Partner Visa – which option is best?

Partner Visa - which option is the best?

​There are a number of Partner Visas to choose from and selecting the right one can be tricky.  Things you need to consider….

1. Are you married or in a de facto relationship?  How long have you been in the relationship?
2. Where do I want to be whilst I’m waiting for the visa to be granted?  In Australia or overseas?
3. If I apply in Australia – do I have a visa now that allows me to?  Have I overstayed my visa so applying from an unlawful status? Should I go back home and lodge it from there instead?
4. If I apply from overseas – can I still travel to Australia in the meantime?

Having a registered migration agent to review your relationship is vital to ensure the best application is put forward to the Department.  Remember this visa doesn’t come cheap, so getting it right the first time is very important!

What will the Department be looking for in my application?

​“I’m married… Isn’t that enough?   “I’m in a committed relationship, we love each other…  ”     What more do I need?”      
 
The case officer is reviewing your relationship in the manner that will satisfy the relationship is legit.  To do this they are guided by these principles:

• -  are you mutually committed to a shared life together to the exclusion of all others?
• -  is the relationship genuine and continuing?
• -  do you live together, or if you are apart – why and for how long has this happened?

​So how do you prove this?  With documents and statements specific to these 4 key factors:

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Factor 1 - Financial

You will need documents to show you share financial responsibilities.  This could be:

1. joint rental or ownership of property
2. joint household bills for where you live together
3. joint bank accounts; or if you have separate accounts – show how money has been transferred regularly between you
4. other major purchases made together such as a car loan

Factor 2 - Nature of Your Household

You will need documents to show how you share your living arrangements.  This could be:

1. a written statement from each of you describing your daily lives (who takes care of what in the house?)
2. joint household bills for where you live together
3. mail that show you share the same address
4. if you have children in your relationship, school enrolment showing both of you as their parents or next of kin

Factor 3 - Social Aspects

You will need documents to show how you are known to others.  This could be:

1. joint invitations to social events such as weddings, birthdays, christenings, new years party
2. formal government acknowledgement of your relationship – marriage certificate or relationship registration
3. joint sporting or social activity memberships
4. travel itineraries where you have been together - not just to visit each other in your own countries but to a separate destination.
5. social media status and pictures

Factor 4 - Your commitment to each other

You will need documents to show how committed you are to each other.  This could be:

1. purchase of a house together
2. statement demonstrating knowledge of each other’s family and background, how your relationship came to be and your plans together moving forward
3. communication that has been maintained if you have been apart
4. any other documents that support your relationship

What costs do I need to consider?

• Visa application fees – starting from $8850AUD for the main applicant, and additional for children.
• Medical examination – must be completed by a Department approved clinic.
• Police check – these are required for any country where you have stayed a significant amount of time, not just your home country.
• Translation of documents – any document not in English will need to be formally translated.
• Once the visa is granted, if you are not already in Australia, you will need to travel to Australia by a certain date to activate the visa.  
• Registered Migration Agent service fees.  An agent can set any fee they wish and will generally be subject to how complicated your case is.  On average expect a reputable agent to charge from $3000AUD.

What can an agent do for me?

Great question!!!
A good agent will:

• Speak with you and your partner about your relationship – the history of your relationship and where you see it over the next 2-3 years whilst the visa is processing.
• Advise on the best location of where you should be to lodge – in or outside of Australia.
• Provide you with a checklist of items needed to prove your relationship to the Department.
• Complete the application – this process is lengthy with many pages to be filled and documents to be uploaded into the online system.

A great agent will:

• Double and triple check you have everything needed to lodge the best application possible.
• Make you feel comfortable and in control; letting you make informed decisions.
• Remain in contact with you and the Department over an extended period of time… in the case of a Partner Visa this could be as long as 2-3 years!

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Ready to take the next step?  Contact us today 
We are ready to work with you towards a GREAT AUSTRALIAN MIGRATION!

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