Irishcop

Hey guys, I'm new to this and so please go easy on me if I'm repeating something that may have been previously discussed

I received the email yesterday to say that my application has been short listed and that my assessment is 1st July. In relation to visas, I have a few questions...
1- I know that if successful, we get recommended for permanent residency visas. From what I can gather, there are various classes of PR visas? My partner has started looking into jobs over there in the chance that I would be successful. She emailed a company and they asked her what exact visa she would have- 475, 417, 801, 175 or 814. This was double Dutch to me and unfortunately as I have the pleasure of policing the G8 over the next week, my 7x 16 hour shifts in a row won't allow for too much research time!

2- is it safe to assume that same sex couples have the same right to nominate their partner on their visas?

3- does my partner have to have lived with me at any point? Se lives in England and I live in Ireland so we haven't been living together at any point!

Any help would be greatly appreciated

brisbec

If you're lucky enough to get through all of the stages, then WAPol nominate you for a ENS 186 visa. Have a look on the Australian immigration website.

The visa is for you and your immediate family - partner, husband, wife and dependent children.

For couples who don't live together, you will have to prove an ongoing "de facto" relationship.
If you search the main Australia forum you will find loads of info on the information required for couples who don't live together etc.

Pollyana

You need to ask WA police what visa they are sponsoring you for.

I can definitely say it won't be a 175, that is no longer issued. It won't be a 417, thats a working holiday. 801 is a spouse visa,
Current visas are here - http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/ and the Aus Immigration forum can answer questions about most of them.

Same sex partners are generally now able to migrate as de facto partners, BUT you must be able to prove cohabitation for 12 months, or have some excellent justification for living apart.

Irishcop

Thanks for the replies guys

I was u set the impression that a 'de facto' relationship was living together? As I said we don't live together because I work and live in Ireland and she works and lives in England. Is this likely to be a problem ? :-0

Pollyana

Yep, for de facto you normally have to prive 12 months cohabitation. There are exceptions - in countries where its forbidden to live togther before marriage, for instance, but you need good evidence of the reasons, and almost always the help of a registered agent.
With a guess that you are in a same-sex de facto relationship, it would be hard to get round the cohabitation rule.
One possible solution would be if your partner is eligible for a Working Holiday Visa - once you have PR and move to Aus, if they went over a=on a WHV you could accrue the time living yogether over there, and you then sponsor your partner for a Spouse Visa (on the grounds of a de facto relationship).