TABLE OF CONTENTS
Check List Using The Regulations As A Template eg – Spouse Visa
Visa Application And Associated Costs
Record Keeping And Management – How Long Do Documents Have To Be Kept?
Initial Requirements Regarding Accepting A Retainer
Failure Of Proper File Management Can Lead To Suspension As A Migration Agent
Confidentiality & Notifying The Client Of Complaint Procedure
Give Your Client A Copy Of Everything
Give Your Client The Bad News Immediately
Check Special Requirements For Offshore Visas With The Embassy’s Or Consulate’s Website
Don’t Accept Immigration’s Assertion That Decisions Have Been Made Properly
Before You Set The Fee With Your Client And Before You File A Visa Application
What Can Go Wrong If You Don’t Record Your Mail Properly
Prepare Your Client For The Oath
Ideas For Chronologies For Client Files
Immigration Goes Into Hibernation On 30 June Each Year
Australia Closes Down Between Christmas & New Year
Have An Industrial Strength Office Set Up At The Office And At Home
What Is A Permanent Residence Visa?
Practice Together Or Practice In Groups
A Proper Email Account And Email Management
Undercharging And Undercutting On Fees
Positioning And Pathways And Fees (Putting All One’s Eggs In One Basket)
Email & Fax Communication & Errors With Credit Cards Emerge As Troubling Issues
Preparing A Client For Merit Review Hearings Or Interviews With DIBP
Berenguel – Sometimes Time Of Application Criteria Can Be Met At Time Of Decision
Bare Faced Liars & The Fraudsters
Visas Remain Current Until Midnight
Looking After Secondary Visa Holders In A Visa Cancellation Process
Applying As A Secondary Visa Applicant Onshore When The Primary Visa Applicant Is Offshore
Essential Prerequisites For A Ministerial Discretion Application
State And Territory Sponsorship
Make Peace With The Tax Office
Spouse Visas – Unexplained Large Deposits of Money
Managing No. 8503 On Tourist Visas
Tax Deductibility of Migration Advice
Dates On Documents And Names On Documents
Check All Past Visa Applications
Visa Holders Being On Their Best Behaviour
Email Communication With Immigration – Delete All Strings
No Without Prejudice Conversations With Immigration
Identify Australian Citizens Who Support An Applicant
Second Thing To Do On Starting A File – Download The Relevant Part Of The Law
First Thing To Do When Starting Any File – Identify Any ‘Rights Destroying’ Deadlines
Disputes About Parentage And Children
Helping People Pass The English Tests
What Is The Pomodoro Technique?
When Is A Visa Application Made In Australia
Australia starts to close down in the days before Christmas, is virtually closed down in the days between Christmas and New Year and only starts to open in the days after New Year. Australia Post and the public service declare themselves extra public holidays, everything closes down early (including Immigration). Buildings are closed or on skeleton staff. Be acutely aware of this and recognise that if applications are not ledged well before 25 December then documents may get lost, misplaced or not acknowledged.
Never send documents to a building address if there is an alternative post office box address at least, in the latter’s case documents are safely stored at the post office box.
Immigration goes into semi-hibernation starting with the days before Christmas and ending in the days after new year. It is literally a dangerous period for anyone to be doing business with Immigration as often the very inexperienced staff are left on duty and quite erratic decision are made. If possible try and schedule one’s business with Immigration no later than the last business day before 20 December whenever that might be in any particular year.