Australian Government Lists 3 Categories of People Legally Allowed to Help With Visa Applications

• The Australian Department of Home Affairs released official guidance on who can legally provide immigration assistance to visa applicants
• Australian law recognises only three specific categories of individuals as authorised to offer immigration advice or representation
• The Department warned that using unapproved advisers could seriously harm the outcome of a visa application

The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs has released official guidance outlining who is legally permitted to offer immigration assistance to foreign visa applicants.

The advisory clarifies that using knowledge or experience of migration procedures to assist someone with a visa matter is classified as "immigration assistance".

This definition applies to assisting with or preparing visa applications and supporting documents, offering advice on visa matters, and representing or preparing an applicant for proceedings before a court or review authority.

According to Australian law, applicants may only appoint individuals from three specific categories to provide this support:

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• A registered migration agent
• A legal practitioner
• An exempt person

No other individuals outside these three recognized groups are legally authorized to deliver immigration advice or representation under Australian law.

Applicants warned against using unapproved advisers

The Department warned that applicants who seek support from unqualified individuals run the risk of having their applications handled incorrectly, which could negatively affect the outcome of their visa application.

This guidance comes as a vital notice for the growing number of applicants attempting to navigate the Australian visa system from overseas, where uncertified or informal agents frequently offer assistance in exchange for payment.

The authorities reiterated that engaging anyone outside the designated categories does not constitute a legally recognised form of assistance, regardless of any private arrangement made between the applicant and the unregistered individual.

Australia introduces visa ballot system

In a related development, YEN.com.gh reported that Australia's Department of Home Affairs had introduced a randomised ballot system for Work and Holiday visa applicants from China, India and Vietnam.

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The new process required a non-refundable AUD $25 registration fee and limited each applicant to a single entry per open ballot.

Candidates selected in the draw had 28 days to submit a formal visa application but still had to meet all standard eligibility requirements.

Source: YEN.com.gh