DIAC has announced changes to the time of lodgement of IELTS results for many skilled visas. Please visit META News to access the full story.

I’m often asked by prospective visa applicants whether they should use a migration agent to assist them with their Australian visa application.

My advice is that deciding whether to retain a migration agent is like deciding whether to use a tax agent to complete your tax return, or a lawyer to represent you in Court. Many people manage their own matters successfully; others are glad they obtained professional support.

When you retain a registered migration agent, you are making an investment in their skills, training, expertise and compliance with the Migration Agents’ Code of Conduct. You expect that the return on your investment will be the grant of a visa, in the smoothest, fastest and least stressful way possible.

So how do you get the best value from your investment in a Registered