956表格

956(Designdate11/10)-Page1©COMMONWEALTHOFAUSTRALIA,2010Advicebyamigrationagent/exemptpersonofprovidingimmigrationassistanceForm956Non-registeredmigrationagentsoutsideAustraliaMigrationagentsoperatingoutsideAustraliadonothavetoberegisteredwiththeOfficeoftheMARA.Thedepartmentmayissueoffshoreagentswithanidentificationnumberforadministrativepurposesonly.ThisnumberdoesnotmeanthattheagentisregisteredanditdoesnotrepresentendorsementoftheagentbytheAustralianGovernment.ExemptpersonsThefollowingpeopledonothavetoberegisteredasmigrationagentsinordertoprovideimmigrationassistance:�aclosefamilymember(spouse,child,adoptedchild,parent,brotherorsisterofavisaapplicant);�asponsorornominatorforavisaapplicant;�amemberofparliamentortheirstaff;�anofficialwhosedutiesincludeprovidingimmigrationassistance;�amemberofadiplomaticmission,consularpostorinternationalorganisation.Asanexemptpersonyoumustnotchargeafeeforyourservice.InAustralia,ifyoudochargeafeeyouarecommittinganoffenceandpenaltiesofupto10yearsjailcanapply.AuthorisedrecipientAnauthorisedrecipientisapersonappointedtoreceiveallwrittencommunicationsfromthedepartmentonbehalfofanotherperson.Ifyouarenotappointedastheauthorisedrecipient,allwrittencommunicationwillbesenttotheclientortheirappointedauthorisedrecipient.RolesandresponsibilitiesThedepartmentThedepartmentwill:�discusstheclient’scasewithyou;�sendwrittencommunicationstoyou(ifyouarealsoappointedastheauthorisedrecipient);�seekinformationfromyou.RegisteredmigrationagentsIfyouaregivingimmigrationassistancetoavisaapplicantinrelationtoavisaapplicationandgivethatassistanceafterhavingagreedtorepresenttheapplicant,section312AoftheMigrationAct1958andregulation7GoftheMigrationAgentsRegulations1998requireyoutoinformthedepartment.Onewayyoucandothisisbysendingacompletedform956tothedepartment.Whoshouldusethisform?Thisformcanonlybeusedby:�aregisteredmigrationagent;�anon-registeredmigrationagentoutsideAustralia;or�anexemptperson.ThisformshouldbeusedtonotifytheDepartmentofImmigrationandCitizenship(thedepartment)that:�youhavebeenappointedbyaclient(eg.avisaapplicant)toprovideimmigrationassistancewithmattersundertheMigrationAct1958and,ifapplicable,toalsoactasthethatperson’sauthorisedrecipient;or�yourappointmenthasended.(Youmaynotifythedepartmentofthisinwritingifyouprefer.)Aseparateform956Advicebyamigrationagent/exemptpersonofprovidingimmigrationassistancemustbecompletedforeachmatter.Donotusethisformif:�youhaveonlybeenappointedasanauthorisedrecipient(ie.youarenotprovidinganyimmigrationassistance);or�yourappointmentasanauthorisedrecipienthasended.Inthesecases,thepersonforwhomyouaretheauthorisedrecipientshouldcompleteform956AAppointmentorwithdrawalofanauthorisedrecipient.Whatisimmigrationassistance?Apersongivesimmigrationassistanceifheorsheuses,orclaimstouse,hisorherknowledgeorexperienceinmigrationproceduretoassistapersonwithmattersrelatedundertheMigrationAct1958.Themostcommontimesassistanceisprovidedisduringvisaapplicationprocesses,visacancellationprocesses,sponsorshipprocesses(includingmonitoringorsanctions)orministerialinterventionrequests.Note:Immigrationassistancedoesnotincludesimplyfillinginanapplicationform,translatingorinterpretingorpassingoninformationaboutanapplicationwithoutcommentorexplanation.RegisteredmigrationagentsAregisteredmigrationagentisapersonwhoisregisteredwiththeOfficeoftheMigrationAgentsRegistrationAuthority(OfficeoftheMARA)toprovideimmigrationassistance.IfoperatinginAustralia,migrationagentsmustberegisteredwiththeOfficeoftheMARA.InformationonmigrationagentsisavailableontheOfficeoftheMARAwebsite(IAAAS)Ifyouarearegisteredmigrationagentwhoisassistingaclientunderthisscheme,pleaseindicatethisontheformatQuestion8.956(Designdate11/10)-Page2©COMMONWEALTHOFAUSTRALIA,2010AbouttheinformationyougiveThedepartmentisauthorisedundertheMigrationAct1958tocollectinformationprovidedonthisform.Theinformationprovidedwillbeusedbythedepartmenttocommunicatewithyou,andtomonitoragentsforintegritypurposes.Itmayalsobedisclosedtoagenciesauthorisedtoreceiveinformationrelatingtoadoption,bordercontrol,businessskills,citizenship,education,healthassessment,healthinsurance,healthservices,lawenforcement,paymentofpensionsandbenefits,taxation,reviewofdecisionsandregulationofmigrationagentsandotherprofessionals.Theinformationform993iSafeguardingyourpersonalinformation,availablefromthedepartment’swebsite:�provideyourclientwithanestimateoffeesandastatementofservices;�actwithhonesty,integrityandinatimelymannerwhendealingwithclientsorthedepartment;�maintainasoundanduptodateknowledgeofmigrationlawandprocedure;�actlawfullyinthebestinterestsofyourclients;�providerelevantinformationwithapplications;�notifyclientsandthedepartmentpromptlyofanychangestocontactdetails;�avoidormanageconflictsofinterest.Youmustnot:�intimidateorcoercean