legal advice

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship continues to encourage migrants to consider Australia for migration, conducting skills expos and seminars around the globe.
The question for many prospective skilled migrants however is skilled or not skilled? Am I? How do I find out? What assistance is there available to me? Do I need a migration agent? How do I know I have chosen a reputable migration agent?
The questions are endless, but there are answers.
Before deciding on what type of skilled migration you wish to undertake you need to find out if you are 'skilled' for the purposes of making a valid application. You can do this by using the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's website searching the Skilled Occupations List (SOL) or the Migration Occupation in Demand List (MODL).
Once you have worked through the lists and identified that your occupation is one classified as skilled for migration purposes, you then need to ensure you have enough work experience within the occupation and finally you will need to have your skills assessed, all before you consider what visa may be suitable for you to make an application to Australia.
This can be daunting however there is assistance available. You can choose to seek advice from a Registered Migration Agent or immigration lawyer. The Australian Migration Advice Profession requires that all migration agents who provide advice onshore must be registered through The Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA).
The MARA is the professional body for migration agents appointed by the federal government under a statutory self-regulation scheme in 1998, to help consumers and maintain high standards of knowledge, ethics and professionalism in the migration advice profession.
All Registered Migration Agents have a registration number that identifies them as a registered agent.
It is very important if you are 'offshore', that is outside of the Australian migration zone, that you are well informed about the registration status of the migration agent you choose. Currently the MARA is not able to enforce mandatory registration on offshore agents. Jurisdictional issues prevent such management of the profession overseas.
You do not have to use a migration agent to make an application to come to Australia, however if you are really serious about becoming a citizen, you may feel far more comfortable with a professional and registered representative on your side working on your behalf. Without an agent to assist you, any immigration dilemmas that arise may prove to be frustrating and time consuming, sometimes causing a negative outcome that may have been avoided if professional assistance had been used. Keep an open mind about your options and consider hiring a registered migration agent to assist you in managing your pathway to Australia.