You have to be a smart shopper these days to protect yourself, sometime you may find things cheaper in certain store, when I built my HTPC I always shop around, got my Lian Li case in Ebay, it was a second hand case in superb condition.

However when you choose about your Immigration Lawyer or Migration Agent to apply your next visa application, shopping isn’t easy as others, you can’t really tell the difference unless you hire multiple immigration lawyer or migration agents at the same time.

The first question when you shopping around is do you need someone to lodge your Visa Application?

Well, when I was a student, I lodged my student visa myself, because I thought I was a genuine student and I study very hard, there is no need for a lawyer or migration to lodge my student visa, same to you guys, if you want to lodge your visa, you have to check at DIAC website which is immi.gov.au, check all the requirements and see if you fully understand all those requirements, for visa class like student visa, I really don’t think you should pay thousands to hire a lawyer or migration agent to do it.

The second question will be, Do I need a lawyer or a migration agent?

Lawyer doesn’t really mean a better service, from my personal experience, I’ve found that lawyers are quite irresponsible, I didn’t think that they check my forms or filled up my forms, I personally think my lawyer did nothing to my case but answered a few questions during the first consultation. That maybe just me, however if your case isn’t really complicated, you don’t really need a lawyer, that is the reason why there is migration agent, if everything in immigration law are that hard, there will not be migration agents.

How complex is complex?

This is a tricky questions, but personally, I would say if you met all the requirements then your case won’t be a complex one, if you somehow had a refusal or cancellation before, or if you have a criminal record, then your case would be complex.

For people who wants to apply partner visa, your prior marriage will be a complexity item as well, because there are certain rules about the marriage migration.

How much should I pay?

You can find the price online, and you can find the average price from DIAC website, certain agent or lawyer may charge you higher because they claim they have experiences, or they have some certifications such as ISO 9001, Law 9000 or accredited immigration lawyer, I don’t really care about ISO nor LAW 9000, they have nothing to do with the lawyer’s or migration agent’s experience. However according to Law society, it does take 3 years to get accredited immigration lawyer. In my opinion, if a lawyer can spend time on compliance and get ISO 9001 or LAW 9000 certified there is no way they can’t get accredited lawyer in immigration area, or their intention on getting ISO certified is just a leverage to charge you higher fees.

My immigration lawyer or migration agent doesn’t care about my case after I paid him.

If you think your lawyer or agent didn’t act professional or they didn’t care about you, you can always file a complaint to the O’Mara, giving the fact that they don’t want to lose their licence, they will do what ever it takes to make you happy.

In conclusion, choosing the right immigration lawyer or migration agent is very hard, it is not like building a PC or buying some health product, my wife brought some SWISSE health product very cheap online, and she didn’t use the cheapest migration agent, because she thinks it must a reason behind that, she didn’t use the most expensive one because she thinks that can be a con, I totally agree with her, and please be very careful when you shop around for your next visa application.

I’ve enroll in ANU for Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice, hopefully I will get my MARN in 1 year. I think it will be a very interesting experience for me, because I’m also a migrant, I came to Australia in 2007 on my student visa.

I’ve found Cant very useful because it is specific for migration agents, the visa 457 keyword analysis is very fun because W mentioned that keyword analysis might click on your ads as well. I don’t plan to use Adwords for my business because the cost is too high, I think the organic search result will be the best solution for me.

Western Australia is the country’s largest state, covering around one third of the entire land mass of the continent. Much of the state is dry and arid, but along the coast there are many opportunities for an excellent lifestyle, fulfilling employment and wonderful education. Perth is the capital city of WA and is home to most of its population. Other major centres include Broome to the north, Geraldton, Bunbury, Albany on the southern coast, and Kalgoorlie to the east.

The largest industries in Western Australia are mining and agriculture of various types. Most mining takes place in areas that becoming mining towns. Here, it is possible for skilled workers to gain positions that pay extremely well, although many are short term jobs ranging from several months to several years, depending upon the size and type of the mine. Skilled engineers and tradesmen are always needed in the mines and as a result, this is an excellent industry to consider if you have the right skills and experience.

Mining, construction, health care, education, tourism and hospitality are where many of the brightest employment opportunities lie for overseas skilled workers who wish to live and work in Western Australia. Skilled overseas workers are eligible for state sponsorship to assist in locating skilled work. Additionally there is the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme program that encourages employment of skilled workers in regional areas, where employers may sometimes find it difficult to lure people from the bright lights of Perth.

Nurses midwives are becoming highly sought after in Western Australia as well. Over 750 nurses and midwives from other countries have been sponsored for employment in WA since 2006, making this one of the most crucial sectors for those looking to live in Australia and put their skills to good use within the community.

Western Australia experiences a varying climate, with the north and inland areas often experiencing very hot to extreme heat during Summer, whilst Perth has a mixture of warm to hot summer days, and mild winters. As most of the population lives along the coast, most people have access to brilliant blue beaches that can be enjoyed at all times of the year as the weather rarely gets very cold.

Another option for those wishing to experience WA is to undertake a working holiday, by applying for a working visa. This allows one to get a taste of life in Perth and throughout the state, before making a final decision on whether to move there permanently. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship provides application forms and extensive information about working holiday visas. Mines and organic farms are two of the most popular working holiday industries, as they are not only well paid, but also allow visitors to experience life outside the major city of Perth.

The Living in Western Australia migration website lists an extensive selection of current available skilled occupational opportunities. These relate to possible careers that may be available to skilled workers, and include specific listings such as transport company managers, restaurant managers, medical administrators, surveyors and a vast listing of medical professionals in all fields.

Finding housing in Perth and regional towns is made simple by the array of real estate agents who can locate both rental and sale properties in all price ranges, starting from very low priced units and apartments, to large family sized homes that are close to schools, hospitals and the business districts.

Western Australia provides a true Australian experience to those who choose to visit or make it their home. It’s diverse natural beauty and thriving industries ensure that a prosperous, enjoyable lifestyle is accessible to those who wish to grasp it.

Victoria is located in southern Australia and is one of the country’s smallest states by land mass. It does however contain one of Australia’s largest cities: Melbourne.

Melbourne is often found near the top of “most liveable” city lists as it is a highly pleasant location that has become a very desirable place to live for millions of people. So there is little wonder that people like yourself from overseas wish to relocate to Melbourne, or the wider state of Victoria, to begin a new life of living and working in this state.

There are several types of migrants that the Victorian and Australian Federal government may consider for residency in VIC. These include:

- Skilled migrants – Professional people with experience and qualifications in sought after industries can be considered for acceptance as a skilled migrant.
- International graduates – those with a PhD from an international university may be considered in this category. This pathway is also processed considerably faster than other immigration paths.

Where to live and work in Victoria
Over 70% of Victorians live in Melbourne, the capital of the state. This is where the majority of corporate jobs are located. However there are also many other regional towns that are desirable as places to work and live, and offer a quieter lifestyle away from the city that is appealing to some people. Additionally, professionals in particular industries are often more sought after in regional areas due to the lower population and increased difficulties in finding highly skilled workers outside of Melbourne.

Different regions in Victoria are home to different industries which often require skilled workers. These include different forms of agriculture in the north, north-west and south east regions, tourism throughout much of the state, food processing and manufacturing in the north eastern part of Victoria, and timber processing in the south east. In Melbourne itself, health, education, construction and manufacturing are thriving and sought after industries.

Other important population centres in Victoria include Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo and Warnambool.

Purchasing or renting a property in Victoria is something to be considered seriously prior to relocating. Rental properties can range in cost from under $200 per week in regional and rural towns, to over $500 per week in the desirable parts of Melbourne. However, even if you have a lower budget and you wish to live in Melbourne, it is possible to find lower cost rental houses and apartments in the surrounding suburbs. Melbourne’s public transportation system is of excellent quality, so travelling into the CBD from the surrounding suburbs is fast and cheap, either by train, bus or tram.

Victoria experiences relatively mild weather compared with much of the rest of Australia. In winter, the average temperature is around 15 degrees Celsius, whilst in summer temperatures can range from 25 degrees Celsius, to up to 40 degrees on rare extremely hot days. However Melbourne and Victoria is also home to some of the most pristine beaches in the world, allowing an easy escape from hot summer days.

To begin looking for jobs in Victoria, you can browse the online job classifieds, as well as accessing the local newspapers. Additionally, if you have school-aged children, exploring the educational options should be a priority. Victoria has schools of all types including public, Catholic, Anglican, Islamic and other church-run schools, as well as independent private schools, and schools for children with disabilities. The Victorian education system is world class and people moving to Australia with children will benefit greatly.

The state of Victoria is an excellent choice for living and working in and provides opportunities for people who are skilled and willing to integrate into the community as a valuable member, whether that be in Melbourne city or in one of the growing regional and rural areas throughout the state.

NSW – home to the biggest city in Australia – Sydney.

This is the place that many people from different countries around the world dream of living and working in, and with good reason. It is consistently rated as one of the most liveable cities in the world, despite the fact that it is also Australia’s most expensive city to live in.

If you are considering NSW as the location that you’d like to live and work in, first you need to decide where in the state you would enjoy living. Sydney is the main business and population hub and the vast majority of NSW residents live in this sprawling city. But there are other options as well, and depending upon your skills and the industry you would like to work in, other regional and rural areas may suit you.

There are pros and cons to choosing Sydney as the place to live and work in once you move to NSW. The benefits are obvious: this is the biggest city with the most opportunity for employment, extensive housing options and excellent transport, education and health facilities. In short, Sydney contains everything that a person requires to live a prosperous and healthy life. This does come at a cost though, which is why more and more people are looking outside of Sydney for a place to base themselves.

The benefit of selecting a location outside of Sydney is that housing is considerably cheaper, whether buying or renting property. Whilst the employment opportunities are generally much smaller, if you specialise in a particular field of work, there is a chance that your skills will be in demand in regional and rural towns, or in areas where single industries such as mining and farming thrive.

Some of the major regional areas in NSW that are worthy of your considering include Newcastle (approximately two hours north of Sydney), Wollongong to the south of Sydney, Dubbo in the central west, plus other towns including Coffs Harbour, Lismore and Port Macquarie, all of which have populations of over 30,000 people and ample education, health and transportation systems.

Some of the professions that are in demand throughout NSW, and therefore may be considered highly with your visa application, include:

Teaching – rural schools in particular often experience a teacher shortage. Quality teachers are highly sought after and may command excellent salaries.

Medical professionals – With a growing population, NSW requires more doctors and health professionals all the time. If you are an expert in a particular medical niche that is in demand, you may have no trouble finding work in either Sydney or a regional centre.

Engineers – mining in particular is a booming industry in NSW and professional engineers and other experts are always in high demand. It is however important to realise that working at a mine may only be a short to medium term prospect, so plans for future employment must be made. You are likely to find that mining jobs are extremely well paid, and this is very attractive to potential employees and is an excellent way to build up a financial buffer that can be put towards purchasing a property of your own.

The NSW state government and the Australian government provide extensive resources including information and visas and immigration requirements, to people who are interested in living and working in the state of NSW. Learning as much as you can about the procedures and processes will increase your chance of being considered for a working visa, or even for permanent citizenship in this highly sought after and prosperous part of Australia for your new home.