What to expect when you work with a registered migration agent
Working with a Migration Agent: What to Expect
Navigating the migration process can feel overwhelming, but with MigrationBuro, you are never alone.
Migration advice is a regulated profession in Australia. Every person who provides visa and migration advice for a fee must be a registered migration agent (RMA) with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA). Andy Heathcote is registered under MARN 0850840.
Before engaging any migration agent, it helps to understand what the process involves, what falls within an agent's control, and where your own obligations begin.
WHAT A MIGRATION AGENT DOES
Assess your eligibility for the visa pathway most suitable to your circumstances, based on your skills, qualifications, occupation, employment history, and visa history.
Prepare and lodge the visa application, including all required forms, supporting documents, skills assessments, and statutory declarations.
Communicate with the Department of Home Affairs on your behalf, respond to requests for further information, and represent you if complications arise during processing.
Advise you on changes to migration policy that affect your application and adapt the strategy where required.
HOW A CASE TYPICALLY PROGRESSES
Step 1 Initial consultation
Initial consultation. We map your options honestly, including what is not available to you. A consultation does not commit you to engaging.
Step 2 Service agreement and engagement
Service agreement and engagement. If you choose to engage, a written service agreement sets out the scope of work, what is included, and how correspondence is managed.
Step 3 Evidence and document collection
Evidence and document collection. You provide documents: qualifications, employment records, payslips, passport, skills assessment (where required). MigrationBuro prepares the submission.
Step 4 Lodgement
Lodgement. The application is lodged in ImmiAccount. You pay the government visa application charge directly.
Step 5 Processing and monitoring
Processing and monitoring. Processing times vary by visa subclass. MigrationBuro monitors the application, responds to Department requests, and keeps you informed of any developments.
Step 6 Decision and next steps
Decision and next steps. On a visa grant, MigrationBuro confirms your visa conditions. If a decision requires review or the application is refused, we advise on options.
Speak to a Migration agent
Call 1300 VISA OZ (1300 8472 69) to discuss employer sponsorship for your Brisbane business. Available Monday to Friday. Zoom consultations take 45-60 minutes and give you a clear answer on what is achievable.
Prefer to start in writing? Email info@migrationburo.com.au with the role title, the occupation, and the candidate's nationality and qualifications.
WHAT CLIENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND
The process is complicated. There are many moving parts, some of which no one controls. Policy can change, processing times shift, and personal circumstances can change mid-case.
There are no guarantees. Any agent who promises a visa outcome is making a representation they cannot support.
MigrationBuro adapts when things change. But clients need to be realistic about what that means in practice.
Responsive clients get better results. Providing documents promptly, attending consultations prepared, and communicating changes in your circumstances all affect how efficiently your case proceeds.
Your Australian Visa application
Some frequently asked questions
Answers to some questions we often hear from people in your situation.
What does MARN mean?
MARN stands for Migration Agent Registration Number. Every registered migration agent holds a unique MARN. Checking an agent on the MARA register confirms they are currently registered and whether any disciplinary action has been taken. Andy Heathcote MARN 0850840.
What is the difference between a migration agent and an immigration lawyer?
Registered migration agents and migration lawyers are both authorised to provide immigration assistance. Lawyers must also be admitted to practice law. In most visa application cases, a registered migration agent and an immigration lawyer perform the same function.
How long does a visa application take?
Processing times vary by visa subclass and are published (and regularly updated) on the Department of Home Affairs website. MigrationBuro provides realistic indicative timelines at consultation based on current published data.
What happens if my visa is refused?
Depending on the visa and the reason for refusal, options may include a review at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) or a fresh application. MigrationBuro advises on the options available in your specific case.
Can I contact the Department myself?
You can. However, if you have engaged a migration agent, the Department will direct correspondence to the agent as your authorised representative. Contact with the Department outside of the agent relationship can create complications. Discuss this with MigrationBuro before reaching out independently.
Migration experience you can trust
MigrationBuro are your trusted migration agents in Brisbane. Founded and led by Andrew Heathcote, we specialise in Australian immigration services. With over 18 years of experience, Andrew is a registered migration agent (MARN) and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia, ensuring expert guidance through every step of the immigration process.
