Wanting to live, work or study in Australia is an option thousands of people take, and many of them do so because their partner or spouse already lives permanently in Australia. To join their partners, an individual needs to apply for a partner visa, and in truth, the process does take some time to fully understand.
The risk of making an error in your application could be a delay or rejection. To help you avoid that, we have put together 15 tips that you can use as a checklist as you proceed with your partner visa application.
#1: Consult With Migration Agents – Our number 1 tip. Doing this could be the difference between a successful application and a failed one.
#2: Give Yourself Plenty of Time – The application process can take months so do not delay starting the process, especially if you have a specific date by which you want the visa.
#3: Know Which Partner Visa Subclass Is Applicable – One of the confusions of visas in Australia is there are multiple subclasses. Ensure you know all the details of them and which one you should be applying for
#4: Collate The Evidence Of Your Relationship – One of the factors in deciding your application will be the basis of your relationship with your partner so start gathering together the evidence such as a marriage certificate and joint accounts.
#5: Sort Out the Funding – The application process has fees, so as early as possible, decide how you are going to fund them rather than panicking to find the money at the last minute.
#6: Ensure All Evidence Is Clear And Valid – The better the evidence you have relating to your application, the more chance it has of succeeding.
#7: Avoid Sending Original Documents If Not Requested – Although the risk is light, there is a chance that original copies might go astray, so send photocopies unless the original document is requested.
#8: Ensure Your Partner’s Information Is Consistent With Yours – It is essential that any information you and your partner provide such as wedding dates, length of the relationship and so on is identical. Any discrepancies can delay or even halt the application.
#9: All Information You Provide Must Most Be Accurate, True, And Complete – Do not be tempted to embellish or even falsify any of your information, as not only will it cause your application to be rejected, but it is also illegal.
#10: Do Not Submit Your Application Until You Meet All Criteria And It Is Fully Completed – If your application is rejected because you have missed something, or do not meet the criteria, you will not be refunded and will have to start the process all over again.
#11: Fully Review Your Application Before Submission – We cannot stress enough how important it is that your application is complete and accurate. You must review it carefully before you submit it.
#12: Ask Someone Else To Review Your Application – Ideally you want an immigration expert or immigration lawyer to do this for you. If not, have someone with a keen eye for detail to look it over for you.
#13: Make A Copy Of Your Application And All Evidence – It is sensible to keep copies of all documentation including your evidence. This can make it easier for you if you need to resubmit it all.
#14: Inform Immigration Of Any Updates – If any of your information changes during the process such as your address, then you must let immigration know immediately so they can update your application.
#15: Know What Your Rights Are During The Decision Period – Matters such as travel to and from Australia may be restricted during the period your application is being considered so ensure you know how they apply to you.
