Spouse Visa Thread continued - 2012-2014
 

A question please on the de facto application pack I'm sending off in 2 weeks time...finally! This might seem obvious, or daft to some but what is the best way to present all the information?

I mean, do you present the pack in chronological order to the checklist they provide? In which case, the de facto relationship evidence (which is huge) comes after most other information provided but before the police certificates.

I appreciate this may sound daft, but without using staples and paper clips which they don't want, what is the best way to present the information without bits getting lost, or possibly seen.

I'm probably worrying over nothing but any advice (apart from 'get a grip :D) would be helpful

Thanks



MODS NOTE - THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE PREVIOUS SPOUSE VISA THREAD, WHICH CAN BE FOUND HERE

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=704602

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Green Grass - I don't think it matters that much, but I did it roughly in this order:
Covering letter
Application forms (Main applicant followed by sponsor)
Certified copies of Birth cert, passports, etc
Personal statements
Declarations on form 88 (I think or was it 888?).
A few photos copied onto 3 sheets of paper
Evidence of address and joint bills etc at the end
(we did police certificate later)

I would hope they are quite thorough and don't lose anything or fail to see anything! I doubt they would penalise you for the order but HTH anyway.

Oh and DONT forget the payment mandate! THAT's the most important bit really :) that went first after the covering letter.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Nothing is likely to get lost or missed. The envelope gets opened and all the stuff inside gets scanned. Just put everything in a 'sensible' order, ie your app, your sponsors app, other official stuff, background stuff. No clips, cover sheets (other than the one at the top listing everything below it). Panic not, DIAC have done this many many times. ;) It'll all be good. :D

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

I think just about everybody who has ever applied for a spouse visa, myself included, has felt a bit uncomfortable sending in the application unclipped/unbound/unstapled/undivided in any way - it just goes against the natural order of things! As moneypenny says though, it is what they want and a happy DIAC is a visa granting DIAC :rofl: ... I can't ever recall reading about anyone saying that x,y,z document was mislaid due to the lack of attaching devices.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Thanks to all for your guidance and reassurance :)

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

I know I've said this before, but for the benefit of newer posters - in the days when Moneypen and I got our Spouse visas they could be issued over the counter in London. When I got mine it was granted in 40 minutes, in person, by my case officer. She told me then about the scanning, and how they really loved it when people didn't use paperclips and staples etc. i told her then that I'd pass on the info, so for anyone who is worried - please don't be, you are just making your COs day a lot easier :)

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

I will be applying for partner migration through marriage. My husband (who will be my sponsor) is Australian and we have a daughter that will be an Australian citizen by the time we apply (she's currently British).

I'm unsure whether my husband will need a police check- the document checklist part of the form says:

If there is a child aged under 18 years included in the application:

• if the sponsor has spent a total of 12 months or more in Australia since turning 16, an AFP National Police Check for the sponsor
• police certificates from each country in which the sponsor had spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16 years of age

It's the included in application part that I'm unsure about. I will enter her details in the section about my family, so I think that means she's included?

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Hello

i am new! My hubby is applying for a job in Oz. He is Australian and I am British. I saw it costs £1345 for a visa. Is that it or are there other costs?

Also, have been reading here about evidence? I just assumed (maybe wrongly that being married for 9yrs would be sufficient. Have I really got to dig out electricity bills and whatnot to prove we are together? Holy moly, what a carry on. I can see why they do it to prevent fraud but you'd be hard pressed to live with someone for 9 years if it wasn't genuine.

Does anyone know processing times too? Kids can get passports - is this fairly straightforward/quick too?

Thanks loads.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

You need to read Booklet 1 from DIAC, that tells you all about the evidence etc.

Current visa charges are here - http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i.htm but you will also need a police check and medical.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Aaronknol - your situation sounds the same as mine except I am the sponsor and my husband is British we have a 21 month old daughter. She now has Australian (and British) citizenship and she is NOT included in the application because she is Australian anyway. So you don't have to worry about that bit - I was confused when I read that bit too. I think it's only for non- Australian children.

Madmuvva - we just did the medical and it was £270, so bear that expense in mind. There's also the cost of certifying documents if you don't know anyone who can do that for you. Postage, photocopying etc.
The chIlds passport isn't too bad but also costs about £80 I think. We got my daughters passport really quickly about 3 days after we put the application but I think they tell you 10 days. Also re evidence - I agree I've been married 6 years but together for 12. You still have to submit evidence to show you live together but I imagine they just need to tick all the boxes as such but I would think your application is one of the straight forward ones.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Ps the current timeline they advise is 6 months for the partner visa. It's no quicker if you've been married for ages I don't think, but I'll let you know if we get a pleasant surprise!

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Hi All
My partner will apply for 676 Visit after spouse visa 309 applyed to visit me here in australia before approving spouse visa.Is there any problem to do so?

Thanks:)

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Hi dalam,

As far as I know, there is no problem with applying for the tourist visa after applying for the partner visa. However, your partner must let the case officer responsible for the partner visa know what his/her plans are. I imagine that there will be a section on the 676 form to declare if the applicant knows anyone in Australia, in which case s/he would have to declare you. It's then up to DIAC to decide whether or not to grant the tourist visa, which may go either way if your partner is from a high risk country and they think there is a risk of overstaying the visa. Your partner would have to be offshore when the spouse visa is granted.

Hope that's some help. :)
Pru.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

thanks Greenlady. TBH all sounds a nightmare and wondering if it right thing to do for what it will cost to go. I have loads of questions and will need to find right parts of forum for them.

Hubby applying for job offering relocation assistance but not sure how much.

ttfn.xx

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Thanks for ur apply
Can she apply Partner and tourist VISA at same day?

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

My partner received her tourist visa in November and is applying for de facto visa in January. I expect that as long as you advise the case officer of your intentions, it shouldn't matter when you get your tourist visa approved. The most important thing is you ensure you tell your case officer that you intend to VISIT Australia (excuse the rude capitalisation) during your partner visa application process. Let them know that that you understand you have to be off shore when the visa is granted (fact) and that if they decline your partner visa application, you understand you will have to leave Australia prior to expiry of your tourist visa.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Only you can decide whether it's what you want or not. For me personally I've been living in London for 12 years and I am desperate to move home to be with my family. My husband wasn't ready a few years ago but now he is, I'm grabbing it with both hands no matter the cost.
Also although we haven't got ours yet by far the biggest palaver is the initial application making sure you everything right. They took the money straight away so the expense is behind us too.
I hope you reach a happy decision whichever way good luck x

EDIT the visa cost is behind us not the cost of relocating...

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Thanks very much for your help, greenlady. Glad to hear a police check won't be required!

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

You will still need to do one as the non-australian partner, but I was told to submit the application first then the CO would request it later. Also please double check with DIAC in case I'm wrong about your original question but that's how it was for me. Hth

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Thanks for your suggestion

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Good News Time!!!!
Just spoken to my CO as we had planned to travel out in March regardless and nip in and out as required. She said my Visa was confirmed just not awarded and if I gave her my flight dates she would sort it so on the 1st March I am off - just need to tell work, pack up the house and all the other crap!!

Seems like they are just looking to process at a nice steady rate wouldn't want too many getting in now would we!! At least I know the civil service will remind me of home!
:):D:thumbsup::thumbup::eek::cool::)

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Good stuff Mike!

Mine went in in September so fingers crossed I'll get some good news soon too :)

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Trust me the Aus Public Service has more red tape than the British!!

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Congrats Mike. Hopefully we're all not too far behind you!

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Hi
Thanks for your suggestions.
Is there any chance to decline Partner VISA although applicant inform the CO about staying period in Australia under tourist visa 676 and confirm him to leave australia before application approved?

Thanks
MD Alam

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Hi All
Good morning.
My partner and me are living separately from August 2011 as I have shifted to Syd.In case of applying partner VISA to show continuing relationship, is it require to drop mail/phone etc communication of full period of temporary separation or one/two month are quite enough to show the continuing relation?

I would like to mention we married ecah other at May 2010.

Thanks
MD Alam

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

One or two a month is fine, they don't need to see everything.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Yay! Congrats, Mike! :thumbsup:

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Thanks moneypenny20 for your reply.
I have another two questions:
1. In case of fill up the form(47Sp and 40Sp),instruction to use pen.Can I computer compose the form?
2. I have a doctor advice of Australia that he support my wife's partner application as my medical condition is not good and my wife need to be with me.Is is letter help to get VISA earlier or it makes application weeker as CO will think she is persuing to make the application faster?

Thanks:D

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

You couldn't do it by computer when I did mine. I have no idea if it's changed. If you have a medical condition, it's going to show when you do your meds. If you have any background information on it then you take that along to the meds and the Doc will attach it all to the form. If you want to include any further info to your application, you can. It's unlikely to speed anything up, regardless of length of relationship etc, they are all taking roughly the same amount of time.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Yes of course there is. Regardless of whether she has a tourist visa she still needs to meet the criteria for the Spouse visa.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Thanks for your reply.
So, as per your feedback,form can be fill up by computer.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

No, she said she had no idea if it had changed. It hasn't, you can't apply for a Spouse Visa online.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

I didn't even consider he meant applying online :lol: I just seem to remember when I did mine that I considered using the PDF, typing in my responses and then printing it and sending it in but I couldn't. Don't know if that ability has changed, fairly sure it hasn't but not certain.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Hi, I expect to be heading offshore in around 6 months time (with my partner to get her de facto partner visa) and was planning a trip to New Zealand. When they tell you to go offshore, how long do you need to go offshore for and does it only take a few days for the visa to be granted?

I saw a post elsewhere on the forum that in Auckland, it takes several days for passports to get the visa put in, I think because they get it posted to them once you ask for it. Any idea if this is true?

Thanks

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Yes,I want to fill up form/PDF by computer;print it and send to
but few parts will be fill up by pen that are payment details and signature.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

I filled in my forms on the PC last year - I was (if memory serves) advised to do so by my agent - with no issues.

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Thanks for sharing:D

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

Hi All,

In form 80, I had queries for following questions

Q no 34 Proposed arrival details ??
As i will be waiting for my partner visa approval so cannot set any date

Q no 35 Are you applying for a temporary visa?
If i answer yes then as well it asked about departure date and flight number

Thanks

Re: Spouse Visa Circle continued - Dec 2010 onwards
 

You tell them what they want to know. You don't know when you're likely to arrive because you don't yet have your visa and if you're applying for the Temp Spouse Visa you don't have a return date because you are expecting to convert it to a PR in two years time and it's a permanent move.

Don't look for complications where there are none. Form 80 is a common form for many visas.