Employer Sponsored Visas
Skills in Demand (482), Employer Nominated (186), Regional Sponsored (494), Labour Agreements, and DAMA streams.
Australian Immigration Law
Australian immigration lawyers, not migration agents.
Visa Plan Migration Lawyers acts for individuals and businesses across employer-sponsored visas, skilled migration, partner and family streams, business and investor visas, citizenship, and Administrative Review Tribunal appeals. Every matter is handled by an admitted solicitor under the Legal Profession Uniform Law, not a migration agent.
- Admitted solicitors, not migration agents
- · Legal Professional Privilege on all communications
- · Australia-wide and offshore representation
- · Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation
Immigration Law Practice Areas
Solicitor-led advice across all Australian visa categories.
Skilled Visas
Skilled Independent (189), State Nominated (190), Regional Skilled (491), and skill assessment guidance.
Partner Visas
Onshore (820/801) and offshore (309/100) applications, including same-sex and domestic-violence streams.
Family Visas
Parent, child, and remaining-relative streams under the family migration program.
Business and Investor Visas
Business Innovation, Significant Investor, and the National Innovation visa stream.
Visa Appeals
Administrative Review Tribunal merits review and Federal Court judicial review.
Citizenship
Conferral applications, citizenship by descent, and resumption of Australian citizenship.
Skill Assessment
Assessment authority strategy and submission preparation across nominated occupations.
Why instruct an immigration solicitor, not a migration agent
Most Australian visa applicants do not realise the difference. A migration agent is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority and works to a regulated scope under the Migration Act. An immigration solicitor is admitted to legal practice under the Legal Profession Uniform Law, holds Legal Professional Privilege over client communications, and can represent matters in the Administrative Review Tribunal and the Federal Court. The difference matters most when an application is complex, contested, or refused.
Legal Professional Privilege
Communications with a migration agent are not privileged and can be subpoenaed by the Department of Home Affairs. Communications with an admitted solicitor are protected by Legal Professional Privilege under the Evidence Act, in line with all other legal practice in Australia.
Court representation
A migration agent cannot represent you in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia or the Federal Court. A solicitor can. If your matter requires judicial review of a Migration Act decision, the firm handles it end-to-end without referral to external counsel.
Strategic, not procedural
Migration agents are paid to lodge applications. Solicitors are retained to obtain outcomes. The brief is different from the start: structure the matter, address the legal risk, prepare for tribunal review, and litigate where required. This is the work Visa Plan Migration Lawyers does on every file.
Where to start
Migration Lawyers
Solicitor-led representation across all visa categories, ART merits review, and Federal Court judicial review. National practice with the head office in Melbourne, available to clients across Australia and offshore.
Migration Agents
What migration agents can and cannot do, when an agent is sufficient, and when an admitted solicitor is required. A reference for clients deciding which type of representation suits their matter.
Speak with an immigration solicitor before lodging
An initial conversation with a solicitor gives you a written assessment of your visa pathway, the legal risks specific to your matter, and a clear scope and fee for any work that follows.
Book a ConsultationA legal practice, on the record
Visa Plan Migration Lawyers operates as an Australian legal practice under the Legal Profession Uniform Law. The credentials below define how the firm differs from migration agencies, and what they mean in practice for your matter.
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Admitted solicitors only.
Every immigration matter at the firm is handled by a solicitor admitted to legal practice in an Australian jurisdiction. No migration-agent-only files.
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Prior Australian Government legal experience.
The practice carries prior in-house experience advising the Australian Government on migration and administrative law, applied to private immigration work.
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Legal Professional Privilege on all client communications.
Communications between the firm and clients are subject to Legal Professional Privilege under the Evidence Act and the Legal Profession Uniform Law.
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Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
Required of every Australian incorporated legal practice; the firm carries professional indemnity insurance accordingly.
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National practice, Melbourne head office.
The firm operates from Level 13, 257 Collins Street, Melbourne, and represents clients across all Australian states and territories and offshore.
What the firm handles
Across the Australian visa system, the firm represents clients in the categories below. Each links to a dedicated practice page with the substantive law, application thresholds, and current processing realities.
Employer-sponsored visas
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is the principal employer-sponsored work visa, replacing the former Temporary Skill Shortage stream. The Employer Nominated visa (subclass 186) provides direct permanent residence for nominated workers in eligible occupations. The Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 494) covers regional employer sponsorship. Visa Plan Migration Lawyers acts for both employers and employees, including labour agreement and Designated Area Migration Agreement arrangements. Where a sponsor's accreditation is at issue, or where a nomination has been refused, the firm handles the merits review and judicial review pathway.
Skilled migration
The General Skilled Migration program covers the Skilled Independent (189), State Nominated (190), and Regional Skilled (491) streams. Each stream has its own occupation list and different thresholds for points, age, English, and skill assessment. The firm advises on stream selection, points calculation, skill assessment authority strategy, and state nomination submissions, and acts in ART merits review where points or English language test results have been disputed by the Department.
Partner and family visas
Partner visa applications cover the onshore (subclass 820/801) and offshore (subclass 309/100) streams, with separate provisions for same-sex couples and applicants exiting domestic-violence relationships. Family visa applications include the parent, child, and remaining-relative streams. The firm prepares evidence of relationship, manages decision timing across the two-stage onshore and offshore pathway, and acts in ART merits review on relationship and refusal grounds.
Business and investor visas
The Business Innovation and Investment Program includes the Significant Investor stream and the National Innovation visa stream introduced under the recent program redesign. The firm advises on stream selection, structuring of qualifying investment, business plan preparation, and source-of-funds documentation. Investor matters require coordination with tax advisers and licensed financial planners; the firm leads the legal work and coordinates with external advisers as required.
ART appeals and judicial review
Where a visa application has been refused, the next step is merits review at the Administrative Review Tribunal in the Protection and Immigration Jurisdictional Area. The firm handles ART preparation and representation, including hearing advocacy, and where the tribunal decision is itself contested, judicial review proceedings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia or the Federal Court. Time limits for both review pathways are short and statutory; early instruction is essential.
Citizenship
Australian citizenship by conferral is open to permanent residents who meet the residence requirement and pass the citizenship test. Citizenship by descent applies to those born outside Australia to an Australian parent. The firm handles citizenship applications, identity and character evidence, resumption applications, and review at the Administrative Review Tribunal where a citizenship application has been refused.
Australia-wide representation
The firm represents clients across all Australian states and territories, and applicants outside Australia where the visa stream allows. The pages below cover city-level representation across the firm's practice footprint.
Verified Google Reviews
A selection of recent reviews from clients across the firm's practice areas.
★★★★★
"I had an excellent experience with Andrew and Aileen throughout my visa journey. From start to finish, they were professional, supportive, and incredibly knowledgeable. They guided me through every step of the process, answered all my questions patiently, and made everything feel much less stressful."
★★★★★
"Visa granted after less than 2 months — faster than forecasted. I cannot thank the whole Visa Plan team enough, but especially want to give a special shoutout to Katherine Ho and Jasper Galvez. They handled our difficult and tumultuous application process with extreme care and patience."
★★★★★
"I applied for my partner visa with Visa Plan and received my subclass 820 visa approval today. My case was extremely complex and honestly felt almost impossible, but the Visa Plan team made it happen. They were very thorough, detail-oriented, and always showed genuine care and understanding for my situation."
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions clients ask most often before instructing the firm.
What is the difference between a migration agent and an immigration lawyer in Australia?
A migration agent is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority and works to a regulated scope under the Migration Act. An immigration lawyer is an admitted solicitor under the Legal Profession Uniform Law. The lawyer holds Legal Professional Privilege over client communications, can represent matters in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and the Federal Court, and is bound by the broader professional conduct framework that applies to all Australian legal practitioners.
Why use an immigration lawyer rather than handling a visa application yourself?
Most straightforward visa applications can be lodged without legal representation. Where the matter involves complex character or health issues, prior visa refusals, an employer accreditation question, an ART appeal, or judicial review, legal representation substantially affects the outcome. The legal risks at stake, including refusal, cancellation, and bans from re-application, are difficult to assess from public materials alone.
What is the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) and what role does it play in visa decisions?
The Administrative Review Tribunal is the federal merits review body that replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in 2024. Visa decisions made by the Department of Home Affairs that an applicant disagrees with are reviewable at the Tribunal in the Protection and Immigration Jurisdictional Area. The ART can affirm, vary, or set aside the original decision, and remit the matter back to the Department for redetermination.
Can Visa Plan Migration Lawyers represent applicants outside Australia?
Yes. The firm acts for offshore applicants in every visa category that admits offshore lodgement, including offshore partner (309/100), employer-sponsored, skilled migration, and business and investor streams. Communication is handled remotely; client identification follows the firm's standard verification process for offshore matters.
What is Legal Professional Privilege in immigration matters and why does it matter?
Legal Professional Privilege is a common law principle, codified in the Evidence Act, that protects communications between a client and an admitted solicitor from compulsory disclosure. In an immigration matter, a notice from the Department or a subpoena in subsequent proceedings cannot compel disclosure of privileged advice. Communications with a migration agent do not carry this protection.
What practice areas does Visa Plan Migration Lawyers handle?
Employer-sponsored visas (Skills in Demand 482, Employer Nominated 186, Regional Sponsored 494, Labour Agreements, DAMA), General Skilled Migration (189, 190, 491), partner and family visas, business and investor visas, citizenship, ART merits review, and Federal Court judicial review of Migration Act decisions.
Does the firm handle judicial review of immigration decisions?
Yes. Where a tribunal decision is contested on jurisdictional or legal error grounds, the firm acts in judicial review proceedings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia or the Federal Court. Time limits are statutory and short, typically 35 days from the tribunal decision, and early instruction is essential.
What is a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA)?
A DAMA is a labour agreement between the Australian Government and a regional or state authority that allows local employers to sponsor overseas workers for occupations not available under standard employer-sponsored streams. Each DAMA has its own occupation list, salary concessions, and English thresholds. DAMA visas are granted under subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) or 494 (Regional Sponsored).
How does an Employer Sponsored visa differ from a Skilled Independent visa?
An Employer Sponsored visa requires an Australian employer to nominate the applicant for a specific position. A Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) does not require sponsorship; it is points-tested against age, English, qualifications, and work experience. The Skilled Independent stream is selective and competitive; employer-sponsored streams trade points-testing for the constraint of an employer commitment.
How do I get started with Visa Plan Migration Lawyers?
Make an enquiry through the form on this page or call (03) 9958 5854. An initial conversation with one of the firm's solicitors covers your visa pathway, the legal risks specific to your matter, and a clear scope and fee for any work that follows. Most engagements run on fixed fees against scoped deliverables.
Information current as at 8 May 2026. Visa Plan Migration Lawyers is an incorporated legal practice. The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice.