AU2019203588A1 - A marketplace for “expert assistance” based immigration service. - Google Patents

Abstract

A marketplace system for finding a visa service provider in different locales for a service buyer comprising a network, a server having a memory, a database of visa providers, and a database of service buyers, in communication with the network, a service buyer computer with a user interface or user dashboard, wherein the service buyer registers himself with the marketplace system server which queries the service buyer of his type of visa through the user interface, a service provider computer with a user interface or user dashboard, wherein, the service provider registers himself with the marketplace system server and is able to collaborate with the service buyer and a software module that transmits service buyer's information to the service provider who provide visa services corresponding to the visa requirements of the service buyer.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: A marketplace for "expert assistance" based immigration service. Applicant: Immigates Pty Ltd as trustee for the Poria Family Trust

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] Embodiments of the present invention relate in general to a method of providing assistance to immigration in an online marketplace. Moreso, the present invention provides a portal for supporting a potential immigrant with online assistance in completing his/her immigration process by immigration service providers upon registration. The service also incorporates a feedback mechanism upon completion of the immigration process by an immigration service provider, for assessing/upgrading the quality of service rendered.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0021 With economic integration, international travel and migration increased manifolds amongst the nations. However, crossing of international borders, entails sufficing of nation specific sets of rules and regulations which the international travellers and/or temporary/permanent migrants need to abide. Thus, sufficing these country specific sets of rules, in technical parlance, immigration rules becomes a major constraint to international travel, taken the fact that a typical traveller may be oblivious besides inexperienced with respect to the specific rules, s/he has to abide. As a result, immigration checks can thwart his/her travel portfolio, which might eventually result in negative financial ramifications and upsetting the economic integration process. In the recent past, emergence of new opportunities utilizing advanced technologies offered improved user experiences for a potential immigrant in complying with immigration regulations. Various technologies in the form of developing sites that passively support a potential immigrant in fulfilling his/her travel requirements either through extrapolation of pre-surveyed travel data, supporting the immigration needs through close-ended questionnaire, clear interpretation of the information required for a typical immigration, etc.

[003] Prior arts dealing with the above aspects are hereby provided to bring out their inherent features.

[004] In the invention titled, "Method, system, and product for facilitating international travel with respect to immigration" (US6988073B2) method, system, and product for facilitating international travel, including creating, in response to a signal from an intemet-enabled device coupled for data communications through an internet to an international travel server, a travel record to be stored within the international travel server; creating in dependence upon the travel record, an immigration admissions form for the destination country; and submitting the immigration admissions form to an immigration admission forms database for the destination country is discussed.

[005] In another invention titled, "Migration assistance" (W02002017154A1) a method for interacting with a potential migrant to a country of interest where there is first provided by way of a computer program and a computer together with a visual display output, a series of questions which if answered appropriately by appropriate input of responses into the program through the computer, will activate a comparison of acceptable answers by the program to be made as to a potential migrant's suitability for migration, and, if the answers are within a selected range of acceptable answers, then effecting the transfer of that information to a selected recipient such as a migration or business agent for a further level of questions is discussed. There is also disclosed that subsequent to a first acceptance, there is a requirement that there be provided an undertaking and provision of payment by the potential migrant to the selected recipient for the service.

[006] A major constraint of the prior arts is their closed ended nature of interactions that relegate their efficiency with respect to the smoothing of the immigration tangle of a typical immigrant to an insignificant level. Moreover, some of the inventions develop interface with respect to simply inviting the interested party for submission of appropriate documentation online with no support as to proper filling and submission procedures.

[007] The aforesaid problem is addressed in this invention through provisioning of an online arrangement and method by which applicants can avail the service of immigration experts in clearing the immigration hurdles of a typical country by incorporating a open-ended interactive support system addressed by imminent immigration experts of countries with payment facilities to hand-hold an applicant to enable file a fast, hassle free and error-free immigration application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[008] In one aspect of this invention, an interactive system is proposed that provides scopes of interaction of a potential migrant with immigration experts to a country of interest by way of a specific website. The site poses a series of questions to the potential migrant which needs to be answered appropriately to enable activate a sign-up /phone verification step.

[009] In a second aspect of the invention, the system in the marketplace, enable the potential immigrant to avail of immigration assistance from authorized migration experts/service providers by availing service request option that initiates the scope of service available against corresponding price tags. The system also allows the potential immigrant, to set milestone as to the immigration tasks to be accomplished by a chosen/preferred immigration service provider through the present system.

[0101 In another aspect of the invention the service providers enlisted in the interactive system of the marketplace have the relevant expertise to cater to numerous aspects associated with the immigration matters of specific countries. Moreover, the marketplace allows service providers/service buyers to attain a "trusted service provider" or "trusted service buyer" status based on verification of the marketplace platform with their respective references, thus providing a safe immigration marketplace.

[011] In still another aspect of the invention, the marketplace system allows interactions between 2 basic parties-applicants and service providers wherein each of these parties comprises of individual & organization. The individual user is one seeking a specialist using the said marketplace to avail the service while the organization-user requires continuous immigration services for its employee. On the other hand, individual service providers render services to potential immigrants while organization service providers role is to gather individual service provider to expand the scope of work profiles.

[0121 In another aspect of the invention, the marketplace system allows choice of a plurality of business agents or migration agents with immigration specialists and requisite expertise to process immigration applications to the end of the process so as to enable an applicant to become entitled for migration.

[0131 In still another form of the invention, the marketplace system allows payment rendered to a chosen service provider for direct services. More so, the marketplace handles payment by allowing escrowed payment system options with disbursal upon milestones reached / accomplished. The marketplace also handles payments associated with immigration like that for consumables, postage/courier. Printing, stationery, etc apart from government and other associated service providers' fee.

[014] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers represent like parts of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[015] Figure 1 is an interface representing the registering options for a user of the present visa marketplace system.

[016] Figure 2 is an interface representing the choices available to the service buyers for applying visas of the visa marketplace system.

[0171 Figure 3 is the interface representing the phone verification embodiment of the present invention

[018] Figure 4 is a flowchart representing the payment flow of the present invention.

[019] Figure 5 is the user interface representing the booking flow from the Service provider's end on an hourly price basis.

[020] Figure 6 is the user interface representing the booking flow from the Service provider's end on a fixed price basis.

[021] Figure 7 is the user interface representing the booking flow from the Service buyer's interface on a fixed price basis.

[0221 Figure 8 is the user interface representing the booking flow from the Service buyer's interface on an hourly basis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[023] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present disclosure, the disclosed applications or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. As used herein:

[024] "Services" include any act of assistance or benefit to other(s).

[025] "Service marketplace" includes any tangible or intangible place where the immigration services are offered for sale or transacted.

[0261 "Service request" includes a list of the available providers for the immigration services sought for.

[027] "Individual service buyer" includes an Individual service buyer intending to hire a specialist using the service marketplace and receiving the services of the service providers.

[028] "Service buyer organization" includes an Organization intending to hire a specialist for receiving the immigration services permanently for their subordinates and colleagues.

[0291 "Individual Service Provider" are those providing services on their own, in exchange for payments

[0301 Organization of Service Provider are The Organization who gather Individual service providers.

[031] "User" user may be a service provider or a service buyer

[032] "Milestone" can be defined as a landmark or segment of the transaction. Each milestone or phase has an action and a prescribed amount assigned to the milestone. The service provider will have the opportunity to indicate that the milestone has been performed and then the service buyer will be asked to confirm the milestone and authorize the release of the funds listed in the milestone. For instance, a milestone may be a portion of a performed project, listed in the milestone, or a non-refundable deposit.

[033] Aspects of the present disclosure provide various embodiments of systems and methods that can be used for facilitating a transaction for a delivery of an immigration service by a service provider to a service buyer. In one exemplary embodiment the inventive marketplace is an integrated system which assists in providing the service buyers with professional service providers. The system of the market place coordinates communications between service buyers and qualified service providers located in various other regions. The system of the immigration market place is computer based and includes: a network, a service provider database, a service buyer database and a software program for searching the databases and coordinating communications between service buyers and service providers.

[0341 Service buyers and providers can access the system of immigration marketplace via a network through a graphical user interface (GUI) which is displayed on a digital devices a home page. Each buyer and provider has his or her own secure homepage. After logging on, a service buyer can access various market place system features and service provider information through the homepage. The service buyer can browse through a listing of all service providers and view more detailed information by clicking on buttons for: contact information, specific services provided, former consumer ratings, education, and other pertinent information. A consumer can also request bids for services from service providers by posting a case.

[0351 As discussed, the immigration marketplace system is accessed through a digital device connected to a network. By going to the service address of the marketplace on the network, a immigration marketplace system home page is displayed. The home page has descriptive information about the marketplace system and buttons that allow users to register and log onto the immigration marketplace system.

Registration & verification

Actor Service Provider Organization, Service Provider Individual, Applicant

Individual, Applicant Organization (The User)

Description The User is going to log in

Preconditions The User has an account

Post The Useris loggedin conditions

Primary flow 1. Click the "log in" button 2. Fill in the Email or Username" and "password" field. 3. End ofuse case.

Alternative 1. Click the "log in" button flow_1 2. Fill in the Email or Username" and "password" field. 3. Login failed. 4. The User has an opportunity to click the "forgot the password" button, fill in the email where he can receive an email with the password. 5. End of use case.

Table no.1 Log In for all types of Users

Actor Service buyer, Individual

Description Service buyer Individual is going to sign up and create an account.

Preconditions Service buyer Individual doesn't have an account

Post Service buyer Individual has an account conditions

Primary flow 1. Click the "sign up" button 2. Choose the variant who do you want to be: Service buyer or service provider (applicant) 3. Choose your status: "Individual" or "organization". (Chooses Individual) 4. Pass the phone verification (enter a mobile phone number than fill in the field with the verification code) 5. Fill in the registration form fields; 6. Receive the confirmation email; 7. After clicking on the confirmation link the Service buyer Individual turn out to be on the Profile page and has to fill in the fields and press "save" button.

Endof use case.

Alternative 1. Click the "sign up" button flow_1

2. Choose the variant who do you want to be: Service buyer or service provider 3. Choose your status: "Individual" or "organization" (Individual) 4. Pass the phone verification (enter a mobile phone number than fill in the field with the verification code) 5. Fill in the registration form fields; 6. Receive the confirmation email; 7. After clicking on the confirmation link the Service buyer Individual turn out to be on the Profile page and has to fill in the fields and press "save" button. 8. If he doesn't fill in the Profile and he goes to the other pages of the website - he can browse the website 9. If he tries to accept/decline the request, create a milestone or something else - he sees the message "please first complete your profile".

End of use case. Table no. 2 Sign UP for Service buyer Individual

Actor Service buyer Organization

Description Service buyer Organization is going to sign up and create an account.

Preconditions Service buyer Organization doesn't have an account

Post Service buyer Organization has an account conditions

Primary flow 1. Click the "sign up" button 2. Choose the variant who do you want to be: Service buyer or service provider 3. Choose your status: "Service buyer" or "organization" (organization) 4. Pass the phone verification (enter a mobile phone number than fill in the field with the verification code) 5. Fill in the registration form fields; 6. Receive the confirmation email; 7. After clicking on the confirmation link the Service buyer

Organization turn out to be on the Profile page and has to fill in the fields and press "save" button.

End of use case.

Alternative 1. Click the "sign up" button flow_1 2. Choose the variant who do you want to be: Service buyer or

service provider 3. Choose your status: "Individual" or "organization". (organization) 4. Pass the phone verification (enter a mobile phone number than fill in the field with the verification code) 5. Fill in the registration form fields; 6. Receive the confirmation email; 7. After clicking on the confirmation link the Service buyer Organization turn out to be on the Profile page and has to fill in the fields and press "save" button. 8. If he doesn't fill in the Profile and he goes to the other pages of the website - he can browse the website 9. If he try to accept/decline the request, create a milestone or something else - he sees the message "please first fill in the Profile".

End of use case. Table no. 3 Sign UP for Service buyer Organization

[036] To ensure security from unauthorized access and use of the immigration marketplace system, it has software that is configured such that only properly authorized personnel are allowed access. In order to have any access to immigration marketplace system functions, all service providers and service users/buyers/applicants must first register.

[037] As is depicted in Table 1 to 3 before a service buyer can post a visa request on the marketplace system, he or she must go to the registration section to enter basic buyer information. At this stage, it is also required by the buyer, to ascertain himself as an "individual buyer" or "organization buyer". The buyer needs to provide a phone number in order to receive a password/verification code. The marketplace system sends a verification code to the said mobile no. for authentication.

[038] Referring to Figure 3, once the phone verification is complete, the service buyer is presented with a registration form to fill up various details. Upon verification, an email is sent to the registered mail id of the service buyer for confirmation of his registration as a service buyer. On clicking the link provided with the confirmation email, the buyer's profile is visible on the profile page, where he has to complete his profile, by providing information in the required fields and saving his profile by clicking the save button. The buyer is now allowed access to the buyer's homepage and post an immigration visa request. The registration information is stored on the marketplace system database.

[0391 POSTING A SERVICE REQUEST

Actor Service buyer Individual/ Service buyer Organization (User)

Description User is going to create a listing as a service request.

Preconditions User wants to post a listing as a service request.

Post conditions Listing is being posted

Primary flow 1. Sign up/Login: 2. Fill the signup/login form; 3. Create a listing with the next information. 4. Select category of services.(optional); 5. Add photos; 6. Select location; 7. Set price; 8. Fill other default fields 9. Pressing the "create button"

End of use case.

Alternative flow_1 1. Sign up/Login: 2. Fill the standard registration/login form; 3. Search the service providers. 4. Open the search page choose service providers block; 5. Can fill in the search field or filter the results; 6. Press the contact button 7. Arranging on something. 8. Click to the "create milestone button". 9. Create the milestone 10. The Service provider receives End of use case. Table no. 4. Posting a request

[040] As depicted in Figure 2 the immigration request can be selected from a list of categories available with the immigration marketplace system. These may be any one of Family and partner migration, Skilled migration visas, tourist and visitor's visa, refugee and humanitarian visas, business and investors migration visa, student and training visas etc.

[041] As depicted in table no. 4 when the service buyer selects the post a "service request", the service buyer's home page displays a series of questions on interactive screens that allows buyers to quickly describe his or her category of services required, geographic location and his budget via the home page. The marketplace system allows the buyer to quickly and easily describe the requested services through interactive screens and filling the required fields that query the service buyer about his requirement. The service buyer can respond to the queries or fill up the default fields by typing or clicking on the appropriate answers listed on the marketplace system with a computer mouse on the desired fields. After completing all the fields the buyer clicks on the "create button" to complete posting of his request on the marketplace website.

[042] The marketplace system stores the specific information about the buyer's requested services and geographic location in the buyer's account on the buyer's database. The marketplace system posts the case to make it available to all service providers. Additional information of the service buyer can be shared with a registered service provider of the marketplace system, when queried by him during collaboration.

Actor Service buyer and Service Provider

Description Service buyer is going to receive a service

Preconditions Service buyer found the Service provider he liked.

Post conditions Service was provided

Primary flow 1. The Service buyer and the Service provider discusses the services and agrees on the price; 2. The Service buyer creates the milestone. 3. Press the "create milestone button"; 4. Fill in the "Description" and "deadline" fields; 5. Fill in the card information 6. Press the last button (so that send the milestone to the Service provider) 7. The Service provider accept the milestone End of use case.

Alternative 1. The Service buyer and the Service provider discuss the service flow_1 and agree on the price;

2. The applicant creates the milestone. 3. Press the "create milestone button"; 4. Fill in the "Description" and "deadline" fields; 5. Fill in the card information 6. Press the last button (so that send the milestone to the Service provider) 7. The Service provider decline the milestone End of use case.

Alternative 1. The Service buyer and the Service provider discuss the flow-2 service and arrange the price;

2. The Service buyer creates the milestone. 3. Press the "create milestone button"; 4. Fill in the "Description" and "deadline" fields; 5. Fill in the card information 6. Press the last button (so that send the milestone to the Service provider) 7. The Service provider does nothing 8. The system automatically decline the request after 5 days (from the moment of receiving the notification by the Service Provider) End of use case.

Table no. 5 Creating milestone

[043] In an embodiment of the present invention, if the service buyer directly wishes to obtain services of the service providers enlisted with the marketplace system, he/she can directly access the list of service providers' block after registering himself with the marketplace system as is detailed in table 1 in alternate flow. After searching the providers' list by providing data in the search fields or filtering the search results obtained, an appropriate service provider of his/her requirement is chosen. Upon finalizing the service provider, the "contact button" on the buyer's dashboard is pressed for contacting the selected service provider. Thereafter the system, guides the buyer to create a "milestone" for the service provider through the "create milestone" button, so as to give to the buyer an estimate of his budget to the service provider which is communicated to the service provider as referred to in table 5.

[044] Similarly, before a service providercan use the marketplace system, he or she must go through service provider's registration section as depicted in Tables 2 and 3 and Figure 1. In order to register, the service provideris required to confirm the status, with which he wishes to operate, namely as an "individual service provider" or as an "organization service provider".The service provider needs to provide a phone number in order to receive a password/verification code. The marketplace system sends a verification code to the said mobile no. for authentication.

Actor Service Provider Individual

Description Service Provider Individual is going to sign up and create an account.

Preconditions Service Provider Individual doesn't have an account

Post conditions Service Provider Individual has an account

Primary flow 1. Click the "sign up" button 2. Choose the variant who do you want to be: applicant or service provider (chooses service provider) 3. Choose your status: "Individual" or "organization". (chooses Individual) 4. Pass the phone verification (enter a mobile phone number than fill in the field with the verification code) 5. Fill in the registration form fields; 6. Receive the confirmation email; 7. After clicking on the confirmation link the Service Provider

Individual turn out to be on the Profile page and has to fill in the fields and press "save" button.

End ofuse case.

Alternative 1. Click the "sign up" button flow_1 2. Choose the variant who do you want to be: applicant or service provider (chooses service provider) 3. Choose your status: "Individual" or "organization" (chooses Individual) 4. Pass the phone verification (enter a mobile phone number than fill in the field with the verification code) 5. Fill in the registration form fields; 6. Receive the confirmation email; 7. After clicking on the confirmation link the Service Provider Individual turn out to be on the Profile page and has to fill in the fields and press "save" button. 8. If he doesn't fill in the Profile and he goes to the other pages of the website - he can browse the website 9. If he try to accept/decline the request, create a milestone or something else - he sees the message "please first fill in the Profile".

End of use case.

Table no. 6 Sign UP for SP Individual

Actor Service Provider Organization

Description Service Provider Organization is going to sign up and create an account.

Preconditions Service Provider Organization doesn't have an account

Post conditions Service Provider Organization has an account

Primary flow 1. Click the "sign up" button 2. Choose the variant who do you want to be: applicant or service provider (chooses Service Provider) 3. Choose your status: "Individual" or "organization" (chooses organization)

4. Pass the phone verification (enter a mobile phone number than fill in the field with the verification code) 5. Fill in the registration form fields; 6. Receive the confirmation email; 7. After clicking on the confirmation link the Service Provider Organization turn out to be on the Profile page and has to fill in the fields and press "save" button.

End of use case.

Alternative flow_1 1. Click the "sign up" button 2. Choose the variant who do you want to be: applicant or service provider (chooses Service Provider) 3. Choose your status: "Individual" or "organization". (chooses organization) 4. Pass the phone verification (enter a mobile phone number than fill in the field with the verification code) 5. Fill in the registration form fields; 6. Receive the confirmation email; 7. After clicking on the confirmation link the Service Provider Organization turn out to be on the Profile page and has to fill in the fields and press "save" button. 8. If he doesn't fill in the Profile and he goes to the other pages of the website - he can browse the website 9. If he try to accept/decline the request, create a milestone or something else - he sees the message "please first fill in the Profile".

End of use case.

Table no. 7 Sign UP for SP Organization

[045] Referring to tables 6 and 7, once the phone verification is complete, the user interface of the service provider is presented with a registration form to fillup various details. Upon verification, an email is sent to the registered mail id of the service provider for confirmation of his registration as a service provider. On clicking the link provided with the confirmation email, the service provider's profile is visible on the profile page, where he has to complete his profile, by providing information in the required fields and saving his profile by clicking the save button. The registration information is stored on the marketplace system database. The provider is now allowed to receive buyer's request and also view the list of available requirements from various buyers.

[046] In an embodiment of the present invention, the service provider, can also submit bids for various visa services posted by the service buyers on the marketplace system.

[047] If there are anomalies with the credentials of the service provider, the marketplace system notifies the service provider of the problem and provides a course of action to correct the problem.

Actor Service buyer /Service Provider (User) and the Admin

Description User is going to receive a "trusted" status.

Preconditions User is logged in.

Post conditions The "trusted" status is received

Primary flow 1. The User is on the User Dashboard. 2. The User clicks on the "moved me to a "trusted" status" button. 3. The User turn out to be on the payment page; 4. He pays and may use coupon here; 5. Press the "send" button; 6. The Admin receives notification about it. 7. The Admin or support user process the verification of the User by contacting references and decides to give the "trusted" status. 8. The Admin or Support user set a mark in the admin panel for this User that he is "trusted" 9. The User receives an email about giving a "trusted" status for 2 years. 10. On the User's dashboard page appears the Badge ("trusted") 11. After 2 years the status disappeared, notification sent to the user and admin to reapply 3 months before expiry. 12. Untrusted Users receives email reminders move to a "trusted" status.

End of the Use Case.

Alternative 1. The User is on the User Dashboard. flow_1 2. The User clicks on the "moved me to a "trusted" status" button.

3. The User turn out to be on the payment page; 4. He pays and may use coupon here; 5. Press the "send" button; 6. The Admin receives notification about it. 7. The Admin/Support provides the verification of the User and decides NOT to give the "trusted" status. 8. The Admin/support don't set a mark in the admin panel for this User that he is "trusted" 6. The User receives an email that he is not received a "trusted" status (money in this case is not refundable) and that he has an opportunity to try to move to a "trusted" status again.

End of the Use Case. Table no. 8 Switch to "Trusted" status

Actor Individual Service buyer / (only Individual applicant or Any Service providers can apply for trusted status)

Description Service buyer is going to receive a "trusted" status.

Preconditions Service buyer doesn't have a trusted status yet.

Post conditions Service buyer receives a "trusted" status for 2 years

Primary flow 1. Sign up/Login: 2. Fill the signup/login form; 3. Click on the User Dashboard page 4. Click on the "move me to a "trusted' status" button 5. On the page fill in the fields "Your jobs last 5 years or your last 2 jobs (name of the company, location, occupation), mobile phone/email people who can confirm the information 6. If you have a coupon - you may apply it in the special field. 7. Pay (fill in the credit card information) 8. The Admin (or his representatives) receives a notification about this with a link on that page with information. 9. The Admin (or his representatives) verify the information and decide to give a "trusted" status for 2 years. 10. The Admin (or his representatives) set a mark on this Applicant in the Users tab in the Admin panel. 11. The Special badge "trusted applicant" appears on the Applicant's User dashboard 12. After 2 years - the status disappears and the Applicant receives automatic email with reminder about moving to a trusted status again.

3. End ofuse case.

Alternative 1. Sign up/Login: flow_1 2. Fill the signup/login form;

3. Click on the User Dashboard page 4. Click on the "move me to a "trusted' status" button 5. On the page fill in the fields "Yourjobs last 5 years or your last 2 jobs (name of the company, location, occupation), mobile phone/email people who can confirm the information 6. If you have a coupon - you may apply it in the special field. 7. Pay (fill in the credit card information) 8. The Admin (or his representatives) receives a notification about this with a link on that page with information. 9. The Admin (or his representatives) verify the information and decide NOT to give a "trusted" status for 2 years. Money to the Applicant won't refund. 10. The Applicant receives automatic email with explanation why he cannot be a "trusted" and give him a hint about opportunity to move to a trusted status again. He can try as many times as he want until he receives this status.

End of use case. Table no. 9 Receiving a "Trusted" status by the service buyer

[048] In an embodiment of the present invention, a service buyer or the service provider can be elevated to a "TRUSTED" status on the basis of payment status. As depicted in table nos. 7 any service buyer or provider can be elevated to the trusted status. For acquiring the trusted status the user logs on to his homepage and selects the "move to trusted status" button in his user interface. The user is navigated to a payment page wherein, the user pays a certain amount or uses a coupon acquired by him during his transaction with the marketplace system. The "send" button is clicked by the user and a notification is received by the administration of the marketplace system who processes the requests and verifies it with the references provided by the user and accords a "trusted" status to the user if the verification is positive. A "trusted" mark is displayed on the admin panel as well as on the user's dashboard of the marketplace system. The trusted status is accorded to the user, for a period of 2 years and the user is notified about it through an email, after which the user has to reapply for the status after two years.

[049] In case the verification of the references provided by the user is returned negative, the user fails to acquire the "trusted" status and the same is notified by the admin to the user via email, wherein the user has the option to reapply again.

[050] In another embodiment of the present invention, a service buyer can be elevated to a "TRUSTED BUYER" status on the basis of refereed verification and a long term association with the marketplace system. As depicted in table no. 9 if service buyer is interested in elevating himself into the trusted status. The buyer logs on to his homepage/dashboard page and selects the "move to trusted status" button. The buyer is navigated to page wherein he is provided with a form with various fields to be filled with various information, for example: last 5 yearsjobs or the last 2jobs posted (the name of the company, location, occupation), mobile phone, email ids of people who can confirm the buyers credentials. Further, the buyer uses a coupon acquired by him during his transaction with the marketplace system or pays a certain amount through his credit card and furnishes the credit card information. A notification is received by the administration of the marketplace system who processes the requests and verifies it with the references provided by the user and accords a "trusted" status to the user if the verification is positive. A "trusted buyer" mark is displayed on the admin panel as well as on the user's dashboard of the marketplace system. The trusted status is accorded to the user, for a period of 2 years and the user is notified about it through an email, after which the user has to reapply for the status after two years.

[051] In case the verification of the references provided by the buyer is returned negative, the buyer fails to acquire the "trusted" status and the same is notified by the admin to the buyer via email with reasons for his failure to acquire the "trusted buyer" status so that the anomalies can be rectified by the buyer and he can reapply for the trusted status again.

Actor Individual Provider/Organization Provider

Description Provider is going to receive a "trusted" status.

Preconditions Provider doesn't have a trusted status yet.

Post conditions Provider receives a "trusted" status for 2 years

Primary flow 1. Sign up/Login: 2. Fill the signup/login form; 3. Click on the User Dashboard page 4. Click on the "move me to a "trusted' status" button 5. On the page fill in the fields "Mobile phone/email of Clients Served who can confirm the information" (at least 3 items) 6. If you have a coupon - you may apply it in the special field. 7. Pay (fill in the credit card information) 8. The Admin (or his representatives) receives a notification about this with a link on that page with information. 9. The Admin (or his representatives) verify the information and decide to give a "trusted" status for 2 years. 10. The Admin (or his representatives) set a mark on this Provider in the Users tab in the Admin panel. 11. The Special badge "trusted provider" appears on the Provider's User dashboard 12. After 2 years - the status disappears and the Provider receives automatic email with reminder (3 months before expiry and then weekly from 1 month of expiry) about moving to a trusted status again.

3. End ofuse case.

Alternative flow_1 1. Sign up/Login: 2. Fill the signup/login form; 3. Click on the User Dashboard page 4. Click on the "move me to a "trusted' status" button 5. On the page fill in the fields "Mobile phone/email of Clients Served who can confirm the information" (at least 3 items)

6. If you have a coupon - you may apply it in the special field. 7. Pay (fill in the credit card information) 8. The Admin (or his representatives) receives a notification about this with a link on that page with information.

9. The Admin (or his representatives) verify the information and decide NOT to give a "trusted" status for 2 years. Money to the Provider won't be refunded. 10. The Provider receives automatic email with explanation why he cannot be a "trusted" and give him a hint about opportunity to move to a trusted status again. He can try as many times as he wants until he receives this status. End of use case. Table no. 10 Receiving a "trusted" status by the Provider

[052] Similarly, a service provider can be elevated to a "TRUSTED SEVICE PROVIDER" status on the basis of refereed verification and a long term association with the marketplace system. As depicted in table no. 10 if service provider is interested in elevating himself into the trusted status. The provider logs on to his homepage/dashboard page and selects the "move to trusted status" button. The provider is navigated to a page wherein he is provided with a form with various fields to be filled with various information, for example: the mobile phone, email ids of clients served who can confirm the provider's credentials. Further, the provider uses a coupon acquired by him during his transaction with the marketplace system or pays a certain amount through his credit card and furnishes the credit card information. A notification is received by the administration of the marketplace system, with a link on that page, who processes the requests and verifies it with the references provided by the provider and accords a "trusted" status to the provider if the verification is positive. A "trusted provider" mark is displayed on the admin panel as well as on the provider's dashboard of the marketplace system. The trusted status is accorded to the provider, for a period of 2 years and the provider is notified about it through an email, after which the provider has to reapply for the status after two years.

[053] In case the verification of the references provided by the provider is returned negative, the provider fails to acquire the "trusted" status and the same is notified by the admin to the provider via email with reasons for his failure to acquire the "trusted buyer" status so that the anomalies can be rectified by the provider and he can reapply for the trusted status again.

[054] After registration, both service buyers and service providers access the market system through the log in section. Both the service buyers and the service providers submit their personalized password and the marketplace system verifies the password. The marketplace system responds to the password by displaying either the buyer's home page or provider's home page/dashboard page. Each home page is personalized to the user and includes information specifically associated with the user's password.

[055] SETTING MILESTONES

Actor Service buyer and Service Provider

Description Service buyer is going to receive a service

Preconditions Service buyer found the Service provider he liked.

Post conditions Service was provided

Primary flow 1. The Service buyer and the Service provider discuss the service and agrees on the price; 2. The applicant creates the milestone. 3. Press the "create milestone button"; 4. Fill in the "Description" and "deadline" fields; 5. Fill in the card information 6. Press the last button (so that send the milestone to the Service provider) 7. The Service provider accept the milestone End of use case.

Alternative 1. The Service buyer and the Service provider discuss flow_1 the service and arrange the price;

2. The Service buyer creates the milestone. 3. Press the "create milestone button"; 4. Fill in the "Description" and "deadline" fields;

5. Fill in the card information 6. Press the last button (so that send the milestone to the Service provider) 7. The Service provider decline the milestone End of use case.

Alternative 1. The Service buyer and the Service provider discuss flow_2 the service and arrange the price;

2. The Service buyer creates the milestone. 3. Press the "create milestone button"; 4. Fill in the "Description" and "deadline" fields; 5. Fill in the card information 6. Press the last button (so that send the milestone to the Service provider) 7. The Service provider does nothing 8. The system automatically decline the request after 5 days (from the moment of receiving the notification by the Service Provider) End of use case. Table no. 11 Creating Milestones

[056] As elaborated on in table 11 on selection of a particular service provider by the service buyer after discussing the service details and payment deadlines, the service buyer creates milestones for the payment to be disbursed to the service provider in succession depending upon the service provided. For creating milestones, the service buyer navigates through his payment dashboard and clicks on the "create milestone" button. The activation of this button, enables other fields such as "description" and "deadline" which is to be filled up by the service buyer accordingly. Thereafter the service buyer is prompted to fill up the card details for payment. Lastly, pressing the last button, enables the service buyer to send the milestone to the service provider which in turn us accepted by him.

[057] Alternatively, the milestone can be declined by the service provider, or he can choose not to respond. In case the service provider does not respond, the system automatically declines the request after five days from the moment of receiving the notification by the service provider.

[058] As is depicted in figures 5 to 8 the booking of a Service Provider can be done both ways either by the service buyer by posting a visa requirement or by the service provider by creating a post of Visa provider. Further, both the service buyer and provider have the option of releasing the payment upon booking of the request either on an hourly basis or on afixed pay basis (milestone based). The fixed price option allows the buyer to display on Service provider's page, his budget and the SP has the option to either accept or decline his request. If the request is accepted by the service provider, the buyer accordingly creates milestone (Detailed further below in the description) or pays at a time upon completion of the service desired. The buyer also has the option of conversing with the service provider before finalising the terms of payment on his dashboard which is received by the SP. Upon completion of the receipt of the service by the buyer, the service provider is intimated by the buyer via message available on the same dashboard as depicted in Figures 7.

[059] Similarly, if the service provider (SP) displays on his profile, his fixed price budget for providing visa service, the buyer has the option of accepting his request or decline it. If it is accepted by any buyer, he disburses the payment according to the agreed terms upon completion of the service by the SP, as depicted in Figure 6.

[060] The payment for any service on the market place may be decided on an hourly basis as well, instead of fixed pricing as is depicted in figures 8. In this module, the service buyer denotes his hourly rate on his dashboard along with the number of hours allocated to the desired service. The same can be accepted by any service provider and the procedure as in the fixed rate continues.

[061] Similarly, referring to Figure 5, for service providers, posting his service request on an hourly basis along with the number of hours that will be required to complete the service will be posted, to be accepted by the buyer. The rest of the procedure is same as the fixed rate.

PAYMENT PROCESS FLOW

[062] To provide a safe and fair service marketplace, any user is required to register with the marketplace system so as to effect a transaction in the service marketplace.

[063] On completion of registration, transactions can be allowed to entitled users who access the market place system via the web. The system maintains an internal banking engine to act as a deal manager, messaging service and accounts sub-ledger and escrows the funds entrusted to it. The transaction process is essentially composed of a number of transaction statuses, and reporting of those statuses to users is accomplished online. The system supports several methods of payment, such as credit cards, equivalent direct debit/credit and wire transfer payments, and all funds movements are electronic.

[064] A user is allowed to register as a buyer and/or a service provider on the registration module of the escrow service, wherein, the user must submit user registration information on a web site of the escrow service via the registered exchange site. The admin operations manager performs a validation of the user registration information and if the verification is successful, the admin operations manager updates the registration for the user to an active status.

[065] As depicted in Figure 4 the payment to the service providers and to the marketplaces can be transacted through escrow accounts. If the buyer defaults in the contract period, the system collects the payment from the escrow account, which is associated with the service buyer, wherein the funds, automatically advanced by the buyer is kept in escrow for releasing to the service providers, which follows the following procedure.

[066] The service buyer registers with the marketplace and also with the marketplace's escrow service. The escrow account of the market place accepts payment in multicurrency. Thus, once the service buyer establishes a contract with the service provider and both parties agrees with the terms and conditions of the payment, whether it is a fixed payment or on hourly basis, the buyer can transfer payments to the escrow account of the market place, and the market place account in turn disburses the payment based on milestones, where it is held until the service buyer is satisfied with the services provided and agrees to release the funds to the service provider upon his approval.

[067] In another embodiment of the payment procedure, the buyer or provider may be able to directly transfer funds to the market place account for direct services for example, for elevating the buyer or provider to a "trusted" status or "trusted buyer" or "trusted provider", credit for bidding on the platform, etc.

[068] The payment procedure also deals with third party payments such as government fees and other third party service providers.

[069] DISPUTE

Actor ApplicantIndividual/Admin

Description An applicant has an issue during the milestone.

Preconditions An applicant is in the milestone and has an issue.

Post conditions An applicant receives a resolving of his issue

Primary flow 1. An applicant click the "dispute" button 2. The payment flow stops. 3. The Service provider and the Admin receives the notification about opening the dispute. 4. An applicant and Service Provider contact each other through the message inside the milestone and resolve a dispute 5. An Applicant or the Service Provider writes a message to the Admin and share their solution (what they arranged) 6. The Admin/Support(payment) manually does the transaction in the Stripe dashboard End of use case.

Alternative 1. An applicant clicks the "dispute" button flow_1 2. The payment flow stops. 3. The Service provider receives the notification about opening the dispute. 4. An applicant and Service Provider contact each other through the message inside the milestone and CANNOT resolve a dispute 5. The Admin look through the conversation and when he realizes that parties cannot resolve the issue - he resolves it on his own. 6. The Admin manually does the transaction in the Stripe dashboard End of use case.

Table no. 12 Dispute Flow

[070] In an embodiment of the present invention, if the service buyer is not satisfied with the services provided by the service provider, he can stop the flow of payments to the service provider by opening a dispute on the marketplace system. The opening of dispute by the service buyer is immediately notified to the service provider and the admin of the marketplace system. The dispute can be resolved amicably though negotiations within the marketplace system. Otherwise, it can be resolved by the admin of the marketplace system. The flow can be referred to in the table no. 12.

[071] Accordingly, although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

CLAIMS:

1. A marketplace system for finding a visa service provider in different locales for a service buyer comprising:

a network;

a server having a memory, a database of visa providers, and a database of service buyers, in communication with the network;

Claims (13)

1. a service buyer computer with a user interface or user dashboard, wherein the service buyer registers himself with the marketplace system server which queries the service buyer of his type of visa through the user interface;

   a service provider computer with a user interface or user dashboard, wherein, the service provider registers himself with the marketplace system server and is able to collaborate with the service buyer;

   a software module that transmits service buyer's information to the service provider who provide visa services corresponding to the visa requirements of the service buyer.
2. 2. The marketplace system of claim 1, wherein, the system further allows the buyer to keep advance funds in escrow account which is disbursed automatically to the service provider upon completion of his services.
3. 3. The marketplace system of claim 1, wherein the system further allows both the service buyer and the service provider to set milestones for the services to be bought or provided and allocates agreed amount to the escrow.
4. 4. The marketplace system of claim 1, wherein the marketplace system transmits reply to the queries from the service buyer's computer to the user interface of the service provider's computer or vice versa.
5. 5. The marketplace system of claim 1, wherein transmitting information includes transmitting bids from the service provider's computer to the user interface of the service buyer's computer.
6. 6. The marketplace system of claim 3, wherein the marketplace system transmits acceptance or rejection of the bid to the service provider's computer.
7. 7. The marketplace system of claim 1; wherein the service buyer's information includes a description of the type of visa services required by the buyer and the destination and origin of the visa service buyer.
8. 8. The marketplace system of claim 1, wherein the interface allows the service buyer to transmit additional information about his profile to the service provider's computer in response to the service provider's queries.
9. 9. The marketplace system of claim 2, wherein the bids from the service provider may be on a fixed rate basis.
10. 10. The system of claim 2, wherein the bids from the service provider may be on an hourly basis.
11. 11. The method of establishing an interactive association between visa service providers with corresponding visa buyers on the marketplace, comprising the steps of:

    providing a server computer having a database of service buyers and a database of service providers, in communication with a computer network;

    providing a service buyer computer in communication with the computer network;

    providing a service buyer user interface to the service buyer's computer;

    querying the service buyer about his service requirements through the user interface;

    storing the responses of the service buyerin the buyer's database;

    providing a service provider computer;

    providing a service provider interface to the service provider computer;

    transmitting service buyer's information to the service providers computers in communication with the computer network associated with the service providers that provide the service required; and

    transmitting a bid from the service provider's computer to the service buyer computer.
12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the said user interface of the service buyer enables the service buyer to transfer advance funds to an escrow account for releasing them and transferring them to the service providers account upon completion of the set milestones.
13. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein, the said user interface of the service buyer further, enables the service buyer to open a dispute by the service buyer, before releasing the funds from the escrow account to the service provider's account.

    TITLE OF THE INVENTION: A marketplace for "expert assistance" based immigration service. Applicant: Immigates Pty Ltd as trustee for the Poria Family Trust

    CLAIMS:

    1. A marketplace system for finding a visa service provider in different locales for a service buyer comprising:

    a network;

    a server having a memory, a database of visa providers, and a database of service buyers, in communication with the network;

    a service buyer computer with a user interface or user dashboard, wherein the service buyer registers himself with the marketplace system server which queries the service buyer of his type of visa through the user interface;

    a service provider computer with a user interface or user dashboard, wherein, the service provider registers himself with the marketplace system server and is able to collaborate with the service buyer;

    a software module that transmits service buyer's information to the service provider who provide visa services corresponding to the visa requirements of the service buyer.

    2. The marketplace system of claim 1, wherein, the system further allows the buyer to keep advance funds in escrow account which is disbursed automatically to the service provider upon completion of his services.

    3. The marketplace system of claim 1, wherein the system further allows both the service buyer and the service provider to set milestones for the services to be bought or provided and allocates agreed amount to the escrow.

    4. The marketplace system of claim 1, wherein the marketplace system transmits reply to the queries from the service buyer's computer to the user interface of the service provider's computer or vice versa.

    5. The marketplace system of claim 1, wherein transmitting information includes transmitting bids from the service provider's computer to the user interface of the service buyer's computer.

    6. The marketplace system of claim 3, wherein the marketplace system transmits acceptance or rejection of the bid to the service provider's computer.

    7. The marketplace system of claim 1; wherein the service buyer's information includes a description of the type of visa services required by the buyer and the destination and origin of the visa service buyer.

    8. The marketplace system of claim 1, wherein the interface allows the service buyer to transmit additional information about his profile to the service provider's computer in response to the service provider's queries.

    9. The marketplace system of claim 2, wherein the bids from the service provider may be on a fixed rate basis.

    10. The system of claim 2, wherein the bids from the service provider may be on an hourly basis.

    11. The method of establishing an interactive association between visa service providers with corresponding visa buyers on the marketplace, comprising the steps of:

    providing a server computer having a database of service buyers and a database of service providers, in communication with a computer network;

    providing a service buyer computer in communication with the computer network;

    providing a service buyer user interface to the service buyer's computer;

    querying the service buyer about his service requirements through the user interface; storing the responses of the service buyerin the buyer's database; providing a service provider computer; providing a service provider interface to the service provider computer; transmitting service buyer's information to the service providers computers in communication with the computer network associated with the service providers that provide the service required; and transmitting a bid from the service provider's computer to the service buyer computer.

    12. The method of claim 11, wherein the said user interface of the service buyer enables the service buyer to transfer advance funds to an escrow account for releasing them and transferring them to the service providers account upon completion of the set milestones.

    13. The method of claim 11, wherein, the said user interface of the service buyer further, enables the service buyer to open a dispute by the service buyer, before releasing the funds from the escrow account to the service provider's account.

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