Can i apply for visa myself without an Agent

[Bryson]

Hi all

 

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Have a quote from an agent and it's rather alot. Can i complete the process by myself which would cut the costs considerably. Has anyone done this by themselves and is it straightforward?

[Petal38]

Hello Bryson,

 

YES, you can!!

 

This is exactly what we did - I sometimes can't believe how many people use migration agents, which makes no difference to how fast you get your visa if you provide all the required info needed. There is leg-work in terms of collating all the paperwork you need, getting letters/transcripts from Uni's (which an agent couldn't do for you as they will only release to the student), but for us we felt it was worth it to save on a hefty fee.

 

Hope that helps!

 

 

Hi all

 

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Have a quote from an agent and it's rather alot. Can i complete the process by myself which would cut the costs considerably. Has anyone done this by themselves and is it straightforward?

[snifter]

If you feel confident in the form filling and paperwork etc and your case is not a complicated one (ie health or criminal record issues) then yes, you most certainly can. Lots of people do apply for their own visa.

 

Keep in mind about ensuring you fully understand what you are claiming points for and ensure you don't overclaim as this can prove a big problem once its noticed. I'd perhaps consider joining our sister site, Poms in Oz, http://www.pomsinoz.com/ and have a read of the info there on the type of visa you are applying for. Also lots of knowledgeable people posting over there, including good migration agents. And ensure before you submit anything you are sure its done correctly. Visa application wise, lots more people over there applying for their own who will be happy to share what they know etc.

[Blossom]

You can indeed. In your case however I would certainly be paying for some advice about your eldest step child.

[wrussell]

There is leg-work in terms of collating all the paperwork you need, getting letters/transcripts from Uni's (which an agent couldn't do for you as they will only release to the student)

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I have been obtaining students' particulars diretly from universities since 2003:

Our reference: Lxxxx 4403

RR:WR

 

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Monday, June 16, 2003

 

Professor Rodolfo Clavio

Registrar

University of Santo Tomas

Main Building

University of Santo Tomas

España, Manila C-1008

Philippines

 

Dear Professor Clavio,

 

We act on the instructions of xxx

 

Our client intends to apply for skilled migration to Australia and she has instructed us to seek a skills assessment of her accounting qualifications for this purpose.

 

To achieve a satisfactory skills assessment, Ms. xxx must show that she holds a degree assessed by the Australian authority as comparable to an Australian degree. There will be no issue with this when Ms, xxx provides us with a certified copy of her degree testamur from Santo Tomas.

 

A further requirement is that applicants must provide a copy of their academic transcript and a syllabus statement, in a format acceptable to the Australian assessing authority.

 

We have an acceptable certified copy of Ms. xxx academic transcript which we have photocopied for your information, and which we attach.

 

There is an issue with Ms. xxx syllabus statement, and we seek your assistance.

 

We attach a copy of the seven-page syllabus statement, which was sent to us by Ms.xxx, and a copy of the twelve criteria against which a skills assessment will be undertaken. As is stated in the skills assessment document, xxx did not read Australian Taxation Law or Australian Company Law.

 

To obtain a satisfactory skills assessment for xxx, we must demonstrate that the course she studied covered at least nine of the remaining ten outcomes to an acceptable standard.

 

When we tried to reconcile the enclosed syllabus statement with Ms xxx academic transcript, we discovered, for example, that there was no mention of Law 4 in the syllabus statement, although Law 4 appears in her academic transcript.

 

We consulted an accountant and we were advised was that there was not enough detail in the syllabus statement provided by Ms. xxx for the assessment authority to be satisfied that the Current Accounting (standards and theory) criterion was met. There was a similar issue with Introductory Law (including contracts) and Computer Information Systems.

Ms. xxx can probably satisfy the relevant criteria, but we have to provide evidence that this is so. In our client’s best interests we are seeking further syllabus details before we submit her skills application.

 

If there is more detailed information available about any of the subjects that we have highlighted in the attached copy of Ms. xxx academic transcript, we shall be most grateful to receive it.

 

The Australian assessment authority requires that syllabus documents be certified ON EVERY PAGE by the university Registrar, or an authorised delegate, and include a statement that this was the syllabus content studied by the applicant.

 

Ms. xxx initially provided us with twenty-two syllabus folios on which we based our initial advice about her visa prospects. These were:

 

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING 1a & b FUNDAMENTALS OF ACCOUNTING (3 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING

5CP (2 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING 9

Specialized Topics in Accounting (3 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING

2a & b Partnership and Corporation (4 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING

Management Accounting (3folios)

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[TD]AUDITING COMPUERIZED ACCOUNTING SYSTEM Computer 5 (6 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING

3A & B Accounting Theory and Practice with Current Issues, Part I (5 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING

6b Management Advisory Services I (3 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR LAW 1

Law on Obligations and Contract (2 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING 3c Accounting Theory and Practice with Current Issues, Part II (3 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING

Management Advisory Services II

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[TD]LAW 2 LAW ON PARTNERSHIPS AND CORPORATION (3 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING

4a &b Cost Determination, Analysis and Control (3folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING

7a&b Advanced Accounting (3 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR LAW 3a (3 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING

4-CP Basic Cost Accounting concepts (2 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING

8a Auditing Theory (2 folios)

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[TD]Tax 1 Principles of Income Tax (3 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING

5a Analysis and Interpretation of Financial Statement (3 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING

8a Auditing Theory (2 folios)

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[TD]Tax 2 Transfer and Business Tax (3 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING

5B Analysis and Interpretation of Financial Statements (3 folios)

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[TD]COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ACCOUNTING

8b & c Auditing Problems (2 folios)

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These documents are quite detailed and set out the unit value, the contact hours, the course objectives and the assessment programs. The unit values for Law 1, Tax 1 and Tax 2 are not shown on these folios. The sum of the remaining course units is shown as 69 units. Of these, only Law 1 and Law 2 can be reconciled with Ms. xxx academic transcript.

 

If we had similar details for the subjects highlighted in the attached copy of Ms. xxx academic transcript, we could proceed confidently with Ms. xxx skills application. We believe that asking Ms. xxx once again to provide adequate syllabus details is unlikely to prove productive.

 

We appreciate that after the lapse of time since Ms. xxx took her degree that it might be difficult for your staff to provide full syllabus details of the accounting courses she took. If this proves to be the case, a letter to this effect from you or your delegate would carry considerable weight with the assessing authority, as would any course details that can be provided.

 

If you are able to assist Ms. xxx, will you please send documents to our Sydney office at 114 Lansdowne Road, Orchard Hills, NSW 2748, Australia by telephoning FEDEX in Manila on 855 8484 for a pickup from your office? Please quote our FEDEX account number xxxxx when arranging a pickup. The FEDEX courier might ask to see this authorisation to use our account number.

 

We do not need to have any the documents that we have sent you returned to us.

 

We enclose an amount to cover your photocopying costs. If a further amount is required, will you please bill our company when you reply?

 

 

[h=2]Westly Russell[/h]Registered Migration Agent Number 0316072

 

and our client had serious work experience issues - DIY would not have succeeded in this case, nor in many other cases I have managed.