I received the following email this morning:

Ralph Elliot This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. via migrationalliance.com.au	10:33 PM (11 hours ago)
to help

Hi Liana

I work with DGM, we have a client called Lexis Nexis Australia,
Lexis Nexis are hoping to grow more awareness among legal professionals, students and the legal community about their high quality research papers and legal resources.

We would love to collaborate with you to create and place content on Migration Alliance, with a link to our client.

The content would of course be your choice, and ideally non promotional.

Please let me know of any rates or options you may have.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Ralph Elliot

NSW Trade and Investment's Industry and Innovation branch in conjunction with the Committee for Sydney have developed a fantastic booklet (electronic and hard copy) as part of the initiative to promote Sydney to globally mobile talent.    For more information see:  Sydney as a Global Talent Hub.

The booklet is called 'SYDNEY YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE:  The official guide to living & working in Sydney'.

This is probly the best, most all-encompassing guide to a city I have come across during my time in the profession.

Here is a scenario to consider:

A miigration agent books into a 10 point blitz CPD event recently.  The event sold out well before the start of the event.

The migration agent turned up to the event, sat down in the seat and then realised that they had booked themselves into the wrong event and that they should have booked themselves into a Practice Ready Program instead. 

VEVO is now in lockdown for organisations which would like to search the visa status of employees or clients as of Saturday last week, 24 May 2014.

At the moment as a migration agent we cannot verify our clients immigration status in Australia.  We can only rely on the clients information after they have searched and provided us with the information, or access their information using their details. 

Negatives:  For migration agents we cannot verify the information which is being provided by clients in relation to their visa.  If we go through the access available - Visa holder access only - then it asks for either:

1/ Reference - Visa grant notification.

There are serious flaws in VEVO allowing people to create false read-outs as to their status in Australia.

When a search is made for the immigration status of a migrant, VEVO doesn't validate the name put into the system against the passport number and visa grant number and date of birth.

For example, this morning, one of my staff was checking VEVO for a client of ours who today has became unlawful.  My staff member mistakenly put our client's partner's name into the VEVO check instead of the client's name.  She also mistakenly put the client's partner's passport number (a 457 visa holder) instead of the client's passport number.  She then put the date of birth of the partner as well.

This is what the VEVO online system asks for: