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Immigration Daily News Why has the coat of arms disappeared from Migration Agent Registration Certificates?Australian Immigration Daily News
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Why has the coat of arms disappeared from Migration Agent Registration Certificates?
Consumer Protection?
There have been some subtle changes to the registration certificates for migration agents and the evidence of that registration as shown as shown in the registration certificates below.
A registered migration agent is obliged to have in their office, prominently displayed, evidence of the fact of their registration as a migration agent and a copy of the Code of Conduct.
Presumably this is to avoid a situation where an unsuspecting member of the public would attend the offices of a person giving immigration assistance but is not in fact registered. Thus, the certificate which evidences the registration would then act to allay the concerns that the member of the public may have about dealing with an unregistered person.
If you look at the following three examples of three current certificates evidencing registration (see below), you will note that the Australian coat of arms appears and disappears on the certificates.
In Anthony Ross' certificate the words 'Australian Government' and the coat of arms are prominently displayed at the top of the certificate of registration.
In Jennifer Fong's certificate the words 'Australian Government' and coat of arms appear in a reduced form in the bottom left hand corner of the document.
In Liana Allan's certificate there is no mention of the Australian Government and no coat of arms.
The decision to incorporate no coat of arms and no Australian Government wording in the 'Allan' certificate creates opportunities for criminal entrepreneurs to copy and disseminate bogus documents purporting to evidence permission to give immigration assistance.
Anyone with a scanner and the right paper can reproduce the Allan certificate of registration.
How can a client that walks in trust that this is actually a true certificate issued by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority?
Scenario. A client visits two RMAs in one day to seek advice.
The first RMA displays a certificate like Anthony Ross.
The second RMA displays a certificate like Liana Allan.
If the client and the second RMA do not have access to the internet at the time of a meeting (eg meet in a cafe), and the second agent wishes to give immigration advice or assistance to the client, then displays their "Allan version' of the registration certificate, what would the agent say if the client asks the following questions?
'Why is there no government seal on the certificate of registration?
'Why is there no government logo with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority directly under it, like there was on the agents certificate in the last office I went to?
'Why did the last agent have 'Australian Government' on their certificate and why does your certificate have none of these features?'
Could RMAs give their opinion on what has happened to the logo and the wording on our registration certifcates?
It is not as if we are paying $1.00 for our registration.
It doesn't represent much value for money and it now offers a reduced protection to consumers. Consumers can no longer be confident in the certificates being displayed by RMAs.
Why does the certificate keep changing so much?
Are we soon going to see an Australian Border Force logo on our certificates, and is that why nothing is on there at the moment whilst the DIBP / Border Force choose yes another design and logo?
By Liana Allan
Comments
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Thursday, 03 September 2015probably trying to trick people into think OMARA isn't some extension of DIBP... rest assured everyone, the new name is now "Agents of Border Force"
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Thursday, 03 September 2015
We are now not even deserved to have gold but gray.
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Thursday, 03 September 2015
Perhaps while DIBP Is at it, they might consider no longer issuing "ID Numbers" to unregistered offshore agents, which has the potential to create massive consumer confusion offshore with consumers required to somehow know the difference between a MARA number (or perhaps soon to be a DIBP Agent No) and a DIBP ID Number issued to an agent offshore. The potential for abuse for offshore agents portraying themselves as "DIBP Licenced" is massive.
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Thursday, 03 September 2015
Hello Liana
I think u have been such a thorn in Border Farce's side they issued u a special certificate. Please note that is sarcastic wit.
They have chopped and change the certificate. I also that Ms Fong's and Mr Ross' certificate had a sort of gold watermark.
The Queensland police were a hopeless lot. Fitzgerald enquiry and all.· Migration Alliance likes this comment. -
Thursday, 03 September 2015
This new Registration will only open that up even more, there are significant fines for the incorrect use of the Australian coat of arms by removing the Coat of arms it's really means its open slather to all. I recall some years back an unlicensed agent in the Philippines in Davo had the coat of arms on his glass front door it really looked official. I was instrumental in reporting to Foreign affairs Canberra who took the necessary action.
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Thursday, 03 September 2015
Graham - hilarious! LOL
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Thursday, 03 September 2015
Was it announced that Lawyers do not have a requirement to register with OMARA.?
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Thursday, 03 September 2015
I recently found out that some mob in Melbourne were using my MARN without my consent. I contacted MARA about it and they said 'oh well, perhaps call them and tell them to stop using it'.
I agree if the new Certificate from here on is sans Coat of Arms, we are in for even more fraudsters. -
Thursday, 03 September 2015
Your potential clients can't check? You have would-be clients without SmartPhones? Come on.....
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Friday, 04 September 2015
Clients don't sit in meetings on their phones checking the legitimacy of the agent they are with using a smart phone. But let's say they do afterwards. What's the point in having to display the certificate and code of conduct as set out in the Code? Why not leave it all online then? Why force agents to use physical certificates and physical versions?
Michael - do the DIBP display their public service code of conduct in a prominent position in their offices? -
Friday, 04 September 2015
It would appear that the removal of the words “Australian Government’ and coat of arms may be meant to dissociate the Australian Government, and ironically, the Migration Agents Registration Authority from the ‘Registered Migration Agent’.
This is supported by the Code of Conduct for Registered Migration Agents; clause 2.12 which cites:
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2.12 A registered migration agent must not, when advertising, imply the existence of a relationship with the Department or the Authority, for example by using terms such as:
(a) Australian Government registered; or
(b) Migration Agents Registration Authority registered; or
(c) Department registered.
Note: Advertising includes advertising on the Internet.
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To imply that there is no connection, association or link (i.e. relationship) between a Registered Migration Agent and the regulator (OMARA) is absurd. To add to the absurdity, clause 2.16 (of the Code of Conduct for Registered Migration Agents) prohibits Registered Migration Agents operating overseas from claiming that registration requires the recognition of qualifications (i.e. accreditation) by the Commonwealth Government (i.e. DIBP | OMARA) – see clause 2.16 below.
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2.16 A registered migration agent with operations overseas may indicate that he or she is registered in Australia, but must not create an impression that registration involves accreditation by the Commonwealth Government for work overseas for the Commonwealth or for a client.
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If the Authority (i.e. OMARA | DIBP) makes no distinction between a person who is ‘registered’ and ‘non-registered’ by virtue of not recognising those that are registered, then it fails in its primary obligation to protect the consumer. The purpose of registration is to ensure that the person providing advice has adequate knowledge, understanding and access to relevant law (i.e. Migration Regulations | PAM3). The educational requirements and costs associated with registration are considerable and therefore one would assume that registration would have at least some merit (i.e. recognition | accreditation).
The issuance of ID Numbers (by the Department) to non-registered persons adds to the confusion, and implies the existence of a ‘relationship’ between the unregistered person and the Department. From the consumer’s perspective, the issuance of a Registration Certificate by the Authority (OMARA) pales in significance when compared to an ID Number issued by the DIBP (acting on behalf of the Commonwealth Government of Australia) and therefore this only serves to further undermine the Registered Migration Profession.
We need a better dialogue. -
Friday, 04 September 2015
I think everyone here has missed the facts of what has really happened.
So, for teh dumb and dummer, I will explain.
Certificate 1 - The Coat of Arms and Title are clearly proudly sitting on the top.
Certificate 2. - The Coat of Arms and Title have slipped down the page into the footer.
Certificate 3. - The Coat of Arms and Title have now actually slithered off the page completely and joined the ASX 50 somewhere between Shangri-La and Oblivion.
Immigration blog
Very interesting Liana as my current one was issued 11/6/15 and therefore predates the one of Anthony Ross above (his issued 12 days later) and yet is the same format as Liana's. I wonder why too.