Visa Refusal with Migration Global Assistance

habibi · September 2014

Hi Everyone,
Just want to share that I got visa refusal and my agent is Migration Global Assistance. I got my ACS letter last year with 6 years deducted from my experience as I am not an IT graduate. They(MGA) still let me proceed with the application after I asked them about the content of the ACS letter. I paid them a lot and of course, the visa fee for me and my family, which is not refundable. Sad to say, the agent just told me that they have no control of the decision of DIBP. They just left me with just a letter stating good luck on my pursuit of dreams to go to Australia. For those of you who hired or who will hire an agent, just make sure that your agent is credible. Don't take their word for it. Be very vigilant. If you can DIY, might as well go for this one as you will be the one to get all your requirements. Had I known before that there is a forum like this, I would go for DIY as the process is not a rocket science. Good luck to everyone and may God bless you all.

cholle · September 2014

Sorry to hear this @habibi. Do you have any idea what the specific reason was for the refusal? Was it overclaiming of points, insufficient documents, etc? Ang hirap ng ganyan, but hopefully there will still be a way for you to pursue other avenues.

dhey_almighty · September 2014

@habibi that is so sad...nalaman mo ba kung ano ang reason ng visa refusal?

Migration Global Assistance din ang agent namin at very strict sila sa CDR pa lang pati na sa mga documents na sinasubmit namin...so far e smooth naman ang naging application process namin at nakarating na nga kame dito...

islaman · September 2014

@habibi Please share the reason why your visa was refused. Others may find ways to appeal.

So sorry to hear this. Keep your head up! All will be well.

habibi · September 2014

since deducted yung six years of work experience, natira lang 3 years, 55 points lang ako.

dhey_almighty · September 2014

@habibi kung 55 points ka lang, pwede naman +5 para sa state sponsor...or better sa IELTS e makakuha ka ng mas mataas na marking para pandagdag ng points...

habibi · September 2014

@dhey_almighty Good for you. The case is different for IT professionals since ACS started deducting work experience sa mga nagpapaassess sa kanila which I think was misinterpreted by the agent.

kenshusei · September 2014

@habibi sorry to hear about your case, I hope you can still do something about it. Goodluck and Godbless po.

islaman · September 2014

@habibi Sana kung nalaman mo nang maaga, nag SS ka nalang to make up for the points. God bless you! Malalagpasan mo rin yan.

habibi · September 2014

@islaman actually kung tama yung interpretation nila sa ACS letter ko, di na ko nagbayad sa kanila nung succeeding fees nila at yung visa fee.

islaman · September 2014

@habibi Maybe you can try reaching out to your lawyer already? Kaya ka nagbabayad sa kanila diba, they're supposed to do their jobs WELL. Yun ang trabaho ng agencies diba.

dhey_almighty · September 2014

@habibi ang higpit pala ng ACS...

anyways, anu sabi ng agent mo sa MGA? pwede naman yatang mag appeal...

habibi · September 2014

@dhey_almighty Sabi nila sorry. non-appealable ang nakalagay sa decision record. Sabi ng agent, they've exhausted all the efforts to make the appeal pero hindi ko nakita yung aksyon na yun. They just forwarded the decision record and the engagement is done with their sorry letter.

cholle · September 2014

@habibi Sayang nga. It seems the agent you got or whoever they assigned to your case was incompetent. Medyo common knowledge na nagbabawas ang ACS diba, and given how there are sooo many applicants in IT, dapat ata alam na nila yan. See if you can find a way to get them to pay you back for their incompetence - a refund of the fees you paid them perhaps? I understand it might be draining at this point, dami mong nasayang na pagod at pera. Pero may pag-asa pa yan. Tulad ng nasabi ng iba rito, you can still improve your points by taking the IELTS and/or applying for state sponsorship, then lodge your EOI again this time with the correct points.

I really hope this goes well for you. The people here in the forum will be behind you all the way.

habibi · September 2014

@cholle Yes. Hindi naman nawawalan ng pag-asa. Applied for other country. Kung hindi umabot sa cap, I'll still pursue Australia if ever. Anyway, kainggit ang score mo sa IELTS. Parang highly improbable sa akin yan lalo sa speaking. God bless on your big move to the land down under. Cheers!

dhey_almighty · September 2014

@habibi mate, wag ka nga mawalan ng pagasa...though sayang talaga...

if possible, wag ka na mag agent...try mo ulet subukan through pinoyau na lang...dami naman tutulong sayo dito...un nga lang at panibagong fees na naman...pero malay mo di ba...

anyways, sino agent mo? J P ba ang initials?! :-)

habibi · September 2014

@dhey_almighty Tama madali nga lang yung proseso. After knowing this forum nga, nanghinayang ako before na nagbayad ako ng napakalaki sa agent na ang ginawa lang ay utusan ka na ibigay sa kanya ang dokumento para I-upload nila sa skillselect. Kung sila sana gumawa ng RPL baka sulit pa. Anyway, those are part of the things I've learned. I 've learned it the hard and painful way but life must go on. After all we are doing this for the future of our family and we can't just stop and say we are defeated. Baka may iba pang plano ang Diyos. Anyway, God bless us all! Good luck sa bago mong buhay sa Australia.

dhey_almighty · September 2014

@avascript: bro, andyan ka na...now that alam mo na ang gagawin mo e much smoother na...un nga lang talaga at masakit sa bulsa....pero andyan na yan...wag ka lang bibitiw...more faith ika nga...

God bless pre

lock_code2004 · September 2014

@habibi - dont give up. if your occupation is still in the list, tuloy lang ang laban..
make sure na tama ang declaration sa EOI..
although we know na malaking pera ulit ang visa fee..

mhej · September 2014

The agent I used was also Migration Global Assistance. I am sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience with them. I, however, have been very much satisfied with their service and have in fact, referred a few friends already. One of which, after less than 3 months processing his PR visa 189, has already received his invitation and is well on his way to getting that Visa approved.

I think, sometimes, the competence of the agent assigned to you plays a big factor. Migration Global Assistance needs to look into this as even though some of us can vouch for their credibility and good service, there are some who go through the flipside.

What I can say is though, I don't think Migration Global Assistance is a scam. They are a legitimate migration assistance company.

55 points is not sufficient to submit a visa application. It is a wonder why your agent even recommended you pursue your application. Maybe you can file a complaint with the management of Migration Global Assistance.

habibi · September 2014

@lock_code2004 Thanks. This time alam ko na yung process. By the way, kung visa refused ba ako pwede ulit ako mag-apply? I emailed DIBP pero wala akong narinig na sagot. I need to start over again kasi nagpalit ako ng job. Kailangan ulit ng ACS assessment para sa akin.

gerardds · September 2014

@habibi I just checked your timeline, i remember during that time June-aug 2013 there has been confusions due to the new ruling of ACS because I was also about to submit my ACS requirements...

I think na your agent does not have any clear answer yet of this new ruling (well everyone were also). until there were visa refusals posted on expatforum due to this. Im not sure whether your read these refusals as well?)
anyway, try to wait for DIPB's answer, I believe this issue will not be considered as a fraud
and they will allow you to re-apply

habibi · September 2014

@mhej That was the argument of the owner. Nakapagpadala na sila ng maraming applicant sa Australia and they are very credible. I don't contest that. Actually, ang mga colleagues ko nandun na dahil sa kanila. The deduction of 6 years in my work experience as stated in my ACS letter will be the root of everything. This is a new ruling I suppose kasi yung ibang colleagues ko wala naman daw ganito dati sa kanila. But knowing all of this, if they really know the process, would they let me proceed with the application kung alam talaga nila na ang bagong ruling ng ACS? After getting the letter from ACS, ilang beses ko inulit kung tama ba ang interpretation ko na binawasan ang experience. Ang sabi nila hindi daw. The agent maaari ang nagkamali but if you are the owner, you should take full responsibility of the action of your agents. Going back to my previous statement, their sorry letter was a statement that they were sorry for the bad news that I got but it's not a statement to say that they were sorry for their negligence. As a warning to future applicants who will use an agent not MGA in particular, just make sure na MARA sila. I assume ito ang basis ng 'LEGITIMACY' so to speak.

habibi · September 2014

@habibi I just checked your timeline, i remember during that time June-aug 2013 there has been confusions due to the new ruling of ACS because I was also about to submit my ACS requirements...

I think na your agent does not have any clear answer yet of this new ruling (well everyone were also). until there were visa refusals posted on expatforum due to this. Im not sure whether your read these refusals as well?)
anyway, try to wait for DIPB's answer, I believe this issue will not be considered as a fraud
and they will allow you to re-apply

Hindi ko nabasa yung sa expatforum at mejo hindi ako aware. Kasi nung nakita yung ACS letter ko, nagtanong ako agad sa agent about the interpretation on the letter. Kung alam ko yung ibang case baka ako na mismo angsabi na di na ko tutuloy kaya I relied on the advice of the agent. Unfortunately lead to my Visa refusal go this year. Sana wala na matulad na kasong ganito dahil malaki yung investment, financial, emotional at pagod sa pag-aasikaso ng mga dokumento. Anyway, God bless sa lahat ng mga aspirants. Go for your dreams! Habang may buhay, may pag-asa.

gerardds · September 2014

@habibi really sorry about your case, But i think you should still pursue your dreams,
you have all the documents and knowledge na rin naman,
as for financial, for me i just try to think na maliit lang yun, compare
sa kapalit kung andun ka na sa OZ
Goodluck and God Bless!

mhej · September 2014

@mhej That was the argument of the owner. Nakapagpadala na sila ng maraming applicant sa Australia and they are very credible. I don't contest that. Actually, ang mga colleagues ko nandun na dahil sa kanila. The deduction of 6 years in my work experience as stated in my ACS letter will be the root of everything. This is a new ruling I suppose kasi yung ibang colleagues ko wala naman daw ganito dati sa kanila. But knowing all of this, if they really know the process, would they let me proceed with the application kung alam talaga nila na ang bagong ruling ng ACS? After getting the letter from ACS, ilang beses ko inulit kung tama ba ang interpretation ko na binawasan ang experience. Ang sabi nila hindi daw. The agent maaari ang nagkamali but if you are the owner, you should take full responsibility of the action of your agents. Going back to my previous statement, their sorry letter was a statement that they were sorry for the bad news that I got but it's not a statement to say that they were sorry for their negligence. As a warning to future applicants who will use an agent not MGA in particular, just make sure na MARA sila. I assume ito ang basis ng 'LEGITIMACY' so to speak.

Actually, I kind of went through the same thing. ACS only considered 2 years of my work experience to be related to the skill I was nominating. So essentially, I should be claiming for 0 points on the skill itself. Sabi ng agent ko, we will claim 5 points pa rin (or 10, I don't remember ano yung points for 3-5 years work experience).

Medyo nagworry din ako at some point kasi mamaya baka ma reject yung application ko for incorrect points claim.

I'd say inexperienced yung agent mo or baka wrong timing lang din. I filed my visa application around sept 2013 claiming for 70 points. wala naman naging negative feedback.

It's a tricky bit of area to contest. On the one hand, I'm pretty sure it was clear that once the visa application has been filed, MGA cannot be held accountable for the result of the visa application. On the other hand, your decision to push through with the application is influenced by their agent's advice based on the information and points you have on hand.

Siguro another advice to future applicants who choose to use an agent, if you are uncomfortable pursuing your application due to the number of points you received, make a clear and written statement signed by both yourself and the agent & agent's company that, while you are unsure about pursuing your visa application due to lack of points, the advice of the agent, owing to their "experience" has convinced you to push through with it. A negative result due to ultimately lack of points should be accounted for by the agent and its agency.

They should think twice about pursuing applications when there are obvious reasons not to do it. Tama ka, sobrang laking pera ang ilalabas mo at mawawala.

Another point for DIY (if anyone's taking poll).

habibi · September 2014

"Siguro another advice to future applicants who choose to use an agent, if you are uncomfortable pursuing your application due to the number of points you received, make a clear and written statement signed by both yourself and the agent & agent's company that, while you are unsure about pursuing your visa application due to lack of points, the advice of the agent, owing to their "experience" has convinced you to push through with it. A negative result due to ultimately lack of points should be accounted for by the agent and its agency."

Well said. This is something that would aid future applicants who'll be using an agent.

bookworm · September 2014

@habibi, meron ka bang EOI? Kung meron, continue mo lang, tapos file for state sponsorship. Yung 189 yung refused d b? Puwede mo pa din gamitin yung old work mo since you worked there recently.
Don't start from scratch. Try mo muna mag EOI and then apply for state sponsorship. Ano ba work mo?

habibi · September 2014

@habibi, meron ka bang EOI? Kung meron, continue mo lang, tapos file for state sponsorship. Yung 189 yung refused d b? Puwede mo pa din gamitin yung old work mo since you worked there recently.
Don't start from scratch. Try mo muna mag EOI and then apply for state sponsorship. Ano ba work mo?

Business Analyst ako. Lipat ako trabaho before September kaya need to take ACS assessment ulit dahil kailangan ko isama yung bago para masama sa work experience. Then, that's the time I can file for SS para umabot sa 60 pts. Diretso ba EOI pag SS o kailangan mo muna mag-apply sa state bago EOI?

Xiaomau82 · September 2014

@habibi, meron ka bang EOI? Kung meron, continue mo lang, tapos file for state sponsorship. Yung 189 yung refused d b? Puwede mo pa din gamitin yung old work mo since you worked there recently.
Don't start from scratch. Try mo muna mag EOI and then apply for state sponsorship. Ano ba work mo?
Business Analyst ako. Lipat ako trabaho before September kaya need to take ACS assessment ulit dahil kailangan ko isama yung bago para masama sa work experience. Then, that's the time I can file for SS para umabot sa 60 pts. Diretso ba EOI pag SS o kailangan mo muna mag-apply sa state bago EOI?

you have 55 points based on your employment prior to this new one db? if that is the case, u dont need to start over again. no need to get a new skills assessment. just ensure na valid pa skills assessment mo (24months validity) and Ielts (3 yrs validity). then apply for state nomination. ICT Business Analyst is in NSW State Migration plan, nxt update is on the 1st of Oct.

bookworm · September 2014

@habibi, tama si @Xiaomau82. besides, yung bago mong trabaho, sandali lang yang time. Meron ka na ba EOI? Continue mo lang, pero apply for state sponsorship for the additional 5 points

Puwede ka na ata mag try for melbourne. Check mo requirements ng melbourne and then apply for state sponsorship.