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Australian Immigration Daily News
Breaking Australian immigration news brought to you by Migration Alliance and associated bloggers.
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Public compliment from me to the Office of the MARA
This might come as a bit of a surprise to some of you. For those who don't know me or are new to the profession, my name is Liana Allan and I am the founder of Migration Alliance.
I have had very positive experiences with the Office of the MARA under the new Department of Home Affairs portfolio.
Some of the positive interactions I have had with the Office of the MARA are as follows:
1. When I call someone picks up the phone and is friendly and helpful
2. If the person I am calling for is not there then they will take a message and the person will call me back quickly
3. If someone does not have the information I am seeking then they get the information and call me back with the information I was seeking within a reasonable timeframe
4. When resolving a potential issue the OMARA have given me the benefit of the doubt and have not immediately assumed that I am guilty without hearing what I have to say or looking at the evidence I provide (they provided me an opportunity).
After speaking with and emailing many agents, it is commonly thought that the Office of the MARA take a 'guilty until proven innocent' approach with the profession. In my experience this is not the case.
I would like to encourage migration agents to develop a positive working relationship with the Office of the MARA and to work collaboratively with them. This is, in my experience, the best approach. Being combative is not the right approach.
The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) is a Sydney based office of the Department of Home Affairs (the Department), with functions set out in Section 316 of the Migration Act 1958. As our industry regulator they administer a comprehensive regulatory framework, and deep probity framework to avoid conflicts of interest.
This is a public compliment to the Office of the MARA from me.
If you are an RMA and need help or tips on how to appropriately deal with the Office of the MARA, including what to do if you are issued with a S308 or S309 notice, please feel free to contact me and I will help you with the right strategy. If you need a lawyer, I will tell you. Most things don't need a lawyer and can be resolved relatively easily, with the right approach, the right attitude and within the right timeframe.
Comments
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Monday, 05 February 2018These words give me comfort to approach mara
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Monday, 12 February 2018
Very nice can you let us also know which number you are calling the actually answers the phone, please.
Thanks
Gary -
Wednesday, 14 February 2018
Excellent, Liana.
I can add that my last registration with OMARA was easiest of all since 2000. It has been approved even before my previous registration expired
All the best, -
Wednesday, 14 February 2018
Liana , VERY SURPRISED you have made such a comment . You are aware of the injustice , incompetence and illegality I experienced dealing with Professional Standards between 2011-2015
Immigration blog
Great article Liana. Also appreciate your advice given as being collaborative is a strategy everyone is comfortable with either dealing with OMARA or clients.