Do you really need an Immigration advisor anyway?
Given that the new law is now out saying that Immigration Advisors need to be licensed – I thought it would be a good time to ask the question: are agents necessary or worthwhile?
The answer for the most part seems to be a resounding “NO”.
The fact is that if you are planning on emigrating to New Zealand via the Skilled Migrant or work visa route – employing an immigration agent is basically a waste of time and money. Although the process can seem daunting and complicated – it really isn’t. And to be perfectly frank and honest – if you have the skills and intelligence that means you get though the points system or are worthy of a work or residency visa – then you have what it takes to understand and get through the immigration process.
Paying money to someone to tell you whether you have enough points to emigrate is just plain silly. You can find out for yourself by using the online points calculator on the NZIS website. Look on the left hand side of the page and click on: Skilled Migrant Category Points Indicator. Simply answer the questions yes or no by clicking on the buttons and it will tell you how many points you have.
Paying someone to fill out the forms may seem like a grand idea at the time – but again – the forms are relatively easy – and if you have any questions about what something means – there are plenty of blogs or forums where people will help you out for free.
It may even seem like paying someone to help you out if you have problems would be helpful – but time and again migrants report that agents cannot get any further than the migrants themselves when you need to sort out these issues. NZIS are just as likely to ignore your agent, as they will you yourself.
About 1 in a hundred migrants may benefit from using a migration agent. On the other hand, many migrants find themselves thousands of dollars out of pocket and with no visa. The basic fact is that no amount of money you throw at an agent will EVER guarantee you a visa, or a job which will then get you a visa.
DIY is the way to go for almost every migrant wanting to come to New Zealand.
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Related posts:
- Please do not ask me for immigration advice.
- Big changes to immigration policy kept very quiet. Pt 2
- Either Licensed Immigration agents are lying – or INZ are corrupt.
Comments
One Comment on Do you really need an Immigration advisor anyway?
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Don on
Thu, 7th May 2009 3:48 pm
Hi Avalon,
Thanks a lot for your informative article.I agree with your comments as Skill migrants means skilled or educated people and undoubtedly they should be able to read and understand and fill out that so called difficult application forms.This is not a time to waste money.Get required information from the horse’s mouth,research on the internet for some extent and then do the needful.
Don
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