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RMA Registration Certificates and Cards into the future
Update 19 May 2016 at 12:20pm AEST
Liana Allan from Migration Alliance spoke with a Director at the Office of the MARA regarding the decision made by the OMARA not to continue printing RMA registration certificates or cards. The OMARA Director confirmed that the decision is final and will not be revisited. The decision went through many layers and proper channels and is part of the digital transformation strategy.
We understand that many RMAs are upset by this decision. As a result, Migration Alliance will be arranging for the sale and printing of Certificates and Registration Cards so that RMAs who would like a registration card, can continue to hold a professional card in their wallet and display a certificate on their wall. The design-work is currently underway.
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After the announcement yesterday by the Office of the MARA that it will no longer produce registration certificates or cards, Migration Alliance is currently in talks with Accredited Specialist Immigration Lawyers, with a view to having Registration Certificates and cards printed annually for RMAs.
Registration Certificates
The idea behind the new version of registration certificates is as follows:
1. An Accredited Specialist Immigration Lawyer to certify that the Registered Migration Agent is Registered for a one year period (the latest registration period showing on the OMARA website).
2. The Lawyer would then place a Seal on the Certificate, which would be printed on hard board, as a near replica copy of the certificates currently produced by the Office of the MARA.
3. The certificates would come at cost to the RMA
4. In addition, RMAs can also have their Migration Alliance 'Certified Migration Agent' certificate printed.
Obviously the certificates would not hold the Commonwealth logo, but the current OMARA certificates do not have a Commonwealth logo on them anyway.
Regarding Registration Cards:
Agents will also be able to carry a professional Registered Migration Agent card with (or without) the Migration Alliance logo on it, but for a small fee. A card printing machine is being sought at this time and a design for the card is being created.
Important Point
These certificates and cards are not intended to be 'membership certificates'. They are intended to demonstrate Registration only.
Can RMAs please provide feedback regarding the above concepts?
Comments
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Wednesday, 18 May 2016I just would like the MARA to reverse the decision and issue the certificate as it has been. It is not costly and time consuming and I really want to know the real reasons why they abolished it. I suppose they just wanted to remove an official and professional look from us so that we can be treated as same as these shonky unregistered crooks.
They started it with the removal of coat of arms from the certificate. Since the MARA's operation has been taken over by the DIBP, they have been going to a wrong direction, particularly, treating us like enemies. The DIBP behinds the MARA itself is believed to be conflicts of interest.
Though said that everything go on digital these days, cannot be a valid reason.· Michelle Brewty likes this comment. -
Wednesday, 18 May 2016
excellent alternative if MARA do not reverse their decision Liana.
I wrote to them in response to this inexplicable decision.
why remove one of few ways to protect vulnerable consumers.
how many will bother or have the capacity or hardware to review MARA website.
not sure if accredited law specialists seal is necessary.· HengAng CHAN likes this comment. -
Wednesday, 18 May 2016
Is the high cost of registration for RMA already not heavy enough that they need to impose extra costs for a recognition that should have been accorded with the license anyway? I think going digital with a photo on website actually opens up AC higher risk of identity theft than a cert.
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Wednesday, 18 May 2016
Adding more cost to the RMA but the same value.
· HengAng CHAN likes this comment. -
Thursday, 19 May 2016
MARA stop issuing a certificate may be a sign of encourage you to produce a, much nicer one your self. Use an A3 size paper at least or even larger, rich colour, a fresh, nicely taken photo, includes all of your specialised areas and display on your office window..............
Do not forget to include you are MARA registered.· Michelle Brewty and HengAng CHAN likes this comment. -
Thursday, 19 May 2016
Although this is a nice initiative, I believe that Migration Alliances’ focus should be to lobby MARA and the Immigration Department to reverse this ridiculous decision.
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Thursday, 19 May 2016
Does OMARA understand that we conduct a lot of face to face interviews with our clients and having a current, printed, official, hard copy certificate on our office walls has great value for RMAs and gives confidence to our clients that we are who we are?
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Thursday, 19 May 2016
I like your idea, Wei!!!
"MARA stop issuing a certificate may be a sign of encourage you to produce a, much nicer one your self. Use an A3 size paper at least or even larger, rich colour, a fresh, nicely taken photo, includes all of your specialised areas and display on your office window.............." -
Thursday, 19 May 2016
I rang the OMARA and whinged about this action to remove certificates and cards. I think it is very important for my clients to see my rego on the office wall. Almost 2k a year for what?
I will not put my photo on the website. -
Thursday, 19 May 2016
I have been asking for my card for the last six months. First I was told that it was inadvertently left out of my registration pack. The next excuse was printing machine problems. Third time, many agents didn't get them due to administrative error. Then the last excuse was back to the machine breakdown. Why couldn't they just be truthful and tell me/us (I assume others were given the same fob off) that they were changing / thinking of changing policy. I hope our reg fees will be reduced by the $ 2.50 or whatever it costs to produce the Certs and card. My Cert this year had no logo and my marn was printed in the Cert colouring so it couldn't be read easily - definitely a 'Micky mouse' cut and paste job. I'm sure MA could do a much better job.
Immigration blog
Any special notations for solicitors who are registered migration agents but not accredited specialist solicitors? I like your idea.