Below you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about acquiring a visa to Australia from the Philippines. You will also find information regarding Registered Migration Agent Jeff Harvie’s Down Under Visa service.
Will the Department contact us when we get the visa granted?
I’m worried about my fiancee going to Manila for the interview. Can you help?
After applying, when will we hear from you?
Can you push a visa through quicker?
The very worst thing you can do is to do the “I’m a taxpayer and I know my rights” outburst. And beware of any “agent” insinuating they are friends with Departmental staff who can fast-track. This is the Australian Government you are dealing with, and you don’t want to be party to suggestions of obtaining special favours from Departmental officers, as this smells of serious corruption. Even if we believed this was a possibility (which we do not!), we run an honest business and would never involve ourselves in this sort of thing. Please don’t ask us.
Why does it take so long?
How long does it take to get a visa?
My partner is the same sex as me. Can I apply for a visa?
My girlfriend/boyfriend is already married and is (or is not) seeking an annulment
(For spouse and fiancee visas) Should we marry in the Philippines or in Australia?
Should we just apply for a Tourist (Visitor) Visa instead of a Spouse or Fiancee Visa ?
I don’t live near your office. How can we deal with you?
Do you speak Tagalog/Pilipino?
Do you give guarantees?
I found another agent in Philippines who was cheaper than you!
And there are those “agents” who don’t actually submit an application for you at all. Very cheap! Proceed at your own risk. In Australia it is a criminal offense to give migration advice without being registered with MARA. With an unregistered agent, you run a serious risk and you have no protection or comeback.
What are the requirements for a visa?
The other side of this coin is that if you are not our client yet, please don’t expect we will analyse your your case and give you free advice. We will assess your situation and give you an opinion on whether you have a strong case, and we will do this for free (many agents charge for this), but don’t ask us to work for nothing.
But my friend told me … ?
Who will handle my visa application?
Why Down Under Visa and not another agent?
We specialize in visas from the Philippines, because we have a wealth of experience with Filipino culture (my wife is Filipina, and I’ve had over a decade of association with the country and people). We have an office here. We live here. And we know the cultural and bureaucratic peculiarities. I tend to talk to the Australian party in a visa application, and Mila deals with the Filipinos. It’s a good combination, and it works well. Please read this BLOG post