keith999

Hi

Currently getting ready for putting in documents for partner visa. Me and my partner lived in the UK for two years before we came to Australia. Previously I was a PR for 12 years. She has to get a number of police checks. Somebody I know said I also need to get a UK police check. I don;t think that sounds right as I already went through all the immigration stuff when I was doing my PR. Does anybody know if the sponser has to get a police check if they have lived overseas before coming back to Australia.

I was going to just do it but we've already spent a fair bit on police checks as my girlfriend has lived in Belgium, Netherlands and the UK.

BritInParis

I presume that you still hold PR? Is your partner applying for her visa in or out of Australia?

The sponsor doesn't normally require police checks unless there is a child under 18 years of age being included on the application.

In any case your partner shouldn't apply for her police checks until requested to do so by DIBP else they will likely expire before her visa can be granted and she'll need to do them again. The same goes for her health checks.

keith999

we're applying in australia and doing it in the next few weeks

BritInParis

Okay, so processing times for 820/801 partner visas in Australia are running at 12-15 months at the moment. Since any police checks for your partner are only valid for 12 months from the time of issue and must be valid when her visa is granted it's best to wait for her Case Officer to request them rather than apply for them in advance because they'll likely expire before then and she'll need to do them again.