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PRACTICE AREAS

Migration Lawyer Melbourne

As one of Australia’s first law firms to counsel prospective migrants, Nevett Ford has delivered strategic immigration solutions for thousands of people for more than 30 years across a broad range of visa types.

Our senior immigration lawyers and registered migration agents are deeply experienced in all the various employer-sponsored visas, skilled independent migration visas, partner visas, family visas, labour agreements, Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) appeals, Federal Court appeals and Ministerial Intervention matters.

Whether you need an immigration lawyer for visas or citizenship, you are in safe hands with our team of migration experts – including accredited immigration law specialist David Stratton – and Ryan Curtis-Griffiths, Director of Migration, who has been recognised as one of the Leading Immigration Lawyers & Agents by the Doyle’s Guide.

OUR MIGRATION SERVICES

For Employers

For Individuals

Visa Appeals & Reviews

US Migration

Nevett Ford’s migration law services include all aspects of Australian migration, such as:

• Independent applications
• Family migration (including partner – spouse and de facto – and child or parent)
• Employer nominations
• Corporate and business-sponsored temporary and permanent residence visas
• Business skills migration
• General skilled migration
• Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) appeals
• Federal Court matters
• Migration support services.

We can also support individuals looking to visit or live in the US. Our US immigration lawyers can provide advice on the appropriate visa to apply for and guide you through the application process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a migration agent and a migration lawyer?
While both migration agents and migration lawyers can assist with visa applications, lawyers are qualified legal professionals who can provide broader legal advice and representation beyond immigration matters. Migration agents specialise in immigration law and are registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA).
How do I find out if my migration agent is registered?
You should only seek immigration assistance from a registered migration agent to prevent any unwanted problems based on misrepresentation in your migration journey. The OMARA website provides a publicly accessible register of registered migration agents. You can verify the registration status of your migration agent on their online portal.

At Nevett Ford, our migration agents are registered with OMARA and have years of experience and expertise in handling complex migration cases for people from all walks of life.

What is the pathway to permanent residency in Australia?
Permanent residency pathways differ based on individual circumstances, such as skilled migration, family reunion, or employer sponsorship. Our experts will assess your eligibility and guide you on the most suitable pathway to achieve permanent residency.
What are the eligibility criteria for a visa?
Eligibility criteria vary depending on the visa type. Factors may include age, qualifications, work experience, language proficiency, and health requirements. Our team of immigration visa lawyers will conduct a thorough assessment for you and provide you with a clear understanding of your eligibility, as well as steps to improve it.
How long does the migration application process typically take?
The processing time varies based on the visa type. Our expert migration team will assess your case and provide a realistic timeline during your initial consultation.
What if my visa is rejected or denied?
In case of visa rejection, our migration lawyers will assess the reasons for refusal, explore appeal options, and guide you through the appropriate channels, including the Administrative Review Tribunal if necessary.
What is the Administrative Review Tribunal?
The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) is an independent review body that can review decisions made by the Department of Home Affairs regarding visas and other migration-related matters.
Can I represent myself if dealing with the ART or do I need a lawyer?
While you have the option to represent yourself at the ART, having a skilled international immigration lawyer can significantly enhance your chances of a successful outcome by providing legal expertise and strategic advocacy.

Why Choose Us

Decades of Experience

Our experienced lawyers and agents can handle everything from initial eligibility assessments and application lodgement to visa management and appeals.

 

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Personalised Service

We know that every migration case is unique, which is why we tailor our strategies to fit your individual needs and circumstances.

High Success Rate

Our migration lawyers help you prepare ‘decision-ready’ applications for the best chance of a successful migration application result.

Standard Of Care

We believe in more than just legal representation – we believe in building a partnership with our clients that results in a strong and meaningful bond.

 

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Fast Response

Our lawyers pride ourselves on being accessible and responsive to calls and emails.

Initial Fixed Cost Consultations

We provide transparent and affordable fees, so clients would know what the process will look like ahead of time.

 

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

David Stratton

Managing Director

Ryan Curtis-Griffiths

Director

Heather Dzviti

Senior Lawyer

Helen Zheng

Special Counsel

Melissa Vincenty

Senior Lawyer

Rebecca Henzel

Senior Lawyer

Kiri Stefanidis

Lawyer

Lili Sibic

Lawyer

Chloe Wang

Legal Assistant

Shalini Kodikara

Paralegal

Professional Qualifications & Associations

CASE STUDIES

Our team has assisted thousands of clients in obtaining Australian permanent residence and citizenship – even when they have previously been refused.

A client had a partner visa application previously refused due to multiple reasons, including failure to meet the health criteria and character issues (police convictions). They had also been advised by another lawyer that they had no chance of success.

Nevett Ford was able to advise and assist the client through the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) appeals process, as well as the Ministerial Intervention request process to obtain Australian permanent residence, which ultimately resulted in a successful outcome.

A client had a visa cancelled because incorrect information had been provided on the application form many years before. The client had previously written to the Department acknowledging the error and providing correct information.

This notification also occurred years before the visa cancellation decision and so the client assumed that the Department had elected not to act. In the meantime, they had made a substantial commitment to their community and to Australia.

Nevett Ford supported the client on a review application to the Administrative Review Tribunal, which was successful in large part because the Tribunal was mindful of the impact of a cancellation on the applicant’s young children.

 

A client had applied to the Department for a S/C482 visa based on being an ‘in-house’ accountant for the nominating business. However, the Department refused the application because the business used outside accountants for taxation work and the Department’s view was that the duties associated with the applicant’s position were more bookkeeping-related instead of those typically associated with an accountant role.

Nevett Ford was able to demonstrate to the Administrative Review Tribunal that the large business derived much of its million-dollar sales revenues from overseas. This led to multiple issues to manage relating to exchange rates and frequent price adjustments on stock, which was the principal role of the internal accountant and was clearly distinguishable from the work performed by the external accountants. The review application was ultimately successful.

Topics We’ve Written About

Family Violence provisions for Skilled visa applications

Family Violence provisions for Skilled visa applications

The Department of Affairs has extended family violence provisions to seven Skilled visa subclass, allowing secondary applicants to access family violence protections. These Skilled visas include: Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Regional Sponsored Migration...

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Australian Partner visa – Things you need to know

Australian Partner visa – Things you need to know

The Australian government thoroughly reviews all partner visa applications regarding your relationship to determine if it meets the relevant criteria. Australian Partner visas, which include the Partner Visa 309, Partner Visa 100, Partner Visa 820, and Partner Visa...

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New Visa Ballot System for Work and Holiday Visas

New Visa Ballot System for Work and Holiday Visas

The government recently announced a new visa pre-application, or ballot, process for individuals from certain partner countries who wish to apply for Work and Holiday visas. This system is aimed at ensuring a fair distribution of visas in cases where the number of...

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The Workplace Justice Visa

The Workplace Justice Visa

Employers beware! Have you heard about the new Workplace Justice Visa that protects overseas workers? As of the 1st of July 2024, the Australian Government has implemented the Workplace Justice Visa in the Migration Amendment Regulations 2024. This visa safeguards...

read more

Testimonials

Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value

"Friendly, professional service. Subject matter promptly dealt with. Will recommend them."

Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value

"Ryan Curtis-Griffiths and Jacqui Azouz provided excellent legal work.  I am a lawyer in the United States so I expect a lot.  And I got it from Ryan and Jacqui.  They are knowledgeable, efficient and very easy to work with. I will use them whenever I have an opportunity. "

Professionalism, Responsiveness, Value

"I cannot find any words to describe the professionalism of thos firm. Everyone from the reception to financial services and not to say Mae who helped out was absolutely amazing. I had Richard Hamilton who was definitely someone I will always have to represent me if I need any further help. Keep up the fantastic work ?  "

Reliable Lawyer and Good Expertise

"Richard Hamilton is a very genuine lawyer with very good expertise, good values and ethics of responsibility. He is not one of the lawyers in the market who would deceive you with false hopes. I found him very reliable which is something you need when you are going through a difficult family court case. Richard is also very good in returning to calls and emails. I definitely recommend him."

Excellent services and advice

"Ryan has been my migration lawyer of a number of years now and has been successful in obtaining PR and Australian Citizenship for me. His advice is clear, straight forward and tailored to an individual's needs. He puts in the effort and time and always cares for his clients. Overall, I received a first-class service from him, and I highly recommend him to anyone looking for migration advice."

The best immigration service provider in Mel

"In all respect to achieve your PR and the pathway for citizenship was done very professionally ! Special thanks to Rayan ( MD) who helped me in all the way throughout to achieve goal."

Best choice

"Ryan Curtis-Griffiths knowledge of immigration law, a skills in preparing all documents, excellent communication skills, rapid response to my inquiries, thoughtful and good listener."

Professional Service with Attention to Detail

"We engaged Nevett Ford Lawyers to prepare our 186 Business Nomination and Visa Application. Ryan provided outstanding service by assisting us with all his experience in the industry. It was the best decision to work with Ryan as he always listened to our instructions and assisted with timely advise. I would definitely recommend Ryan and his team to anyone looking for a Immigration lawyer."

Professional Service and Prompt Response

"Ryan and his team made sure the process of 186 Business Nomination and Visa application were as seamless as possible. We always received prompt response and correct advise regarding the matter. I would happily recommend Ryan and Nevett Ford to anyone who wants assistance with 186 visas."

Best Lawyers in the business

"Looked after me. Always made sure I knew what was going on and why, but also made sure my mental health was top priority."

Very professional team

"Great professional team, best communicating with the customer."

Legal expertise, Client focused service, Courtesy

"Nevett Ford Lawyers, including paralegals and administrative staff, displayed professional and reliable services. All staff with whom I interacted responded promptly to my queries and requests. Their polite and friendly manner was appreciated and reassuring."

Professional, Efficient & Supportive

"A Positive outcome of Permanent Residency from a Ministerial Intervention is what we achieved through Nevett Ford Lawyers. David Stratton and his Team have been highly efficient and professional along the entire journey through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and Ministerial Intervention. The Team managed our file with great care and patience while supporting us through the entire process during the past four years. We would highly recommend Nevett Ford Lawyers for their Professionalism and Task Accomplishments."

Ryan and Shalini worked extremely hard for us

"Ryan and Shalini's communication skills were what really stood out to us. They replied to emails most of the time within minutes and did a good job on helping us stay realistic about expectations as our case was extremely difficult and had a high chance of failure, they did a brilliant job of getting the visa through for my partner."

Service provided was professional & prompt

"Great communication, friendly interaction with all staff (including reception), prompt and did what they said they would do."

Navigating a tricky workplace case

"Generous with their time. Fair and pragmatic advice from which I was able to make an informed decision."

Mlam Camou (MlCam)
Mlam Camou (MlCam)
2023-08-31
I will recommend definitely this services to anyone who wants a clear and positive outcome for his immigration case. Professionalism and experience are also 2 very important points to consider when you decide Nevett ford to represent you. I am satisfy with their work to be honest.Thank you Nevett Ford Lawyers for your excellent work.
Lisa-Marie Hinton
Lisa-Marie Hinton
2023-08-31
My visa application was the most challenging time of my life. It was so much pressure, lots of tears and emotions. Ryan and the wonderful Team guided our family and secured my husband and children Citizenship and my PR. I think Ryan has a beautiful heart and is very kind. He listened to me when I was at my wits-end and could only cry on the phone. I would choose Ryan again. It has been a difficult journey but he never gave up on helping my family in the fight of staying together. Forever grateful. The Hintons xxx
Vivien Karabinas
Vivien Karabinas
2023-08-31
The expertise and service received by lawyer Sophie Stickland was efficient, caring and reasonably priced. I would highly recommend her. Thank you.
Jervin Paul Dhas
Jervin Paul Dhas
2023-08-30
Had the pleasure of working with Lili for my PR application and I had a very good experience. She was very responsive and guided me and provided updates in every step and the entire process was smooth and quick. Highly recommend their services and one of the best. Thanks again Team
Tom Simpson
Tom Simpson
2023-08-29
During the period between 2020 - 2023 i was applying for a permanent partner visa and hired Ryan to assist me.I had spoke to 7 other immigration lawyers prior to Ryan, and the general feedback i would get back was negative (installing doubt into my mind about the likelihood of obtaining a visa in my circumstance). Ryan was the only lawyer who had a positive attitude and was optimistic about my situation and gave me a lot of free advice about what i could do even before i hired him, this was a major green flag to me so i made the decision to hire him.I couldn't of asked for a better lawyer, i would highly recommended his services to anyone. Good communication, fast responses, never hesitant to answer any queries, pleasant to speak to and most importantly a good lawyer that gets the job done.I recently obtained my PR after a 3 year process and I cannot thank Ryan (and the team) enough for their service.
Hieronim Wiatrowski
Hieronim Wiatrowski
2023-08-23
Lili Sibic was ery professional and helpful. Highly recommended ????
Jessica Liu
Jessica Liu
2023-08-21
Awesome and extremely professional and patient. Highly recommended!!!
Antonia
Antonia
2023-08-17
Experienced, organised and friendly, Ryan is always helpful and reassuring during the entire visa application process. The entire duration has made him more than just a lawyer but a friend.
Hiro Kamisugi
Hiro Kamisugi
2023-08-16
Nathan and Jean as team helped me for my first home purchase. Even though I knew nothing of this matter, they made my whole journey nice and comfortable. Everyone around myself tells me that purchasing home is a very stressful journey, but I was totally fine with their help. Don’t think I can ever ask anyone else for my next home in the future!

    Contact us


    If you are overseas, please call our office on +61 3 9614 7111 between the hours of 9:00am to 5:30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time. Outside of these hours, please indicate your email address below and we will reply to you as soon as possible.