Why the First Conversation Matters
Most people hire a migration agent after a single consultation. That conversation is your best — and often only — chance to judge whether an agent is competent, honest, and right for your case before you commit thousands of dollars and months of your life to them.
Registered migration agents in Australia are bound by the Code of Conduct (current version from 1 March 2022), which requires them to act professionally, charge reasonable fees, and put a service agreement in place before providing immigration assistance. But the Code sets a floor, not a ceiling. The difference between an adequate agent and an excellent one shows up in how they answer questions like these.
Registration and Credentials
1. What is your MARN, and can I verify it?Every registered migration agent has a seven-digit Migration Agent Registration Number (MARN). A professional agent will give it without hesitation — many print it on their email signature. Verify it yourself on the official register. Check the registration is current and note when they first registered: the first two digits of a MARN usually indicate the year (e.g. 04 = 2004).
2. Have you ever been sanctioned, suspended, or cautioned by the regulator?The register shows disciplinary history. Asking directly tells you how transparent the agent is — and their reaction is as informative as their answer.
3. Are you a lawyer as well as a registered agent?Some practices employ immigration lawyers who can escalate matters to judicial review or ministerial intervention. For straightforward applications this rarely matters; for refusals and appeals it can matter a great deal.
Experience With Your Case Type
4. How many applications like mine have you lodged in the past two years?Not in their career — in the past two years. Migration law changes constantly, and recent experience with your specific visa subclass is worth more than decades of general practice.
5. What is your success rate for this visa type, and how do you calculate it?Anyone can claim "98% success". A credible agent will explain what the number includes: Does it count applications they declined to lodge? Withdrawals? Ask what the number would look like for cases similar to yours.
6. What do you see as the weakest part of my case?This is the single most revealing question on this list. A good agent identifies risks in the first conversation — an agent who says your case is bulletproof either hasn't looked closely or isn't being honest.
7. Have you handled cases with my specific complication?Previous refusals, health issues, character concerns, relationship evidence gaps — whatever your complication, ask for specific (anonymised) examples of how they handled it.
Fees and the Service Agreement
8. What is your full fee, and what exactly does it include?The Code of Conduct requires a written service agreement setting out services and fees before work begins. Ask what is excluded: government charges, skills assessments, translations, health checks, and police clearances are usually extra. Get the total picture in writing.
9. How are fees staged, and what happens if I withdraw?Reputable agents typically stage fees across milestones rather than demanding everything upfront. Ask what is refundable at each stage.
10. Do you charge for follow-up questions and case-officer requests?Some firms quote all-inclusive fixed fees; others bill for every email. Neither is wrong, but you need to know which model you are signing up for.
11. Will I receive the Consumer Guide?Agents are required to give clients the official Consumer Guide and confirm this in the service agreement. An agent who looks blank when you ask is not across their own obligations.
Working Relationship
12. Who will actually work on my application?In larger firms, the person you meet may not be the person preparing your case. Ask whether a registered agent — and which one — will do the substantive work, and who signs off before lodgement.
13. How often will you update me, and how quickly do you respond?Poor communication is the most common complaint against agents. Ask for their standard response time and hold them to it.
14. What do you need from me, and by when?A competent agent gives you a clear document checklist and timeline. Vagueness here predicts vagueness everywhere.
15. What happens if my application is refused?Listen for a structured answer: review rights at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), realistic timeframes, and what it would cost. An agent who won't discuss the possibility of refusal is selling, not advising.
Red Flags in the Answers
| You ask | Warning sign |
|---|---|
| For their MARN | Hesitation, excuses, or "trust me" |
| About success rates | Guarantees of a visa grant |
| About your case weaknesses | "Your case is 100% safe" |
| About fees | Pressure to pay in full today |
| About refusals | Refusal to discuss the possibility |
Compare Before You Commit
Consult at least two agents before signing a service agreement. Fees, communication styles, and case strategies vary enormously, and the hour spent on a second opinion is the cheapest insurance in the entire migration process. You can compare registered agents' credentials, services, fees, and verified reviews side by side on CompareMyAgents — independently, and free.