Too many cooks spoil the visa broth! Trust the visa experts!

There’s an odd situation that comes up from time to time with us at Down Under Visa, and sometimes it’s hard to know what to say. So I’ll explain it here.

As Registered Migration Agents we work in a profession that many don’t know exists. You get arrested, and the cop tells you that a lawyer will be appointed. The judge will advise you strongly to get help. Yet when you look at the DIBP site, it tells you that you don’t need a migration agent if you don’t want, and makes out that it’s really simple to apply online. We’ve had several lawyers over the years use us for their visa applications, so it’s clearly not something for amateurs to try to fiddle about with.

But this is the odd situation that happens from time to time. Client comes to us and says “OK, I’ve done my research. We’ve chosen an ABCZYX Visa, and we’ve decided to apply as a defacto couple because we believe that we are a de facto couple. We’ll also get a 12 month tourist visa at the same time, thanks. We’ve filled out all the forms, and we’ve prepared all our documents and evidence, and we want to come around to see you tomorrow afternoon to discuss payment!”

I actually asked someone recently if the last time they went to a restaurant, they said to the waiter “So, where’s the kitchen? And I brought my own frying pan!”

Australian Migration Law is complicated

Just to give you all a clearer idea, Down Under Visa are very busy and very experienced Migration Agents based in Manila. We are the couples-specialists. We specialize in partner visas, ie. spouse visas (partner visas, spouse visas, spousal visas, de facto partner visas) and fiancée visas (fiancé visas, prospective marriage visas) for Australian Filipina couples. Aussie man falls in love with Filipina girl, and wants to bring her from Philippines to Australia. We are the ones they can come to for help with an Australian visa application.

And we also do tourist visas for couples, ie. Aussie Filipina couples again who are either not ready to commit or are held up because of divorces or annulments pending. And we do tourist visa applications for those who are waiting for partner visa applications that are in the Australian Embassy in Manila being processed.

And we do Citizenship by Descent applications for kids of Australian Filipina couples who are qualified. And we do child visas for kids who were not included in the original partner visa application.

This is what we do. We don’t do work visas or student visas, and we don’t do investor visas for multi-millionaires. And we don’t find too many refugees walking in our door either. And our clients are primarily Filipinas/Filipinos engaged, married or partnered with Australians. These are the people we can relate to. These are the people we understand. And these are the people we really care about. We went through this ourselves years ago without any help, and it was hard and really scary. So we became experts…..THE experts in partner visas from the Philippines. We wanted to be the one-stop-shop for Australians with partners from the Philippines to get the help they need.

So this is what we do all day every day. This is our life. When we’re not working, we’re sitting around talking about visas and clients. Anyone who couldn’t relate would no doubt find us really boring! The point is that you come to us so we can take the burden of your lack of experience and your lack of familiarity with the process off your shoulders. This is not like filling out a form for your boat license at the Transport office. This is you and your Filipina lady knocking at the doors of Australia’s extremely tough and tight border security system. Picture the administrative equivalent of 40 foot high walls with razor wire and armed guards. Add some quicksand, moats with crocodiles and booby traps that would kill Indiana Jones (oh, and a few minefields), and there you have Australian Migration Law.

This is NOT something you want to face by yourself, and you should leave your own frying pan at home. Let the experts manage your partner visa application for you, so your Filipina lady will soon be there in Australia with you!