Family Reunification #
Many newcomers hope to reunite with loved ones overseas. Community Supporter Groups can help by directing people to trusted migration advice while avoiding the provision of legal or migration advice themselves.
At a glance #
- Family reunification is often a high priority for newcomers.
- CSGs should not provide legal or migration advice.
- Encourage newcomers to seek advice from registered migration agents or specialist refugee legal services.
- Be cautious of people offering migration assistance without registration.
Understanding family reunification #
Many Refugee Households will seek information about bringing family members to Australia. Although the process can involve significant costs and lengthy processing times, taking steps towards family reunification can be an important part of helping newcomers feel settled and hopeful about the future.
Do not provide migration advice #
Community Supporter Groups should not provide legal or migration advice. Giving advice about visa options or migration processes may expose both the adviser and the Refugee Household to unnecessary risk and could result in incorrect information being relied upon.
Instead, encourage newcomers to seek advice from a registered migration professional before lodging visa applications or paying anyone for migration assistance.
Find a registered migration agent #
The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) maintains a register of all registered migration agents. Newcomers can use the register to find a migration agent or confirm that an agent is currently registered.
Resource: https://www.mara.gov.au/
Free migration assistance #
Specialist refugee legal services provide free migration advice in many parts of Australia. While waiting times can be long, some organisations may be able to provide initial advice about visa options before offering more comprehensive migration assistance.
Resource: https://crsa-community-hub.zohocs.com.au/zcs/manual/settling-in-and-the-year-ahead/article/refugee-legal-and-m
“Supporting family reunification begins with helping newcomers access trusted, qualified advice rather than providing migration advice yourself.”
