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I had a UK visit visa refusal back in 2016, and now I’m planning to apply to a university in Melbourne for a Masters, preferably Deakin or RMIT. However, I was told by my agent that because of the visa refusal, I am not able to apply to universities in Melbourne. The reason for my previous visa refusal was the failure to show the source of funds, which led them to believe we intended to stay permanently. Additionally, I was 17 at the time and was applied for as a dependent on my parents' application. All our visas were rejected.

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    What agent and what is your citizenship?
    – Willeke
    Commented Oct 8 at 3:46
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    As the British and Australian government share (some of) the information related to visa applications, you should assume it is known. I.e. don't try to hide it. But as you were a minor in 2016 and was just a dependent, I would assume (but I'm not a lawyer or immigration officer) that very little weight is put on that when evaluating an application from you now. Just make sure the financial side of your application is flawless,
    – Henrik supports the community
    Commented Oct 8 at 6:24
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    I’d find another agent if I were you. Or just complete the application myself.
    – Traveller
    Commented Oct 8 at 6:35

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While it may be a negative point on your file, and it could lead to a refusal if your application is not strong, it certainly does not mean that you cannot apply or that you will necessarily see your application rejected, especially as it was 8 years ago and you were a minor dependent.

It does however require you to make sure your application is really strong and bullet-proof and there are no other issues. They will probably start with a slightly negative bias due to the history, it's up to you to overcome it.

Notes:

  • If they don't ask about it, don't mention it.
  • If they ask about it, don't lie. Explain the situation.
  • Again, make sure your application is strong and flawless. Provide all the documentation they ask for, no ifs, no buts, no shortcuts.

We don't know your situation, so it's difficult to know if your agent has a radical "previous refusal -> don't even try" approach (which would be wrong in many cases) or if he weighed that with the rest of your application and considered, in his own experience, that the whole application is too flimsy. Try to evaluate which it is, and possibly ask another agent, or apply yourself (but make sure you have someone external double-check your application).

Note however that since you are applying for a student visa, you are probably relying on the sponsorship of your parents, whose legitimacy/trustworthyness may be considered questionable in view of the history. Make sure that all the information and evidence you submit it true, accurate and consistent (payslips match credits to bank accounts, etc.). In the end, you are the one responsible for everything in your application now (you, not your family, not your agent).

Always remember to put yourself in the shoes of the person who is going to examine your application, and sees lots of very low quality applications, and who is paid to find issues in applications (which they will find easily if there are any) and reject them. You want to make sure your application is not considered as such.

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