Immigration Law

The Migration Division includes solicitors with accredited specialist knowledge. Our lawyers provide assistance in all aspects of migration law and practice including but not limited to:

  • Business migration
  • Family and partner visas
  • Parent migration
  • Distinguished talent visas
  • Employer sponsored migration
  • Skilled migration
  • Resident return visas
  • Refugee and humanitarian visas
  • Citizenship

This Division is able to assist clients with the preparation and lodgment of visa and citizenship applications, and with various steps in the processing of applications including responding to request for more information and invitation to comment letters.

Our lawyers have experience in cases with incorrect information or bogus documents, PIC 4020, health, identity, and genuineness concerns. This Division also assists in all visa cancellation matters including character cancellations, student visa cancellations and compliance issues.

The Migration Division has significant experience in acting for clients in review applications, both merits review applications at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), and judicial review applications filed in the Federal Circuit Court (FCC), the Federal Court and the High Court of Australia.

Our lawyers have specialist expertise in dealing with complex judicial and merits review cases.  This Division also assists clients with making representations to the Minister to exercise his discretion in the public interest, depending on the circumstances of the case.

The firm acts for both public and private corporations, government instrumentalities, consulates and private individuals in relation to their migration matters and also frequently assists and works in conjunction with other lawyers and migration agents in complex cases.

The Migration Division is staffed by lawyers, including those with Law Institute Accredited Specialisation in immigration law.

One specialist lawyer is the current chairperson of the advisory committee in immigration law to the Specialisation Board of the Law Institute of Victoria and has been listed in Best Lawyers for immigration law.

Some of our lawyers have been lecturing in immigration law at the College of Law and Justice, Victoria University for almost 30 years.

Complaints to Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) or other relevant agencies including Legal Services Board

FCG’s Migration Division is able to assist with complaints made to OMARA and the relevant State Legal Services Board against migration agents and legal practitioners.  It also assists in any subsequent review by the AAT or VCAT.

How we assist lawyers and migration agents includes:

  • Strategic and pre-emptive advice relating to complaints and other matters
  • Second opinions for complex cases
  • Preparing and reviewing fee estimates and agreements for fees and services
  • Preparation of complex submissions to the Department of Home Affairs and Administrative Appeals Tribunal
  • Appearances before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Immigration Compliance and Audit Requirements

FCG’s Migration Division is able to assist businesses and companies with their compliance with migration laws and procedures, especially regarding the hiring of non-citizen personnel.

The Migration Act and Regulations are extremely prescriptive in nature and businesses need to ensure compliance with these regulations FCG’s Migration Division is able to assist with the audit of personnel files and systems to ensure compliance with the strict regulatory regime.

Contact

Feel free to contact us whether you are a prospective visa applicant seeking further information as to your options for migration, or a migration agent or lawyer seeking assistance with complex migration law issues.