Why a Registered Migration Agent?

I had two emails today. Actually, I had a LOT of emails today, but two in particular made me reflect on how much I love being a Registered Migration Agent. And in fact ALL of the Down Under Visa team love what we do.

Jeff and Mila Harvie from Down Under Visa

Yes, we are under pressure. Our clients (like all partner visa clients) are often emotional, and sometimes lash out at us. Yes, there’s the pressure to get things right all the time. Being a Registered Migration Agent is not a warm-and-fuzzy job where we can just be awash in the blossoming romances all day. It’s definitely work. And the fact I’ve spent all of Sunday morning on emails is a bit of a reflection of this fact. But we’re doing something highly meaningful and we know this.

To those who don’t know this, Down Under Visa are Migration Agents based in Manila, and we manage visa applications from Philippines to Australia. One of our differences is that we DON’T also do student visas from Honduras and work visas from India. We do nothing but visas for Australian Filipina couples as well as their families (ie. dependent children, or mum visiting whilst daughter is giving birth in Australia).

Down Under Visa clients

Today’s emails that made me have my warm-and-fuzzy-feeling reflect?

Young wife in Australia with her husband and child (one they made themselves) is now wanting to get a child visa for her 7 year old daughter she had as a single mum. So this means a 7 year old little Filipina girl will soon be heading to Australia to be reunited with her mum, and to join a family with her little sister and her very own daddy who will love her and provide a wonderful home for her. And WE get to play a part in that happening! Is that a beautiful privilege and a blessing, or what?? It certainly made me smile!

The other email? A couple with an existing tourist visa for 3 months. She’s been in Australia with him for 6 weeks, and he emails me on Sunday morning because he wants to know what next? Clearly they are getting on like a house on fire (“enjoying each others company”, for any confused Filipinas!), and he has his thinking-cap on as he clearly doesn’t want it to end. It means that it wasn’t just a holiday romance. Settled back in Australia, it’s just as good as it was when they were together in the Philippines and during those Skype and Viber sessions. It’s real. Here’s a man who’s found his good woman, and his life is on track to just get better and better!

I know what that feels like. Not a day goes past where I don’t reflect on how fortunate I was all those years ago when I decided to write a letter to a 30 year old Filipina who was working in Hong Kong at the time. Little could I imagine how much my life would change for the better, and what my potential for happiness, contentment and purpose really was. What a journey! And what a journey awaits Email #2 above, and all those other emails that we get.

Oh, and one more. A couple in their 60’s. First met nearly 50 years ago, and they’re getting married this year. I bet there’s a story there! Great seeing love win out, no matter how long a wait.

Down Under Visa – My calling

I used to be an agricultural consultant, would you believe. I had a consulting firm. Specialised in soil management and plant nutrition, and most of my clients were watermelon growers. Seems like another lifetime ago now, my goodness! I reached a point where I just plain didn’t want to do it anymore, and whilst it remained academically interesting it just felt a bit hollow. I wanted something that made a more significant impact, and the idea of helping jaded and lonely Australian men (just like I used to be!) to be fulfilled in their lives by sharing it with a good woman…..well….it was pretty appealing. So I made that transition through university study and the exhausting MARA registration process and Down Under Visa was born.

And here we are today, the most successful Registered Migration Agents in the Philippines for quality partner, tourist and family visas for Australian Filipina couples. This would never have happened if we approached this in a cold and calculating way. This has happened because we care deeply about our clients as real human beings just like we are. And being a family business with my son Jeremy as our office manager and my daughter Remy coming into the fold, we will be here for the long term.