Frequently Asked Questions − Our Services

FAQ - General FAQ - Complex FAQ - Our Services

Are you the Department of Home Affairs?

No. National Visas is a private company and is not part of the Australian Department of Home Affairs. We are here to help you with your visa, immigration and Citizenship matters. National Visas Registered Migration Agents adhere to the professional Code of Conduct (administered by OMARA) along with undertaking continuous professional development (CPD) training on a yearly basis. You can refer to the OMARA website to confirm National Visas OMARA registration details.

We are also members of both of the Australian professional industry associations; the Migration Industry Association and Migration Alliance. This ensures that you are dealing with a professional company of lawfully registered agents.

Why use your services?

Your visa application may be one of the most important things you do. It can change you and your family's lives forever. Do it properly with a team you can really trust.

National Visas is a trusted, experienced firm of migration professionals. You can read what our clients have been saying about us for years here.

We work as a collaborative team which ensures that when you use our services, you are benefitting from our many years of combined experience. Many of our staff have been through the visa process either themselves, or for their family members (such as sponsoring for a partner visa), so we understand the importance of your application.

I have reviewed the Department of Home Affairs website and think I can apply. Does this mean I am eligible?

Be very careful about relying on the government's publicly available information. The Department of Home Affairs website provides very basic general information about visas. Australian visa regulations are extremely complex and detailed. While the government website does provide some good general information, it is not possible to cover all scenarios and they provide no information about relevant case law which may affect you.

For example, employer sponsored visa information on the government's website states very basically that you need to show that you 'have the skills and experience necessary to work in your nominated occupation'. What this actually means in terms of the documents required for your specific occupation is not specified in detail because there are hundreds of different occupations, but the requirements are actually very strict for every single occupation.

Another example is that the government website may say that you must have a skills assessment or state sponsorship, but their information is very vague. Obtaining state sponsorship and skills assessments can be extremely complex with critical timing and evidentiary issues.

The government has no particular interest in advising you of the critical details which make or break your case. They don't care one way or the other if your application is successful. We do. We know the details that are not published on the government website and how they affect your case because we have access to all of the legislation and policy.

Aside from the points mentioned above, it is also important to understand that believe it or not, the government is actually not always right. You can read more about this important topic here.

What is an online assessment?

Our online assessments are just the way to start the visa process on our website. They are based on up-to-date government visa regulations and are a very good first level indicator as to whether or not you may be able to lodge a successful Australian visa application.

Online assessments are not visa applications; they are just a starting point. Once you take an online assessment, our site will determine whether you may or may not be eligible for a particular visa or visa category and what to do next.

There is no obligation to proceed to purchase a service once you take an assessment, but you can proceed if you choose to.

I have passed an online assessment; does this mean I can apply for the visa?

Our online assessments are a good first level indicator as to whether or not you may be able to lodge a successful Australian visa application.

Some visas to Australia are quick and simple. If you have passed an online assessment for a visitor visa it is very likely that you will be eligible for this visa. Other visas (such as skilled migration) are very complex and take months of preparation before you can actually apply for the visa.

Our online assessments are based on up-to-date government visa regulations. Whilst our assessments are accurate, a detailed assessment of your situation can only be made once you purchase a service.

If you purchase the Premier Service and we find you are not able to lodge a valid application, you will be entitled to a partial refund. The refund amount is determined by the amount of work that has been completed by National Visas. Refer to our terms and conditions for more information.

What happens if you review my situation and find that I am not eligible?

This depends on the service you have purchased.

If you purchase the Premier Service and we find you are not able to lodge a valid visa application (or EOI if applicable), you will be entitled to a partial refund. The refund amount is determined by the amount of work that has been completed by National Visas - refer to our terms and conditions for more information.

Basically though, we want to help our clients get a visa result. That is what we all do and we are passionate about it. So, if you are our client and we find that you are not eligible, we will take the time to explain to you exactly why and what other options you may have so you can put the pieces in place to ensure success in the future.

Can you guarantee me a visa?

Our registered migration professionals are dedicated to ensuring that your application has the best possible chance of success. We wouldn't lodge an application if we didn't think it had a very high probability of success, and we have an enviable record of successful visa applications.

In cases where we determine that you may not be eligible, we don't lodge a losing application or terminate our service with you. Rather, we will first work with you to explain why you may not be eligible, and tell you what you can do to become eligible. We want the same thing as you do - the best visa outcome for you. That's our business. Read what our clients tell us about our service here.

No Australian Registered Migration company can legally guarantee if you will be granted a visa.

If you purchase the Premier Service and we find you are not able to lodge a valid application, you will be entitled to a partial refund. The refund amount is determined by the amount of work that has been completed by National Visas. Refer to our terms and conditions for more information.

I don't know which service to purchase, what should I do?

If you would like to talk to us prior to purchasing a service you can call our general information line to discuss our services (not for immigration legal advice). This is a toll free service.

If you are in Australia call: 03 9038 8622

If you are outside Australia call +61 3 9038 8622

We are available on the phones between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, Melbourne, Australia time. For time zone conversion go here.

What happens after I purchase?

This depends on the service you have purchased. As a general rule, the best thing to do is to keep an eye on your registered client profile, that's where we send you e-mails to explain what happens next.

If you have purchased a Premier Service, we will make contact with you within 1 business day. This will generally be via e-mail through your registered client profile. This will be to send you the necessary administrative documents to get your service started (such as contract and procedure e-mails). From there you will be provided instructions or information as your case requires. Please keep an eye on your registered client profile for our e-mails.

If you need to discuss your situation with us, once you have purchased your service you can call us on the following numbers:

If you are in Australia call: 03 9038 8622

If you are outside Australia call +61 3 9038 8622

We are available on the phones between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, Melbourne, Australia time. For time zone conversion go here.

Do you have an office in my local area?

The National Visas office is in Melbourne, Australia. If you are in Melbourne you can attend the office if you would like a face to face consultation. You can book an office consultation here.

However, most of our clients are not in Melbourne, and don't need to be to use our services. National Visas manages clients from all over the world by specialising in providing online services that you can choose to suit your needs, so no matter where you are in the world we can help you.

Whether you need a visitor visa, a working holiday visa, a skilled visa, a partner visa or if you just want to have a Skype or phone consultation with us, we are here to help.

How can I talk to a registered migration agent?

National Visas manages clients from all over the world by specialising in providing online services that you can choose to suit your needs, so no matter where you are in the world we can help you. If you would like to have a Skype or phone consultation with us, we are here to help.

Why can't I use my credit card on your website?

We normally accept payment by the following methods:

  • Credit Card / Debit Card (AMEX, Visa, MasterCard);
  • PayPal; or
  • Money Transfer.

However, due to the high rate of credit card fraud there are some limited countries for which we do not accept credit card payments. If our site is not allowing you to use a credit card please organise payment using an alternative form such as Money Transfer.

The details of how to make payment using these methods is provided once you reach the payments page.

What do I do if I am experiencing technical difficulty?

If you are experiencing technical difficulty you have the following two options:

Option 1: Call us for guidance: + 61 3 9038 8622

Option 2: Send us an e-mail to info@nationalvisas.com.au

FAQ - General FAQ - Complex FAQ - Our Services