Understanding Partner Visas and Why You Need Immigration Attorneys

An Australian partner visa allows you to live and work in Australia if you are from another country but married to an Australian citizen with permanent residence. This is regardless of whether you are in a hetero or same-sex marriage.

Where Do You Start?

You need to understand that there are two types of partner visas:

1. A provisional/temporary/subclass 820 partner visa — this visa allows you to live and work in Australia temporarily as you wait for your permanent partner visa. 
2. A permanent/subclass 801 partner visa — you are required to have applied and held a temporary partner visa before being issued with a permanent partner visa. It takes at least two years to process the permanent visa, meaning you will require a temporary partner visa during the waiting period.

Visa Application Requirements

Before applying for the temporary and permanent partner visa, you should know that you must meet various requirements. The most common are:

• Identification documents, for example, government-issued IDs, passports and driving license
• Documents like marriage certificates to prove that you are married
• Police documents that indicate your character (these are used to prove that you have not engaged in any criminal activities)

You may also find other requirements, which the department of home affairs will highlight.

When Might You Require Immigration Attorneys?

When First Applying for a Partner Visa

Though some individuals may prefer to apply for a visa without the paid help of immigration attorneys, it is always recommended to get help, especially if it is your first time. Immigration attorneys know everything about visa applications, the review and approval process and where problems arise. Because of this, they can prepare you in advance so that you don't make any mistakes or omit important details that might stall your visa approval or lead to visa application rejection.

If You Run into a Problem with Your Visa Application Process

The two most common problems you might encounter are visa refusal/denial or visa rejection. A visa denial/refusal occurs when you have filled out all the forms correctly, but when they reach the decision-maker, they realise that you have not met a particular requirement. On the other hand, visa rejections occur if you failed to fill out the visa application forms correctly or you filled out the wrong forms. At times, you might be able to correct the problem, but if you find it difficult to understand what you are being asked to do, hire an immigration attorney.