Newbie From USA.

[Bharter]

I'm currently in the process of filing out my Temp/Perm Visa (309/100) to move to Australia to be with my partner. Things are getting confusing now as the time to send in the papers approaches.

[pcrial]

Originally Posted by Bharter

I'm currently in the process of filing out my Temp/Perm Visa (309/100) to move to Australia to be with my partner. Things are getting confusing now as the time to send in the papers approaches.

Hello Bharter,

I came to Australia on a partner (spouse) visa, now have permanent resident. I've been here since January 2010.

I did my own application and should be able to answer any questions you have. If you could give me some examples of your confusion, perhaps I could help then.

Cheers,

[Bharter]

Well, Mostly evolves around the statutory declarations, I have a few from some of our mutual Australian friends as I have been over there 3 different times. I was wondering if I should have some of my American friends fill out some that have been with him and myself while he was here. And also Should I write the statutory declaration in length or should I just do a brief letter. As it stands I have a completed letter but it is about a page and a half long. We are applying on De-Facto terms. So I am assuming they are going to want heaps of information.

[pcrial]

Originally Posted by Bharter

Well, Mostly evolves around the statutory declarations, I have a few from some of our mutual Australian friends as I have been over there 3 different times. I was wondering if I should have some of my American friends fill out some that have been with him and myself while he was here. And also Should I write the statutory declaration in length or should I just do a brief letter. As it stands I have a completed letter but it is about a page and a half long. We are applying on De-Facto terms. So I am assuming they are going to want heaps of information.

Hello Bharter,

You can have some USA friends write one also, as long as they are notarized. In the USA they call it notary, here in Australia they call it Justice of the Peace.

The letters do not need to be long, but your and his letter should explain how you met, the nature and development of your relationship etc...

They called me and asked for photos of us with our friends etc... so they really do check.

You shouldn't have any problems. We were married here in Australia, and presented the Aussie marriage certificate also. In theory you can establish domestic partner status without marriage, but that requires a bit more documentation.

Cheers,

[Bharter]

We have a document from the QLD government stating we are in a relationship Yeah I am having everything notarized and making copies of everything.


In the booklet it says that you should not send statutory declarations until prompted to do so by the Visa authority , Should I send them anyway? Some of those things are confusing. Not sure what I should send now and what I should send after they ask for them.

[_shel]

How odd, look on the DIAC site and the spouse visa checklist. It says there they should be part of your application. Also read the spouse visa booklet, there are guidelines for what your evidence should include. History of relationship, financial aspects, social, future plans and one other I can't remember and can't look because I'm on my phone!
Length doesn't matter so long as its all there. Hubby & I wrote 4 pages each, other people do a joint one of 2 or 3 pages signed by booth of them, others have done 1 page each.
But if its not enough to convince your CO they will ask for more and give you about a month in which to provide it.
But do google DIAC family visas booklet & read it more than once. Should give you better insight & calm your fears.

[Bharter]

Thanks heaps I figure I'm gonna send it all and then I'm pretty sure that I will have to send more also, since we are applying on Defacto relationship. We have been dating for 2 years and met online I've been there 3 times him here once. So there is a definite commitment between us both. Just need to figure out which doc's support that.

[_shel]

In case you hadnt found it yet...

Partner Migration Booklet

And the check-list is on this page....Partner Visa: Onshore Temporary and Permanent (Subclasses 820 and 801)

And........Evidence of Dependency

Evidence of a Genuine and Continuing Relationship

You and your partner must each provide a statement or statutory declaration regarding the history of your relationship, including:

how, when and where you first met
how your relationship developed
when you decided to marry or to start a de facto relationship
your domestic arrangements (how you support each other financially, physically and emotionally and when this level of commitment began)
any periods of separation (when and why the separation occurred, for how long and how you maintained your relationship during the period of separation)
your future plans.

The statements written by you and your partner can be on ordinary writing paper or a statutory declaration form. Each statement or statutory declaration must be signed and dated by the person who wrote it.

[Bharter]

Thanks heaps

[pcrial]

Hello Bharter,

As evidence of a continuing relationship, we provided 7 years of emali correspondence, and bank statements showing (the sharing of money) deposits from Australia in my USA bank account, and the same in my wife's Australian account.

Every step of the way, my visa went the minimum estimated time. My visa when we got married was a 12 month tourist visa. I applied June 15, 2010 for the partner visa, and it was granted about 6 weeks later. I applied for PR after June 15, 2012 and it was granted about 1 month later.

Cheers,