Visa queries
 

Hi,

I'm looking to move out to Melbourne towards the end 2018, with my (Australian) fiancée of 3 years.
I'm a Quantity Surveyor (Contract Administrator in Australia, so far as I can tell) with 4+ years experience, and a Construction Management degree.

Looking at the Visa's, my best option appears to be the "Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) and Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100)".
However at a cost of $7,000 I am wondering, given my profession, whether the "Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) (Points-tested) stream" is just as viable an option and a more beneficial with half the price at $3,670.

Can anyone advise if there are benefits to the Partner Visa that I have discounted?
Should I just put up with the fact there's an extra cost and go for it?


To complicate matters I am looking at changing my surname before I migrate, this is due to personal reasons (short version - name was changed to that of step-parents when I was young, they're now not part of the family and I would like back my original birth surname).

So long as I get my UK passport, personal (bank, etc.) details, and a deed poll, all ready before I start my Visa application, would anyone foresee this being an issue at all?


My partner actually needs to get her Aussie passport renewed soon, so I'm thinking I may just go with her and see if we can get some advice on these queries.

Thanks in advance.
Dan

Re: Visa queries
 

The Partner Visa may be cheaper in the long run, but don't just look at the visa fee when comparing them, you need to look at the skills assessment, possible IELTS fee etc when adding up the cost of the skills visa. These days its usually much faster to get a 189 grant than to get a Partner Visa grant.

I'm assuming if you apply for the Partner Visa you would be doing it on de facto grounds, and have been cohabiting for at least 12 months?

Regarding the ID change - you will have to declare both names on the application (whichever route you take) and produce legal evidence of the name change. Then ensure that the applciation is done using whichever name is on the passport you are using - the visa name must match the passport name.

Re: Visa queries
 

Hiya Dan. I'm assuming you're a Brit living in the UK?

I'm an Aussie living in the UK with my Brit husband, just wanted to pick up on your comment re your fiancee renewing her Aussie passport.

I did this a couple of weeks ago, had to travel from Merseyside to London as Australia House only do a few 'outreach' services a year. You won't be able to enter Australia House when your fiancee goes for her interview - it's a security requirement that only those with booked and confirmed appointments are admitted.

Also just wanted to flag with you that no one in Australia House can help you with queries regarding emigrating to Oz. The website of Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) is what you need.

Cheers, and if your fiancee has any questions re the renewal of her passport I'm happy to help.

Re: Visa queries
 

Is this a really new thing? My husband (British) and daughter were allowed into Australia house with me when I had my appointment in late February this year. My husband even asked a few questions of which the interviewee happily answered.

Dan - regarding visas. I would go for the Partner if you can. Although the cost is $7k now it's worth it in the long run for reasons Polly has mentioned. Yes it takes a lot of paperwork and will be most likely a bit more difficult for you changing name however definitely worth it in the long run. My husband received a permanent resident partner visa which is great as opposed to temporary.

Re: Visa queries
 

Unless you will get PR from the start with a partner visa I would go 189. Better than the temporary partner visa. Check if you can meet the requirements for PR grant under the partner visa.

Re: Visa queries
 

Don't know how new it is, I went 3 weeks ago. The form I filled in online said only the person with the appointment would be admitted, and when I arrived and buzzed the intercom, security could see that my husband was with me and said the same thing. Definitely only people with confirmed appointments admitted.

The website also reminds people that they don't deal with any Australian immigration queries.

Re: Visa queries
 

Yep, and as I said its much faster these days to get a 189. Once the cost has been added up for the 189 I don't think there is a lot in it for most professionals, so I would be making my choice based on the speed of the visa issuance these days. Once upon a time Partner Visas were so fast that it was a no-brainer, but these days you can wait well over a year, 189s are much quicker.

However, if they did go for Partner, I'm thinking as they said 3 years as a fiancee, that they might be able to prove three years together, which would mean PR straight away on a Spouse Visa.

Re: Visa queries
 

My husband and daughter are British and didn't have appointments and were welcomed in no questions. All entered security (one by one). Also answered questions happily. Must have been a happy person on for my appt!

Re: Visa queries
 

Security was probably upgraded after the terrorist attacks then. If the same security process had been in place at the time of your appointment and your happy person was found out, he/she would be an unhappy, unemployed person by now!

Re: Visa queries
 

Australia House hasn't had an immigration counter service for several years now.

Re: Visa queries
 

:rofl: I just spoke to a friend in London who just had their child's first passport interview and they let her hubby in also who is British. He didn't ask questions tho, just sat next to with the buggy.

Re: Visa queries
 

Oh for the days of over-the-counter visas granted in 40 minutes........

Re: Visa queries
 

I'm a bit shitty now, what's my husband, chopped liver? :frown: :lol:

I actually thought the level of security was great and I appreciated the thought behind it. Now I'm more of the opinion that it's a shambles, with the procedure seemingly being 'whatever the person who happens to be on duty today feels like'. I'm going to have a word to the (not so?) wise...

Re: Visa queries
 

Including partner visas if you were willing to pay the premium.

Re: Visa queries
 

Those were the ones I meant - back in the early days of BE there were several of us who got Partner Visas over-the-counter.. Hand over your paperwork, go for a quick walk round the block, come back and pick up passport plus visa.

Re: Visa queries
 

Bring your own chest X-rays :)

Re: Visa queries
 

Oooh yes, that big envelope with the Xrays in, how could I have forgotten that:lol:
My other lasting memory is that the metal detectors to get into the building were super-sensitive, and any females with underwired bras were causing alarms to go off :rofl::rofl:

Re: Visa queries
 

Did you have to whip your bra off and go through again, Polly? Wouldn't put anything past these Aussies :sneaky: :lol:

Re: Visa queries
 

It got close actually! The guy couldn't work out why the detector was going off for women and not men but three of us got it down to a common denominator. Think he was too scared to ask us to start stripping :rofl: