 Under Australian law, in order to provide immigration assistance, you must either be a registered migration agent or exempt from registration. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship investigates complaints of unlawful assistance. If you are not registered or exempt and help someone in their dealings with the department, make sure you know what you can and cannot do. You can help with clerical work, translating or interpreting, advising someone they need a visa or passing on information received from another source. You can't tell them what visa to apply for, how to apply for the visa, or use your experience in immigration processes to help them. Immigration investigation officers can be sent to your workplace or home. Officers from the Federal Police can execute warrants to find evidence to be used for prosecution. If you are an unregistered migration agent in Australia, you're breaking the law. The penalties are serious. If prosecuted, you are liable for fines and jail terms. Advertising that you give immigration assistance, the penalty is up to two years imprisonment. Charging a fee or reward for providing immigration assistance, the penalty is up to ten years imprisonment. Falsely representing that you are a registered migration agent, the penalty is up to two years imprisonment. For giving immigration assistance when you are not a registered agent, the penalty is up to $6,600. Unregistered agents can also be issued with on-the-spot fines. Failure to pay the fine could result in prosecution. Multiple fines can be issued to the same offender. Always ask an agent if they are registered with the office of the MARA, that is, the Migration Agents Registration Authority. You are unsure you can check online at www.mara.gov.au If you use an unregistered person and they submit false documents with your application, you could have your visa cancelled and ultimately be removed from Australia involuntarily. If you know of someone who is operating illegally as an unregistered migration agent or if you are a victim, report it to the department. Go to the department's website and tick the box for unregistered agent activity. Or you can call our DOB in line on 1800 009 623.