The Association of Fee Free Migration Agents (AFFMA) is a registered charity that provides an independent legal service to financially disadvantaged refugees and asylum seekers eligible for protection visas in NSW. Run entirely by a team of committed volunteers, (including Registered Migration Agents) our Newtown office is open to the public and stands as a support basis for people looking to apply for protection visas.

The underlying aim of our organisation is to be an independent service provider that offers pro bono legal services to refugees and asylum seekers. The provision of legal advice extends from the initial application for a protection visa to the actual granting of the visa. Additionally, we provide ongoing assistance to successful applicants as they begin the process of resettling in Australia: This means we connect our clientele with any alternative services, such as Centrelink, and support them any way they may need to make their settlement a positive and enriching experience. 

The refugees and asylum seeker clientele that AFFMA assists do not have access to funds necessary to pay for customary legal assistance; they may not be fully aware of their rights to appeal; and benefit from having their application processed pro bono via a wholly independent organisation with no affiliation with the Australian Immigration Department or other government institutions.

AFFMA’s dedicated volunteers work to ensure that successful applicants also benefit from the additional support we provide in connecting our clients with alternative services – such as Centrelink; the ATO; mental health services. This additional support system is vital to ensuring that new and permanent migrants are aware of the services they are entitled to; their rights and obligations under Australian law; feel supported and welcome as they resettle permanently in Australia; and have the information necessary to move forward in their lives.

Pro bono agents should support the AFFMA organisation not only as it is a beneficial and vital service provider for financially disadvantaged refugees and asylum seekers in NSW, but because it is an independently run support mechanism fuelled by committed volunteers who are passionate about the assistance AFFMA provides. At this time, we are looking to 2015 as a year to expand our services and develop our community involvement to become a pertinent one-stop network in NSW. We always welcome new volunteers and Registered Migration Agents to be a part of the AFFMA organisation, and encourage pro bono agents to support us in any capacity they can.

Links to evidence and copies of documents, letters and briefings to MPs that relate to this story can be located at the bottom of this page.

Recently Migration Alliance has been approached by a retired pilot (14,000 hours+) who is now working as a Registered Migration Agent.  Let's call him Agent X.

Most of Agent X's flying was involved with maritime airborne surveillance, the majority of which was involved with customs interdiction.

To cut a long story short, Agent X has had a pretty frustrating time attempting to get the current contractors (let's call them Contractor C) and Border Protection (Michael Crawford), to even listen to some more advanced, more effective, more cost effective radar search techniques.

In so doing Agent X has also identified a serious lack of core surveillance knowledge by Contractor C.

Agent X says:

A frightening email message from a Registered Migration Agent and member of Migration Alliance today:

"I apologise for sending this email to your email address; I was hoping to reach Liana but I cannot find her email address in my inbox.

I have had a strange visa grant come in last night. Here are the details:

An email was received from an RMA today which sets the 'reality' tone:

"I am looking at MARA and its functions due to a client who has become somewhat of a nuisance. The complaint was dismissed by MARA.

The client since has posted several claims online, shifted his claim to another issue etc.

Focus on a Migration Alliance Member and Registered Migration Agent: Prakash Srinivasan

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(MARN 0960121)