Australia Warns Bangladeshis Against Fake Migration Agents

Australian High Commission in Dhaka. Photo: Collected

The Australian High Commission in Dhaka has warned Bangladeshis seeking to migrate to Australia about fraudulent migration agents who allegedly take money by falsely promising visas, jobs or residency.

The warning was issued on Saturday through the High Commission's verified Facebook page.

The mission urged prospective migrants to exercise caution and verify the credentials of migration agents before using their services.

Use registered migration agents

The High Commission said one reliable way to obtain accurate visa advice is to use an Australian-registered migration agent, including one operating in Bangladesh, or an Australian legal practitioner.

Under Australia's migration agent code of conduct, registered migration agents must comply with prescribed professional and ethical standards, the mission said.

These include charging fair and reasonable fees, providing clients with written details of services and associated costs, and informing clients of the outcome of visa applications as soon as reasonably possible.

The High Commission also advised prospective migrants to consult its consumer guide for information about the services and responsibilities of registered migration agents.

It recommended using the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) self-service portal to check whether an agent is officially registered.

Those seeking assistance from an Australian legal practitioner were advised to consult guidance from Australia's Department of Home Affairs.

The High Commission urged prospective migrants to verify all migration-related information and avoid paying unverified individuals or agencies that guarantee Australian visas, jobs or permanent residency.