Skilled Migration Group – Migration Agents
Skilled Migration Group have been providing Immigration Assistance and preparing and lodging Australian visa applications since 2005.
During the more than twenty years that Skilled Migration Group has been providing immigration assistance for Australian Immigration matters the group has never had a visa application denied.
All of the Skilled Migration Group Migration Agents as a minimum have completed The Graduate Diploma of Australian Migration Law and Practice, some also a Masters of Australian Migration Law and Practice.
Skilled Migration Group Australian Registered Migration Agents operate from various offices around the world, providing easy access to applicants in their own time zone and offering face to face meetings and consultations in an applicant’s home country, assisting people who want to visit, work and live in Australia to navigate the complex Australian Visa System.
Skilled Migration Group Migration Agents provide Immigration Assistance to both individuals, and to employers.
Clients have included all types of Employers, including Sole Operator, Family Run Businesses, Multi National Companies, and ASX Listed Companies.
The Head of Migration for Skilled Migration Group is Dennis Henry – Australian Registered Migration Agent – Migration Agent Registration Number (MARN) 2619185
In seeking an Immigration Assistance provider it is important to conduct due diligence before engaging a Migration Agent.
Regulation of the Migration Advice Profession in Australia
The key purpose of registered migration agents is to provide professional advice and assistance to organisations and individuals on Australian migration matters in an ethical manner and in accordance with the Code of Conduct.
Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority
The role of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) is to protect consumers of migration advice services by only registering those people who meet the required qualification and character standards.
OMARA investigate complaints about registered migration agents, this also helps to protect consumers.
OMARA register and oversee more than 5,000 registered migration agents who give immigration assistance.
As part of their role OMARA:
- help people who need immigration assistance understand their rights
- make sure registered migration agents understand their obligations
- keep a Register of registered migration agents
- check that registered migration agents maintain the knowledge they need to give clients accurate advice
- handle complaints about registered migration agents
- discipline registered migration agents when they don’t meet the Code of Conduct.
Link to the OMARA Website.
Who can give immigration assistance in Australia?
Only registered migration agents, Australian legal practitioners or an exempt person can lawfully give immigration assistance in Australia.
Link to The OMARA factsheet Giving immigration assistance in Australia
What is immigration assistance?
What is immigration assistance?
Immigration assistance is when a person uses knowledge of, or experience in, migration procedure to assist with visa applications or other visa matters by:
- preparing, or helping to prepare a visa application or other document
- advising about a visa application or visa matter
- representing in, or preparing for, proceedings before a court or review authority in relation to a visa matter
Immigration assistance does not include:
- doing clerical work to prepare (or help to prepare) an application or other document, for example scanning or posting documents providing translation or interpretation services
- advising another person they must apply for a visa
- passing on information produced by a third person, without giving substantial comment on or explanation of the information.
Migration Agents Operating in Australia
Migration Agents operating in Australia are required by law to be Registered Migration Agents.
The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) is part of the Australian Department of Home Affairs, and is the regulatory body for registered migration agents in Australia.
Australian Registered Migration Agents
Registered Migration Agents are:
- bound by a code of conduct
- must meet knowledge and character requirements
- expected to meet Occupational Competency Standards
- required to maintain up-todate knowledge of migration law and procedure
Migration Agents Registration Number (MARN)
All Australian Registered Migration Agents have a unique Migration Agents Registration Number (MARN), and are listed on the Register of Migration Agents.
To check if a person is an Australian Registered Migration Agent on the OMRA website use the Link to the OMARA Website.
Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct for registered migration agents (current from 1 March 202) is published by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Registered Migration Agents must conduct themseleves in accordance with The Code of Conduct for registered migration agents as per S314(2) of the Migration Act 1958.
The Code of Conduct for registered migration agents sets out the conduct that a migration agent must follow in dealing with clients. It contains a clear statement of what clients can expect from their migration agent in terms of work practices and our professional obligations to the client.
Consumer Guide
The Consumer guide tells you what a registered migration agent does.
Link to Consumer Guide in English
Link to Consumer Guide in other languages
Penalties for giving Unlawful Immigration Assistance
It is an offence for a person to give immigration assistance in Australia unless that person is a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person.
The penalty for providing unlawful immigration assistance can be up to 10 years imprisonment.
Reporting unlawful immigration assistance
Any person who gives unlawful immigration assistance in Australia should be reported using the Border Watch Online Report on the Department’s website.
