In response to recent visa fraud claims by FairFax Media and the ABC, the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) has reinforced the importance of seeking immigration assistance from Registered Migration Agents, who are subject to a strict Code of Conduct and ethical obligations.
In Australia, migration agents must be registered with the Australian Government body, the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) to legally provide immigration advice. According to OMARA, seeking advice from a non-registered migration agent could expose you to the risk of migration fraud by someone who is not accountable for their actions or who has limited knowledge on immigration procedures.
National President of the MIA, Angela Julian-Armitage stated, “No level or form of immigration fraud is acceptable and any professional who fraudulently helps a migrant acquire a visa should be punished to the full extent of the law.”
Registered Migration Agents who have become approved members of the MIA must meet the Institute’s own Code of Conduct with additional ethical and professional standards of service as a condition of their membership.
Ms Julian-Armitage said, “Migration Institute of Australia members are put to a higher standard of ethical practice due to rigorous insistence on compliance with our code of conduct, our high standards of continual professional development and education together with our internal compliance and disciplinary framework, which has served our organisation well in stamping out corrupt behaviour within our membership.”
Learn more about the recent visa fraud claims made by the ABC and FairFax Media or view Interstaff’s Registered Migration Agent staff profiles.
Source: Migration Institute of Australia and the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
