Home Affairs against the law and your evidence. Anyone promising a guaranteed outcome is saying something the Code of Conduct forbids. Treat that as a warning sign.
The process and timing
How long will my application take?
It depends entirely on the visa subclass, your circumstances, the completeness of your evidence and the Department's current caseload. The Department publishes indicative processing times for each visa, and those change over time. We will give you a realistic picture for your matter — but no one can commit to a date.
What happens at the first consultation?
We go through your circumstances, immigration history, work and family situation, and identify which visa options are genuinely available to you — including when the answer is that none are, yet. You will leave understanding your options, the risks, and what evidence would be required.
What should I bring?
Your passport, current visa grant notice and conditions, details of anyone else included in your plans, and any qualifications, skills assessments, employment history or English test results you have. If anything has gone wrong previously, bring every refusal or cancellation decision and all Department correspondence.
My visa was refused. Is it over?
Not necessarily. Depending on the decision and your circumstances there may be review rights, generally to the Administrative Review Tribunal, and strict time limits apply. Those limits are short and are rarely extended, so if you have received a refusal, seek assistance immediately rather than waiting.
Fees, documents and payment
How do your fees work?
Professional fees depend on the type and complexity of the matter. Before any work begins, you receive a written statement of the services to be provided and the fees for them — this is required of every registered agent. Government application charges are separate from our professional fees and are set by the Department.
How do I pay, and do I get a receipt?
The initial consultation is booked and paid at the same time — choose a time and pay securely by card. A receipt is emailed to you automatically. For ongoing matters, fees are set out in your written services agreement and invoiced directly, and we will let you know how to pay.
Is my information kept confidential?
Yes. Registered agents are required to protect client confidentiality and handle personal information appropriately. Our privacy policy sets out what we collect, why, and your rights of access and correction. Please do not send original documents or highly sensitive material through the website form — secure arrangements are made after initial contact.
Specific pathways
What is the difference between subclass 189, 190 and 491?
All three are points-tested skilled visas. The 189 is independent — no nomination required. The 190 requires nomination by a state or territory. The 491 is a regional provisional visa also requiring state, territory or eligible-relative nomination, with regional living and work conditions attached. Which is realistic for you depends on your occupation, points score and nomination prospects.
What matters most in a partner visa application?
Evidence of a genuine and continuing relationship, assembled properly. That typically spans the financial, social, household and commitment aspects of the relationship over time. Partner applications are rarely lost on the law — they are lost on thin or poorly organised evidence.
Can my employer sponsor me?
Possibly. Employer sponsored pathways require an approved business sponsor, a nominated position that is genuine and meets the requirements, and an applicant who meets the skill, English and health and character criteria. We assist both the business and the worker with their respective parts of the process.
Still have a question?
Send us a short summary of your circumstances and we will come back to you about a consultation.