Knowledge requirements for migration agents from 1901 to today

Abstract

Providing immigration assistance to a non-citizen for the purpose of acquiring a visa to enter or remain in Australia is an area closely and uniquely regulated in Australia. The Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (the Migration Act) makes it an offence for a person (including lawyers) to provide immigration assistance if they are not a registered migration agent1. According to one arm of the legislative definition of immigration assistance, a person provides immigration assistance where that person uses, or purports to use, knowledge of, or experience in, migration procedure to assist a visa applicant by preparing a visa application, advising the visa applicant about the visa application or preparing for proceedings before a court or review authority in relation to the visa application or representing the visa applicant2.