Thread: Bad Migration Process - not for the faint hearted

My partner and I have just had the worst immigration experience ever. This is the cleaned up/condensed version - there are 2 pages of incidents that occured!!

The agent we used in Bondi Junction messed us around so badly that I have been prescribed medication for panic attacks as she has had me bouncing off the walls with her terrible stories of deportation and extended 457's as we'd never be allowed to stay!!

We are both on the skills shortage list working in IT, had all the 120 points required and 2 years on a 457 for the same employers and for some reason only known to her and God this woman took an instant dislike to my English boyfriend (don't know why - he had only ever dropped forms off to her as she was closing up her office for the evening - and said we'd be as well packing up and going home as they'd never let us stay!

After 8 weeks of messing us around with the application - one minute it was ready, then there was an issue, she needed more of something, then it wasn't good enough, then it was and then she'd be asking for things that weren't even needed or sent off in the end ('just to be sure' she'd say) before she submitted it. I eventually got an email to say it was done but not to get my hopes up and then told us we had about a 10% success rate BUT we got our PR within 10 working days. I am now furious and speaking to a lawyer as a result of some of things she sent me in emails late at night and for the increase in fees due to 'photocopying' and anything else she charged us on a whim (well beyond the standard copying fee's) and MARA as we feel she was completely unethical and seemed to manipulate our desperation to stay in this wonderful country.

Have now spoken to 4 other couples [by chance] through work and friends who have dealth with her and the process/outcome seems to be the same - one of mind games, picking favourites and playing couples off against one another.

Moral of the story is be wary of who you trust your life/future with... get a 2nd opinion if you have any doubts!!

Hi There.

And thanks for the welcome :) It's great to have somewhere to warn other people about unscrupulous people exploiting new migrants.

I was gullable enough to think that we needed her as she'd processed the 457 visas through our work and just thought it would be a natural follow on process - but it was awful - I have never cried so many tears in my life. Having said that, it is behind us now and we have a wonderful future to begin here in Oz.

I'm in Sydney at the mo but looking at relocating for a 'quieter' and cheaper life :spinny:

Hi Uisge, welcome to the forum. I had a similar experience with the US attorney who dealt with my husbands H1B visa. Although we had wanted to move to the US for a long time we wanted to be sure that it was going to work out for both of us and as I was coming over on a spouse's visa we wanted to know how long it would be before I could legally work.

We had to deal with the attorney by emails and phone from the UK and he made it perfectly clear that as far as he was concerned the job offer was for my husband and it didn't matter if I came with him or not. Eventually we sent an email to the employer who were offering the job and told them that if they didn't consider both of us as part of the move then we would stay in the UK. They came back to us with a very different attitude than the attorney and we agreed to meet up with him on our next visit to the US.

We made a seven hour trip to LA to see the attorney and it was just a horrible experience. He wouldn't talk to me directly even though I was in the same room and it wasn't until my husaband said to him - 'We won't move here if my wife has no chance of working' that the attorney said to him 'Don't worry, with her qualifications we can have her working in 6 months'.

After four months of being here it became clear that he'd not only lied to us but he'd also lied to the employer - I was in their office when I found out and we've agreed it's best if I never see him face to face again. It looked like it was going to be four years before we could change my status so I went back to the UK to work and I've been going backwards and forwards ever since. I'm now looking at about a year before I can work in the US.

My husbands employer has been brilliant and if it wasn't for their continued support and understanding I think we would have packed up and gone. As for the attorney - I believe in Karma!!

Hello Usige,
Im so sorry to hear what you have been through, it sounds a nightmare. Thank goodness you are through it now. Hope thinks pick up for you now

Hi Uisge,

Can I suggest you try www.pomsinoz.com - there are some fantastic folk on there who will probably be able to help and empathise with your situation.

Tim

Originally Posted by Uisge Beathe

I'm in Sydney at the mo but looking at relocating for a 'quieter' and cheaper life :spinny:

Hi Uisge

So glad to hear it sorted itself out and we know from experience that it can go so pear shaped with immigration lawyers. Nobody knows how bad the stress is until you are in that situation. We ended up abandoning ours and doing it ourselves and got our PR.
Good luck with your plans.

Andy + Team Canada