Australian Immigration Daily News

The following email is from the ACS:

The ACS is committed to providing a high level of service to Registered Migration Agents and recommends applicants consult migration agents to acquire a thorough understanding of the entire migration process and not just the skill assessment aspect.

In order to provide further assistance to agents, we have created a specific set of Frequently Asked Questions (attached) and a guide on using the ACS Agent Dashboard. 

The Bupa Health Kiosk will be visiting:

Date: 20 May 2015

Time: 10:00AM - 2:00PM

If your clients are taking the TOEFL iBT® test to meet the English-language requirements for their skilled migration or other visa, registration is easy!

Test takers just need to go to www.toeflgoanywhere.org and click the “Register Now” link. They will be able to create a TOEFL iBT account, select their test date and location, and submit payment.

It’s very important for test takers to check the identification requirements before they register. Only certain forms of ID are accepted, and the ID information listed in their account needs to exactly match the ID that they present at the test centre on test day. Test takers can be turned away at the test centre if the information (especially their name) does not match EXACTLY.

The following information has been sent to CPD providers in the Migration Advice Profession by the Office of the MARA:

Dear Continuing Professional Development Provider,
 
On Friday the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection made an announcement regarding the 2014 Independent Review of the OMARA.

In June 2014, the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, appointed Dr Christopher N Kendall to conduct an independent review of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA). 

The Review

The review examined the performance of the OMARA as the industry regulator, its organisational capability and challenges, and the quality and effectiveness of its internal controls and governance.

Consistent with the government’s commitment to de-regulation, the review examined the most appropriate organisational structure for regulating the migration advice sector in order to protect consumers.

It also examined the regulatory framework and powers of the OMARA to assess if they are still appropriate and identify opportunities to reduce regulatory burden.

The review received 32 submissions from 24 individuals and groups. Dr Kendall also conducted interviews and teleconferences with a variety of stakeholders, including registered migration agents, legal services commissions and university providers.

Dr Kendall made 24 recommendations.  The Government supports the majority of the review’s recommendations.

Implementation of the review’s key recommendations will commence later in 2015.  The Department will consult with stakeholders on the implementation of these significant reforms, some of which will require legislative changes.

The final report, entitled 2014 Independent Review of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA), is available at:

Migration Alliance headquarters hosted a very different CPD today.  Provided by Legal Training Australia, the learning and development took on a new twist with RMAs donning Anonymous masks.

Did they attend?  Did they not attend?  Who were they?  Were they even agents?

Agents stand together in celebration of Migration Alliance's role in deregulating CPD and leaving it open to competitive market forces (see today's Minister's release on Review of the Office of the MARA).