Australian Partner Visa; different stages

So far I have blogged about the differences between the Australian Partner Visa by "marriage" or "de facto" relationship. At the same time, I have also touched on the differences between applying "onshore" or "offshore" as well.

This blog will look into the stages of Australian Partner Visa. It has 2 stages; Temporary and Permanent.

The reason that Australian Partner Visa has 2 stages because both the visa applicant and the sponsor need to demonstrate that their relationship is:

• long-term, 
• genuine and
• continuing.

Therefore, it needs time and different stages to proof that their relationship is long-term, genuine and continuing. It is a long and tedious process.

Stage 1; Temporary Resident:
This stage is the preliminary stage of the Australian Partner Visa. It doesn't matter if the visa application has been lodged onshore or offshore if the visa applicant and the sponsor can demonstrate that their relationship is long-term, genuine and continuing, then the visa can be granted. However, it will just a temporary visa. It is not a permanent visa yet. This visa allows the visa applicant to stay indefinitely in Australia until the final stage (stage 2) of this visa is finalized.

It also has multiple entry status, meaning that the visa holder could travel in and out of Australia as s/he, please.

If the visa applicant has lodged the onshore visa application, the applicant can wait for stage 1 onshore. However, if the visa applicant has lodged the offshore application, the applicant needs to be offshore "on the date" of the visa decision. 

Visa applicant, although lodge an offshore visa application, s/he can come to Australia on whatever visa (tourist visa, student visa...etc) and spend time in Australia with his/her love ones. However, on the date of the visa decision, s/he needs to be outside the country.

Stage 2; Permanent Resident:
2 years from the date of the visa application, then it is entering into the 2nd stage of the Australian Partner Visa.

Some may ask why is that it needs 2 years to gain permanent residency. The "relationship" is a sensitive issue. Many marriages, many relationships break down along the way. If that really happens, the Partner Visa will not be granted.

Having said that, the visa applicant and the sponsor should just live their normal life as usual. 2 years is not long if everyone just goes on with their lives as per normal.

The 2 years period is counted from the date of application lodgement, not from the date the TR is granted. 

When the 2 years period comes, the Department of Immigration will send an email or post to remind the visa applicant that it is time to lodge a stage 2 application. Therefore, it is important that the Department of Immigration has up-to-date information about the postal address and/or email address of the visa applicant.

In this 2nd stage, the visa applicant and the sponsor need to demonstrate that they are still in a relationship and it is still long-term, genuine and continuing.

That is means, another set of paperwork. Another set of document!!! 

Australian Partner Visa is one of the long and tedious processes. Both visa applicant and the sponsor need to be prepared mentally.

We hope that this blog has clear some doubts for some. If anyone still needs more information about Australian Partner Visa, please do not hesitate to contact us, either by email, phone or any social media means of communication.