Our process is as follows:

• If you decide to engage us as your migration agent, we will send you a detailed cost agreement and deposit request
• The initial deposit is 50 % of the total professional fees
• Once we have received the signed agreement and initial deposit, we will set up a secure portal where you can upload documents and where we can message each other securely
• Inside the portal is an online questionnaire where you can enter you and your sponsor’s details
• We will provide guidelines and factsheets about the evidence and documentation required
• Once you have completed the questionnaire, we will start preparing the application forms and other documentation
• When we have received all the information and documentation required, we will send a final deposit request
• The final deposit request is for the remainder of the application fees and the Visa Application Charges
• Once the final deposit has been received, we will lodge the visa application
• After the visa application has been lodged, we will send you the acknowledgement letter and the bridging visa grant letter (if applicable), as soon as it has been issued
• We will then prepare and lodge the sponsor application
• We will monitor the application and liaise with the Department until a decision has been made on the application

• In all instances, the applicant and sponsor must provide solid evidence that the relationship is genuine and on-going.

• De-facto applicants must provide evidence that they have been in a de-facto relationship for at least 12 months, before the application is lodged.
•  This requirement may be waived where there are compelling or compassionate circumstances or when the relationship has been registered.

•  knowledge of each other’s personal circumstances</li>
•  financial aspects of the relationship, joint financial commitments such as real estate or other assets and sharing day-to-day household expenses
• the nature of the household, including living arrangements and joint care and responsibility for any children of the relationship
• the social aspects of the relationship, provided in statements (statutory declarations) by friends and acquaintances</
•   the nature of the commitment, including duration of the relationship, how long the couple has been living together and whether they see the relationship as a long-term one

• When making a valid application onshore you will be granted a bridging visa.
• Bridging visas normally have the same conditions as your last substantive visa.
• It is possible to apply for work rights while on a bridging visa with a “No Work” condition.

If you are in Australia and you have a visa with condition 8503, then you will not be able to apply for a partner visa onshore, unless a waiver of the condition can be obtained first.

If you are in Australia without a valid visa, there may be some instances where you can apply for a partner visa (see also Schedule 3 criteria below)

Schedule 3 requirements apply to people who, at the time they apply for a sc. 820 visa, are either unlawful or hold a bridging visa. If that is the case, the applicant must satisfy Schedule 3 criteria 3001, 3003 and 3004, unless the Minister is satisfied there are compelling reasons for not applying those criteria. “Compelling reasons” is not defined in the Migration Regulations and this means that the meaning of this open to interpretation by case officers.

Previously many applicants managed to get a waiver from schedule 3 criteria relatively easily. However, the DIBP have now changed their interpretation of ‘compelling reasons” and in most cases, it is much harder (if not impossible) to get the schedule 3 criteria waived. Note also that the new interpretation is applied retrospectively.

If you are affected by schedule 3 criteria seriously consider if it is likely that you will qualify for a waiver and if it is worth to lodge an onshore application, as refusals are very expensive and immensely stressful.

If you have already applied for an onshore partner visa and you get a request to submit information regarding any compelling reasons to waiver Schedule 3, make sure you properly address the request.

If the relationship breaks down during the application process, there can be all sort of unintended consequences for both the sponsor and the visa applicant. For most people, it is incredibly stressful to have to deal with visa issues on top of the emotional turmoil of the relationship coming to an end, especially if there are children involved or there are family violence issues. We provide quick and discreet phone or email consultations so you can discuss your options and obligations.