A properly filled out Form 956 is a requirement if the person applying for a tourist visa to Australia needs an authorized representative to communicate with the Department of Immigration through different mediums such as fax, email, or other electronic means.
Only a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner, or an exempt person can fill out Form 956. A close family member such as the children’s parents can act as an “Exempt Person” and hence can fill out the form on the latter’s behalf.
As the Exempt Person, you need to fill up this form for your children who at the time of your visa application is a minor and has no capability to apply for their own visa to travel with you to Australia.
Form 956 has 3 parts which are composed of 3 pages and has 24 questionnaires. Part A is for the details of the migration agent or an authorized representative of the applicant, Part B the ending appointment, and Part C is for the Declarations.
You only need to fill out the questionnaires and ticked the boxes that you think are necessary. If you look at the sample filled-out form 956, you will see the checkmark on boxes, and the details were in red characters.
This is based on our experience only. In this part, I will share with you how we fill out Form 956 to the best of our knowledge and understanding. On page 1 the questionnaires that we answer are the following items.
Question 1. Are you notifying the department that you have been appointed to provide immigration assistance, or that your appointment has ended?
Answer: tick the “New Appointment” box
Part A – New Appointment Migration Agent/Exempt Person’s Details
Question 2. Migration Agent / Exempt Person’s Details
Answer: tick Mrs or Mr depending on the civil status of the Exempt person. Afterward, write the family name, given name, and date of birth of the exempt person/authorized representative.
Question 3. Organization name (if applicable)
Answer: This is not applicable so leave it blank
Question 4. Business or Residential Address
Answer: Write your complete address and postal code in the given space
Question 5. Address for Correspondence (if the same as business or residential address, write “Same as Above”)
Answer: Same as Above
Question 6. Telephone Numbers
Answer: write the Country Code + Area Code + Mobile Number
Question 7. Do you agree to the department communicating with you by fax, email, or other electronic means?
Answer: tick the “Yes” box then write your fax number or email address.
Question 8. In what capacity are you providing assistance?
Answer: tick the box for “Exempt Person”.
Question 9. Migration Agent Registration Number (MARN)
Answer: Not Applicable so leave it blank
Question 10. Is there another registered migration agent from your organization who the department may discuss this case with if you are unavailable?
Answer: Not available so leave it blank
Question 11. Offshore Agent ID Number
Answer: Not applicable so leave it blank
Question 12. Reason You Are Exempt from Registration
Answer: Tick the box that says “Close Family member (Spouse, Child, Parent, Brother, or Sister).”
Question 13. The person receiving immigration assistance (ie. the client) is a (tick one only)
Answer: Tick the box that says “Visa Applicant”
Question 14. Client 1 Full name (if the client is an organization, provide the name of the contact person)
Answer: Write in Form 956 the full name, given name, date of birth, business or residential address, and mobile phone number.
Question 15. Names of other clients you are providing immigration assistance to in relation to the same matter (eg. dependent applicants)
Answer: Not applicable so leave it blank
Question 16. Are you providing assistance with an application process, a cancellation process or specific matter (tick one only)
Answer: Tick the box that says “Application Process”. Afterward, under the type of application, input Tourist Visa (Subclass 600). Also, tick the box that says Not yet lodged.
Question 17. Provide at least one of the following numbers (if known)
Answer: Not applicable so leave it blank
Question 18. Have you been authorized to receive written communication on behalf of your client(s) in relation to the matter indicated in Question 16?
Answer: Tick the box that says “Yes.”
Question 19. Have you been authorized to receive health and character information about the client(s) you are providing assistance to, their spouse, de facto partner or dependants, that may arise, or be revealed in the course of this matter?
Answer: Tick the box that says “Yes.”
Part B – Ending Appointment
Question 20. Migrant Agent/Exempt person’s details
Answer: Not applicable so leave it blank
Question 21. Client’s Detail. Full name (if the client is an organization, provide the name of the contact person)
Answer: Not Applicable so leave it blank
Question 22. Provide at least one of the following numbers
Answer: Not applicable so leave it blank
Part C – Declarations by Migration Agent/Exempt Person
Question 23. Tick one only
Answer: Tick the box that says “Appointment – I declare that I have been appointed by the client named in Part A of this form as a migration agent/exempt person and that I will act on the client’s behalf as permitted by law. Write your signature and the date signed in the given space.
Declarations by Client
Question 24. Tick one only
Answer: Tick the box that says “Appointment – I declare that I have been appointed the migration agent/exempt person named in Part A of this form to provide assistance with matters as indicated on this form. Write in the given space the signature of the client and the date signed.
*There you have it guys. I hope this helps.
