Why use Potts Migration Lawyers?
Litigation Director Craig DoRozario, is a registered migration agent (MARN 1910298) and experienced lawyer. He is fully qualified to provide you with both immigration assistance and immigration legal advice in preparing for any contested hearings in a tribunal or court. Craig has decades of experience working on thousands of matters where clients have complex dealings with government departments, employers, or professional bodies.
Tom Foran is an academic; a migration lawyer; and a registered migration agent (MARN 1172414). He lectures in Migration Law with the University of Technology and conducts practitioner training programs with the Migration Institute of Australia. Tom has had the carriage of hundreds of migration and complex citizenship cases. Tom has particular interest in matters concerning New Zealand citizens.
Craig and Tom work together to be able to assist you with any immigration matter, including applications for any type of visa from start to finish.
You can trust us a reputable, independent law firm, with a reputation for excellence, to act professionally and ethically and to deal with trust funds strictly in accordance with requirements placed on solicitors. This provides you with a level of reassurance not available with all migration advisors.
As lawyers, we are able to guide and assist you with any appeal in tribunals or court matters, which arise in the processing of your visa application.
Additionally, if your immigration matter is a result of alleged criminal conduct, we are the largest private client criminal defence firm in Queensland, and have over a century of combined experience. We are constantly recognised by our clients, peers and barristers as one of the leading criminal law practices in Australia. Our teams work closely together to provide you with the most comprehensive advice on how best to deal with each of your matters.
Visa Cancellations on Character Grounds
Our migration lawyer, Craig DoRozario (MARN 1910298) has decades of experience dealing with contested disciplinary matters that arise from criminal proceedings. Since 2014, there has been a 1400% increase in the number of visa cancellations and deportations, with the vast majority being mandatory as a result of criminal convictions. At Potts Lawyers, our immigration law team on the Gold Coast and Brisbane works with our dedicated criminal law team to assist you in fully understanding the legal situation you face. We advocate fiercely on your behalf in each area of law.
This includes representing you in criminal courts to defend your matter or making submissions in relation to mitigating factors for a penalty. Our immigration lawyers concurrently represent you against any action taken by the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs, including submissions on why your visa should not be cancelled, and if applicable, appeals to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or the Federal Court of Australia.
Our Gold Coast and Brisbane immigration lawyers are always upfront about potential outcomes from the very first meeting to allow you the most time to settle your affairs and prepare.
The Migration Act 1958 (Cth) is complicated legislation which contains a number of mechanisms that allow the Minister to cancel your visa if the Minister suspects you are a member of a criminal organisation, are not of good character, would engage in criminal conduct, incite discord in the Australian community, or represent a danger to the Australian community, amongst others. Additionally, the Minister must cancel your visa in certain circumstances where imprisonment based on a criminal sanction is involved (see our article here for more information).
Our immigration lawyers in Brisbane and the Gold Coast are experienced in dealing with such matters on behalf of our clients, and making competent submissions with reference to relevant legal factors that must be considered.
Visa Cancellations for Alleged Breaches of Conditions, Student Visas, Business Visas and Others
Our Gold Coast and Brisbane immigration lawyers are also able to advise clients facing visa cancellations or deportations for matters other than character grounds / criminal conduct. The Department of Home Affairs has powers to cancel visas due to incorrect information, changes in circumstances, non-compliance with visa conditions, potential health and safety risks to the Australian community or individuals, domestic violence, a person no longer being a genuine student, amongst others.
Dealing with such matters can be extremely stressful, and our team can assist in providing you with comprehensive advice and advocate for you on your behalf.
Click here to obtain more information on visa cancellations. It is important you contact us immediately if you have received a notice of cancellation as strict time limits apply and you should obtain legal advice from our immigration lawyers.
New Australian Citizenship Pathway for New Zealand Citizens
New rules have made the pathway for New Zealand citizens applying for Australian Citizenship even faster than before. Find out more: