Types and categories of Australian Partner Visa

In the previous blog I have written about the different types and categories of Australian Partner Visa; Partner Visa by Marriage versus Partner Visa by De facto relationship. This blog I would like to focus more on the differences between applying for Australian Partner Visa Onshore versus Offshore application. 

As mentions in my previous post that both marriage couple and the de facto couple can apply for Australian Partner Visa, either by onshore or offshore. This applies for both the same-sex couple and different-sex couple.

Partner Visa Onshore:
That is means the visa applicant lodge his/her visa application onshore, in Australia. Upon the lodgement of Australian Partner, this is what will happen:

• Visa applicant will automatically be granted a Bridging Visa A.
• Have access to Medicare.
• Be able to work.
• Be able to stay in Australia with your love one and wait for the visa to be granted.
• If the visa is refused, the visa applicant can appeal and continue holding Bridging Visa A during the appeal process.

Partner Visa Offshore:

That is means the visa applicant has to lodge his/her visa application from outside Australia. It doesn't matter which country. Some visa applicants who reside in Australia but have the 8503 or 8534 conditions that prohibit them from lodging the Partner Visa application onshore, they easily can lodge Partner Visa offshore by fly to overseas; New Zealand, Fiji, Bali (or a few other near-by destinations) just for a few days and lodge the visa application and then fly back. 

Things that people need to know about applying for Australian Partner Visa offshore:

• Visa applicant needs to be offshore on the date of the decision. During the visa process, the visa applicant can be in Australia under whatever visa (Tourist Visa, Student Visa...etc), but s/he needs to be outside of the country when the visa about to finalized (either grant or refuse).
• If the visa is refused, the sponsor can appeal on the visa applicant's behalf.

I think that should sum up the difference between Onshore and Offshore application for Australian Partner Visa.

Personally, I encourage people to lodge visa application onshore if s/he doesn't have 8503 or 8534 on his/her visa condition. So that the visa applicant can stay and wait for his/her visa with his/her love one. Even if the visa is refused, s/he can still stay in Australia with his/her love one during the appeal process. A long-distance doesn't do any good to the relationship!!!!