An Indian-origin migration agent, Vaneet Kaur Chadha, has been banned from practising in Australia for five years after a detailed investigation by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority uncovered serious violations of immigration laws and professional standards. The regulator concluded that she was “not a person of integrity” and therefore unfit to provide immigration assistance.
Chadha, who had been registered as a migration agent since September 2016 and was associated with a Sydney-based consultancy firm, was found to have engaged in multiple forms of misconduct. These included filing false and misleading statements in visa applications submitted to the Department of Home Affairs, failing to disclose immigration assistance provided to clients as required under law, and engaging in deceptive advertising practices. Authorities noted that her online promotions misrepresented her services and even implied a relationship with the Department, which was deemed misleading.
The investigation further revealed that she failed to properly supervise her staff and allowed individuals within her business to provide unlawful immigration assistance. Regulators also criticised her conduct during the probe itself, stating that she provided false and incomplete information to the authority and did not fully cooperate with official requests. These actions were seen as deliberate attempts to evade legal requirements and undermine the integrity of the migration system.
According to OMARA, Chadha’s actions violated provisions of the Migration Act 1958 as well as the professional Code of Conduct governing registered migration agents. The authority emphasised that her behaviour was intended to defeat the purpose of migration laws and damage the credibility of the profession. As a result, her registration was cancelled on March 25, and she has been barred from reapplying for registration until March 2031.
The case highlights broader concerns within Australia’s migration advisory sector, where regulators have taken action against multiple agents in recent years for similar violations, including submitting false documentation, making fraudulent declarations, and engaging in unlawful practices. Chadha’s ban serves as a strong regulatory response aimed at maintaining trust and accountability in immigration services.
