A partner visa allows spouses of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens to live, work, and study in Australia. There are two classes of partner visas; the temporary (subclass 820) and the permanent (subclass 801) visa. Below is an extract discussing how to apply for a partner visa successfully.
Applicant Requirements
Visa applicants should meet the following criteria:
- You should be at least 18 years of age.
- You must undergo a medical test to ascertain you do not have an infectious disease such as COVID-19 or tuberculosis.
- You should present a police clearance to prove that you are a law-abiding citizen in your home country.
- You must be in Australia when applying for the subclass 801 and 820 visa.
- You must pay your debts to the Australian government.
Sponsor Requirements
Your sponsor (spouse or de facto partner) must be an Australian citizen, permanents resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. They should not have sponsored another person on a similar visa. Typically, your sponsor should have adequate finances to support your stay in the country. The immigration department could decline your sponsor if they have a significant criminal record. For example, they cannot sponsor you if they have been imprisoned for more than 12 months due to offences, such as human trafficking or sexual harassment.
Proving Your Relationship
As you apply for the visa, the department requires you to prove that you are in a genuine and continuing relationship with your sponsor. Besides, you must be willing to live together while in the country. An experienced immigration agent will help you submit evidence of your relationship. For instance, you may need to submit evidence such as joint bank accounts, a marriage certificate, vacation photos, proof that you have met your sponsor's family, joint property or knowledge of your partner's occupation.
Interviews
In most cases, your case officer will request a formal interview before approving your visa. The interview can be conducted over the phone or one-on-one. Your case officer will call when least expected. If you are unprepared for the interview, ask the case officer to reschedule the interview. Preferably, ask your immigration agent to represent you during the interview. The agent will clarify the case officer's questions. Besides, your agent will request breaks to ensure you are not nervous during the interview. The applicant and sponsor are interviewed separately. Your answers must be consistent. Otherwise, your case officer might conclude that your relationship is fake.
A migration agent will ease your partner visa application process. Besides applying for the visa, the professional will prepare you for interviews and follow up with your case officer. As a rule, your agent must be licenced to practice in the country.
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