For thousands of people each year, migrating to Australia is an exciting and life-changing journey – but it’s also a complex legal process that involves regulations, paperwork and strict deadlines. This is where migration agents play a crucial role in guiding their clients through the visa system to ensure the best possible outcome.
To provide you with a deeper understanding of the profession and what success entails, we spoke with Dr Fadi Kotob, an experienced migration agent and program convenor for the Migration Capstone Assessment Preparation Program at UTS.
What does a migration agent do?
Migration agents are professional advisors who act for clients in migration and visa matters. “It’s a role that allows you to positively influence the lives of your clients,” says Dr Kotob.
“Whether you’re assisting people who fear persecution in their home country, couples who are seeking to start their life in Australia, grandparents looking to spend time with their grandchildren, relatives looking to visit family Australia, tourists, working holiday makers or skilled people looking to call Australia home – your assistance will transform the lives of many.”
To succeed in this field, you’ll need the capability to advise across different visa types, including visitor, partner, parent, student, skilled, and employer-sponsored visas.
“You should also develop your ability to assist in other matters, such as citizenship and visa refusal review applications,” adds Dr Kotob.
Steps to becoming a registered migration agent
To become a registered migration agent, you must:
1. Complete a university qualification from an accredited provider, such as the Graduate Diploma in Migration Law and Practice at UTS.
2. Pass the Migration Agent Capstone Assessment, which is managed by an independent body.
The Migration Agents Capstone Assessment tests your ability to provide ethical, accurate, and professional immigration assistance. Success in this Capstone exam requires more than just theoretical knowledge – it’s about applying your understanding in a practical, client-focused way.
“Being able to pass the Capstone exam is dependent on your ability to communicate well, see the big picture, and advise people accurately about their options,” says Dr Kotob.
“Capstone Assessors expect you to answer various multiple choice, written and oral questions, and to use clear language that is simple for clients to understand. The scenarios they provide are complex and require detailed knowledge about migration law.”
Preparation is key. Dr Kotob advises candidates to approach the exam with a strategic mindset and not to assume that knowledge from the Graduate Diploma is enough to pass.
“Candidates often fail to understand the questions being assessed or check the number of marks allocated for each task. This leads to assigning too much time to answering questions that carry few marks,” adds Dr Kotob.
To succeed in the exam, you’ll need broad, practical knowledge of the migration law landscape, including “visas, citizenship, reviews, the Code of Conduct, and the Occupational Competency Standards.”
How to prepare for the Migration Capstone Assessment
To support aspiring agents, UTS offers a Migration Capstone Assessment Preparation Program. It’s an online short course designed to equip you for the Capstone Assessment and for real-world migration practice.
“The Capstone Preparation Program gives you the opportunity to work in a group setting and prepare resources that will assist you in answering exam questions,” says Dr Kotob.
“It offers numerous practice opportunities through quizzes, answering complex scenarios and practicing for the oral exam. Further, it provides timed assessments that emulate the exam.”
You’ll also complete a final practice interview with a supervising registered migration agent to receive authentic feedback on the skills needed to pass the Capstone Assessment.
For those considering a career in migration law, Dr Kotob says your hard work will help change lives.
“Be ready – the migration industry is very rewarding, yet very demanding. You must be ready to work ethically and hard while putting clients at the centre.”
