Getting a Partner (Subclass 820) Visa!

Our application

On Tuesday last week I got the very happy news that my application for my Partner Visa had been approved and that I am now a Temporary Resident of Australia for 2 years (and after that I will get Permanent Residency)! :D Hooray!

It happened a lot faster than anticipated, as the average processing time is presently 13 months (!) and I got mine within 4 months. As our application was successful, with no need for an interview or any extra documents, I thought I'd share our outline for the Visa application and how we chose to do it. Maybe it will be of help to others struggling with their application or for those of you thinking of starting the process.

 I also have some various tips for moving to Australia on this page.

First, I'd like to add that the application itself took about 4 months (!) to compile and that there was a LOT of work involved. There was a lot of paperwork that needed to be sent from Norway and it took some time getting family and friends to do Statutory Declarations confirming that our relationship was genuine. In addition, selecting photos, Facebook screenshots and other evidence of us being together took some time in order for it to be presented the best way. And then there was the job of getting all of our evidence copied and certified by a JP - something that does take some time when you have over 100 pages they need to stamp and sign. Luckily we found a very helpful one in South Brisbane, which I would recommend very highly.

In addition to the outline below, we also wrote a short statement for every section, explaining the following evidence and what we were in fact presenting (keeping in mind that the Case Officer can only make a decision out of what we tell her and how the various documents are actually to be seen). We also made sure to refer to the various sections in our own Statutory Declarations (short, and only where appropriate) in order to make it easy to make the connections between the history of our relationship and the evidence we were presenting. 

Three things that were of great help to us throughout the process was 1) The Australian Forum of Immigration, 2) Grant Williams' blog and 3) this template for our own Statutory Declarations (unfortunately you have to pay to download it from that site, but you can also just view and copy by hand). Also, it's crucial that you read through the entire booklet for partner migration.

This is what was included in our Partner Visa application:
(make sure you use the latest forms as updated on www.immi.gov.au)

1. THE APPLICANT
- Form 47SP
- Birth certificate (certified copy)
- Passport (certified copy incl. all stamped pages)
- Form 80
- Australian Federal Police Check Report (original)
- Norwegian Police Check Report (original)
- Bank Statements from Norwegian bank (showing savings, certified)
- Medical Examination (sealed envelope)
- Two passport photos of Applicant (certified)

2. THE SPONSOR
- Form 40SP
- Birth Certificate (certified copy)
- Passport (certified copy)
- Letter from employer on total length of employment (certified copy)
- Letter from employer on salary from 2010 (certified copy)
- Tax assessment notice 2012 (certified copy)
- Australian Federal Police Check Report (original)
- Two passport photos of Sponsor (certified)

3. PROOF OF DE-FACTO RELATIONSHIP
- Partner Registration Certificate (certified copy)

History of the Relationship
- Applicant’s Statutory Declaration (signed and witnessed)
- Sponsor’s Statutory Declaration (signed and witnessed)

Nature of the Household
- Current lease agreement (certified copy)
- Letters, bills etc. addressed to applicant/sponsor at current address (certified copies)

Evidence of the Financial Aspect
- Proof of joint bank accounts (certified copies)
- Joint accounts’ bank statements (certified copies)
- Applicant’s bank statements (certified copies)
- Sponsor’s bank statements (certified copies)
- Confirmation letters from Telstra, AGL, Origin etc. showing both have access to the accounts (certified copies)
- Invoices in both names (certified copies)

Social aspect of the relationship
- 2 Form 888 from Australian citizens (witnessed / certified copy of passport)
- 2 Form 888 from Non-Australian citizens, living in Australia (witnessed / certified copy of passport)
- Evidence of joint travels (original photos and e-mail receipts)
- Facebook wall posts (originals)
- Photographs (originals)
- Cinema tickets (e-mail receipts, originals)
- Tickets to concerts (e-mail receipts, originals)
- Coupons to restaurants (e-mail receipts, originals)
- Joint memberships (certified copies)

Nature of commitment to each other 
- Overview of Facebook relationship between Applicant and Sponsor (original)
- Private Facebook messages (originals)
- Evidence of Sponsor listed as Applicant’s emergency contact (certified copy)
- Drawing Sponsor made for Applicant (certified copy)
- Cards to and from each other, and our families (certified copies)
- Post card to Applicant/Sponsor from Applicant's parents (certified copy)
- Wedding invitation to Applicant/Sponsor from Sponsor's friend (certified copy)

If you have any questions and think I might be able to help, just ask. I'd be glad to help others through this very long and difficult process! :)

The waiting game

For any of you that have ever had to move to another country, you might know something about this.

After spending a year in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa, I have now applied for a Partner Visa which will grant me 2 years temporary residency, and then I can apply for permanent residency after that. So far the Visa process has been going well, considering. It took forever to gather all the evidence and present it the way immigration likes it (believe me - we're talking 4 months of hard work here!), and you have to pay a small fortune to lodge the application, but we finally got it in this January!

Jacarandas in bloom in New Farm Park

I had to go back to Norway for a few months in order to finish up some work there, and spend time with my family of course, so I applied for a visa that would allow me to stay in Norway for 3 months (Yup, that's right! I needed a separate Visa to travel to my own country and back). Since the current average processing time for Partner Visa applications is a gruelling 12-13 months (!) I figured this would be no problem at all. But about 1,5 months into my stay in Norway, I got an e-mail from my Case Officer saying they needed me back in Australia because the application was ready to be processed and FINALIZED! :D The reason I need to go back for this to happen is that I lodged my Visa application in Australia, and so I also have to be in Australia when it is being finalized i.e. I get my "yes" or "no".

And this is where the waiting begins. I know my Case Officer has made a decision (and I am crossing my fingers and toes that it's a positive one), but they won't let me know until I actually return to Australia! And it will probably take some time after I arrive as well, depending on how busy/effective my Case Officer is. And I have absolutely NO patience! My partner is in Brisbane waiting for me, my Visa application is in Brisbane waiting for me, my whole future life is in Brisbane waiting for me, while I am in Norway! At the other side of the planet! It's been a few weeks already, so it's getting closer, but I just want to know for sure. Now.

I can't wait to get started on my new life in Australia, even if the process is quite scary. I have to find a new job in Australia, and from what I can tell that might take some time. I also have some studies I need to finish up and really work hard on while looking for and getting this job. And then we want to find a new apartment, as the current living arrangements aren't ideal, and then I have to actually start my new LIFE in Australia. Even after living there for a year already, I have no idea what that's going to be like. It's very different when you know you might not go back "home" for a long time, and that this will be my new home. For ever? Hm. I just wish I could take all my family and friends with me!

I just have to suck it up, I guess, and try to endure these extra weeks. Although every minute feels like forever! What I love so much about Australia, you might ask? Well, if you have a look to the right column on top of my blog you can see that I've added a few photos (OK, a lot) from my first year in Brisbane - that most certainly make me miss the place! :) Enjoy!