Immigration News

• Points Test Update
• New Skilled Migration Points Test
• Snapshot - Partner Visa Eligibility Requirements
• New Skilled Migration Points Test
• Australian Immigration Update - 1 July 2010

Australian Partner Visas - Spouse Visa, De facto visa, Prospective Spouse Visa (Fiancee)

You may be eligible for an Australian Partner Visa  and immigration to Australia if you are married, engaged or in a de facto relationship or in an interdependent relationship with an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

Spouse, De Facto or "Common law" Spouse

These Australian Partner visas are for the husband, wife or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen who want to acquire a visa for residency in Australia.

In order to be eligible for an Australian Spouse Visa, you must fulfil the folowing requirements:

• you and your spouse have a mutual and exclusive relationship and a commitment to a shared life as husband and wife, whether or not you are legally married
• the relationship is genuine and continuing
• unless you are legally married, you must provide evidence of an ongoing relationship and satisfy the "12 month pre-existing relationship rule", which usually involves showing that you have lived together during this period immediately preceding the date of application
• you both need to be aged 18 or over
• you both must pass health and character criteria

You apply for both, the temporary and the permanent Australian Spouse Visa or Australian De facto Visa, at the same time and on the same application form. Generraly, a temporary (or provisional) Spouse Visa is granted first. Approximately two years after the initial visa application, if your relationship is still genuine and continuing, you may be eligible for Australian permanent residence.

Prospective Spouse (Fiancee)

The Australian Prospective Marriage / Fiancee Visa is a temporary visa for people outside Australia who are engaged to be married to an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligile New Zealand citizen.

In order to be eligible for an Australian fiance (e)/prospective marriage visa, you must fulfil the following requirements:

• must be engaged to an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
• must be able to show that your relationship is genuine. This will involve demonstrating that you genuinly intend to marry your fiance within nine months from the date you are granted a visa and that you intend to live with your partner as their spouse
• will have to prove that your fiance(e) have met face to face and know each other personally
• must show that you are of marriageable age (18) when marriage takes place
• you and your partner must be able to show that you are both free to marry and are not in a prohibited relationship

This australian partner visa permits you to travel to, enter and remain in Australia for nine months from the date of grant. Once you are married, you will be eligible to apply for Australian permanent residence through an Australian Spouse Visa.

Do you qualify for an Australian Partner Visa?

Complete our visa assessment to take advantage of our competitive migration services.

We understands that it is of the utmost importance that your partner can join you in Australia as quickly as possible. Euroxpat' s migration agents offer expert advice and have significant experience in dealing with any difficult issues that may arise when applying for partner visas, including:

    * Establishing the 12-month cohabitation requirement for defacto partners
    * Skipping the usual 2-year waiting period for permanent residence
    * Obtaining exemptions for the 12-month cohabitation requirement
    * Health waivers where the partner has a serious medical issue
    * Situations involving domestic violence