Why use an agent?

Often as agents we get asked - why should I pay for your services when I can do it myself? And that's a fair enough question. There are plenty of visas out there that don't require an agent's input into the application process.

However, I wanted to share three incidents that have happened recently. These all point to why an agent can be crucial. Today, I'll share part 1.

1)

I am assisting a local restaurant to bring in a chef from overseas on a 457 visa. This is not as easy as it used to be and DIAC are closely scrutinising the "benefit to Australia" test to make sure Australian jobs aren't being filled by foreign workers. The politics is rich here and I won't go into it now.

It is hard enough as it is, but add to that a letter received from the Department this week requesting my client meet criteria that have long since been removed from the Regulations. In fact, using what appeared to be an outdated form letter, DIAC requested evidence of matters that haven't been required since late 2007.

Luckily, my client didn't have to waste valuable time and resources gathering this information, as I was able to convince DIAC that they had got the law wrong, and they then issued a correct letter. But imagine if the client (as you would be inclined to do) blindly accepted what DIAC requested and went about gathering that information or, even worse, if unable to gather the relevant evidence, withdrew the application.

So to end part one on this issue, let me just say: not everything that DIAC says is gospel - check it against the Regulations and Act and, if in doubt, ask a registered agent for help!