Hi All Cebuanos,
I am making this thread based on personal experience so future applicants will consider which agency to apply.
First, I applied Student Visa via Enhance Agency in Mango Avenue. I applied with them May of 2016 and lodged visa November 2016. It didn't turned out well. I was visa refused for their negligence and lack of information. I had no idea actually of what subclass 500 is all about and of course by paying them a fee of 75k (which is very expensive) you expect them to explain and advise you everything, but they didn't. They have not advised me of the exact amount of the proof of funds. I was only advised 1.2m and this money stayed in my account from summer until November as this was the only amount I expected. But since I have a common law partner and 1 child, it should add to the funds including tuition and travel fare and they overlooked this details knowing they had my papers for more than 6mos. They asked me to present 1.6m and since dollar value sometimes increases, it is safe to present 1.8m - 2.0m and they only advised this a day before target of lodging visa. Of course, it will take time for you to look for funds, Dli man ta inana ka datu no? You need enough time to get this amount. And funds is better to be deposited atleast 3mos so they wanted to defer class on APRIL but my partner who works as a seafarer insisted to go on for January class as he had signed early contract because he thought I will be able to go to AU in January. So he let me pushed through because NASAYANG NMAN IYAHA VACATION ky mosakay siya ug sayu ky para naay maipadala nko while in AU. After his last contract 2weeks ra sya ngbakasyon which is normally 3mos.
Then I asked Enhance if I get refused (which I have expected as my funds was deposited last minute), they said it can be defered to APRIL class. Then here comes refusal notice and I would like to reapply, enhance said the school could not offer another COE as it is their policy not to provide another COE if visa not granted. I didn't know this and I only later found out it's hard to apply to other schools if you had a refusal.
I was soooo STRESSED!
Then I seek legal advise and my lawyer sent them a letter and enhance decided to fully refund me (but it is not enough payment para masayang ang imuha time). And wala nasad ko plan mgpdayon nila knowing DI SILA KABALO SA ILANG GIPANGBUHAT.
So I went this time to AMS in Apple one. I tell you they have the best service and they are FREE. They only process STUDENT VISA in Australia and no other countries so they are really expert when it comes to student visa in AU. They explained everything in the process and helped me find school. Too bad I was refused all 4 TAFE schools that i applied with all the same refusal reason: "PREVIOUS VISA DENIED". Since they no longer have other schools to offer me, I was left no choice but to find another agency.
This time I applied through IDP (which is also free). Two schools also rejected me with the same reason so I decided to apply on my own.
I made a reserach online and applied a total of 14 schools and got 3 letter of offer. I decided to go through the school with good reputation and lodged my visa all by my self.
GOOD NEWS: VISA GRANT for JULY 17 2017 intake.
MORAL LESSON:
Make sure you know first what type of visa you are applying and the downsides. And dli kay abi MAHAL ANG BAYAD nindot na ang agency. I would recommend AMS to all students aspiring as student in AU even if wala cla nka process nko ky walay school man modawat nko.
Ayaw mo ug pataka ug lodge visa kung dli cgurado. Like me, more than 20 good schools rejected me. lol
Good luck nnyo tanan ug pacensya taas kaau.