A MARA-registered migration agent is a professional who has been assessed, registered, and is regulated by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA). Using a registered agent gives you legal protections — they are bound by a strict code of conduct, must hold professional indemnity insurance, and can be held accountable if something goes wrong. Always verify your agent's MARN on the OMARA public register before engaging them.

The points test is used for subclass 189, 190, and 491 visas. You earn points across categories including age (25-32 earns maximum points), English proficiency, skilled employment experience, Australian study, partner skills, and state nomination. You need a minimum of 65 points to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, but competition typically requires 80-100+ points to receive an invitation. The threshold varies by occupation and draw round.

Partner visa processing times vary significantly depending on complexity and department workload. Onshore applications (820 visa) typically take 12-24 months for the temporary stage, with the permanent stage (801) assessed after a further 2 years. Offshore applications (309 visa) follow similar timelines. It's important to apply as soon as you're eligible, as there is no way to expedite processing once lodged. We give you a realistic timeline assessment during consultation.

Yes — a visa refusal is not necessarily the end of the road. Depending on the visa type and the reason for refusal, you may be able to appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), request Ministerial Intervention, or submit a new application addressing the refusal reasons. Time limits apply to appeals, so it's critical to act quickly. Contact us immediately if you receive a refusal notice — we specialise in building strong appeal cases.

Yes, for most skilled migration visas (189, 190, 491) you need a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation. Each occupation has a designated body — for example, Engineers Australia assesses engineers, VETASSESS assesses many professional occupations, and ACS assesses ICT professionals. The process can take 4-12 weeks depending on the authority and your documentation. We guide you through the right authority, required evidence, and how to present your experience effectively.

The Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) visa requires no state sponsorship and is points-tested against all applicants nationally — highly competitive. The Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) visa requires a state or territory government to nominate you, which earns 5 extra points on the points test. In exchange, you commit to living and working in that state for 2 years after grant. The 190 is often more accessible because state nomination provides a meaningful advantage, and states actively target occupations they need.