Australian Immigration Daily News

Christopher Levingston LLB has previously given advice to RMAs NOT to participate in random OMARA surveys.  There is no legal requirement for RMAs do do so. 

Agents should be alert to emails coming from the Office of the MARA.  As you are aware the Office of the MARA is now fully integrated into the DIBP and controlled by the Director of NSW/ACT.  This means that NOTHING you give to the Office of the MARA is being sent to an independent body. 

It has already been confirmed by the OMARA that surveys are not compulsory so there is no need to participate in them.  Why give your adversary a rope so they can hang you with it.  Don't forget, anything you give them they can (and will) use against you.  This is how a few agents have been de-registered already. 

The OMARA send 'random audit' emails which read as follows:

"Dear [INSERT AGENT NAME]

One of the functions of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (the OMARA) under section 316 (b) of the Migration Act 1958 is to “… monitor the conduct of registered migration agents in their provision of immigration assistance and of lawyers in their provision of immigration legal assistance”.

The current focus of the OMARA is on agents that operate in NSW. You have been selected for monitoring. It would be appreciated if you would take the time to complete an online survey relating to your business practices and compliance with the Code of Conduct for Registered Migration Agents.

The survey can be accessed by following the link below:

Follow this link to the Survey:
Take the Survey

Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:
https://dibpau.qualtrics.com/SE?Q_DL=6kRRmjBg9H79eK1_3U8kt9dicZruvs1_MLRP_3f89REt63bs8RzD&Q_CHL=email

Please note that you may be selected for a monitoring visit in the near future. Should this occur, the OMARA will be in contact with you to make appropriate arrangements for the visit.

Thank you for your cooperation. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries regarding this matter.

Yours sincerely,


LLLLL    YYYYYY
Assistant Director
Registration and Monitoring
Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority"

These are nothing more than fishing expeditions by the Office of the MARA.  Participate at your own peril.  If you need to confirm this advice, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Accredited Specialist Immigration Lawyer.