My apologies, this is a repost from another thread -- newbie mistake.

Hey guys:

As I previously wrote in my intro thingy -- I'm form hawaii, gonna be posted in Canberra (please say it's not as bad as I've been hearing?) ANYWAY, I work for the US Dept of State -- and I do have a partner (yes yes, of the same sex, won't apologize for my sexuality -- but I am sorry if y'all don't like it)...

So my question is: I WANT my partner with me, she wants to share the whole Australian experience, BUT, because she's not on my orders, is therefore unrecognized as my mate. ROYALLY sucks. Is there a visa that will grant her the opportunity to stay in country with me for the duration of my tour?

HELLPPP!!
Mahalo Nui Loa!

How old is she?, if she's under 30 then maybe try for a working visa??

Or there is the Student visa, just another thought.

She's 30 just like me -- unfortunately, I don't think she's interested in working, she may toy with the idea. She's a graphic artist by trade, never did well with taking orders

I heard about a "Partner" visa? Ugh...can you tell i'm slightly freaking?

A working holiday visa just gives her the option to work.

Might have to just come on tourist visas or ETAs (if she is eligible) and stay for several holidays. If she applies for a tourist visa she could probably get a 6 month one.

Partner visas probably won't work, as you would need to be a citizen or an Australian permanent resident in order to sponsor her.

I'll have to look into that Holiday Visa -- as for the Partner Visa, I only ask because when I was stationed in Venezuela (approx 3 years), I 'technically' became a citizen of that country (with what was called their Carnet, complete with a social number unique to Venezuela).

I assumed (forgive me if I'm wrong and maybe I shouln't assume) that I would be afforded a similar thing considering I'm under Diplomatic Status; thereby becoming a pseudo-permanent resident of Oz. Living and working there.

I think it just bums me out that the host country (Venezuela) let her live with me for the duration of my tour there and I'm having problems with trying to figure out what Visa would be good for her to be with me in Oz. (I hope I'm not offending anyone with calling Australia Oz )

Just don't want to be in a country that I can't fully enjoy without my 'family'.

If you are going to be on diplomatic status then you will probably have a special visa with which most people on online forums are not familiar. Why is the State Department not sorting out your visa for you?

Diplomats don't become citizens of the host country.

Simply because they don't recognize my partner and I as a couple. They told me flat out that my partner will have to find her own way to get her Visa. She'll have her tourist passport from the US, but...other than, we've been left on our own.

Maybe the best advice - especially with Jeremy's input regarding the special diplomatic visa - would be for you to talk to an agent? There may be a way of getting your partner here, not known to most posters on here because of its specialist nature.

thank you for the advice Considering....I'm the one with the Diplomatic passport and she's on her regular Tourist Passport, perhaps the best would be to obtain a Tourist Visa, which according to the Australian Embassy website -- grants a stay to about 12 months? Is this correct?

If this is the case then, she can come on the ETA and we can have her apply for the tourist once on shore and see i we can extend that?

So yes, to clarify...she's not recognized on my orders nor as a partner in the Us Gov't's eyes; she's on her own (I hate that).

If you have an interdependent partner an you fail to state this on your visa application ...

If your partner applies for a visitor visa and she intends to reside with you, not visit as a tourist ...

There are several legitmate solutions, stop trying to be you own expert and consult a registered migration agent ...

you could try: www.glitf.org.au/

All the best

RMA 0316072

Thank you for the suggestion, I did get a reply fromt GLITF -- Here's what they said:

Officially the Australian Federal Government does not recognize same sex
partnerships.

However, if you have already been able to have your partner with you in
other countries I would approach the Australian Immigration Department's
diplomatic section through your Embassy and ask for a visa to be issued to her.

Apparently, how everything is worked is that my partner has to be listed under my orders in order for Immigration to consider giving her a visa; but seeing how I'm not even recognized as 'married' (not even allowed under the gov't's eyes in the US) they (the US) did not place her on my orders.

So technically I'm single and just trying to bring my g/f over. /frustrated.