Archi Stu

Hi all, I've been reading the forums for quite a while now, haven't posted too much, but tried to give answers where I can. But I've now received the dream email that we're all waiting for so thought i'd share a bit as I've really found this place amazingly helpful. So heres my story to far! I'm in the UK and moving to Aus on a partner visa (my girlfriend being the Aussie!). We began organising all our evidence around June / July and submitted August 3rd 2016. We had been together just about 3 years at the time of submission, and fortunately for us lived together for all of it (as we met in house share and 1.5 years ago moved to our own place) and our evidence included: 1) Pdf documents with all relevant photos we could find of us out together, with friends and with family. This went back the full three years. This ended up as three pdf documents but with quiet a lot of photos in each document. But the point is, we put the photo's into a single document as their is a limit on the number of files that can uploaded. With each photo we said where / when and who was in so we could establish the social element and some timeframes. All organised chronologically. 2) Pdf documents of bills / letters / anything formal with either mine of my girlfriends name / address as well as letters from friends and family. Again this was split over 3 documents in the end, but each document containing quiet a lot of documents each, again organised chronologically. Some of the documents only had my name, some only my girlfriends but our aim was to establish we are both receiving letters to the same address. - 888 Forms from my girlfriends parents and 2 friends - Statutory declarations from my parents and 2 friends - Then all the formal documents, scanned colour copies of passports / drivers licence / birth certificate all signed by a solicitor. We tried to organise the evidence to be as easy as possible to read through and in fact actually formed a little chart with every month for the past three years down one side and where evidence could be found to form a continuous list showing either we were receiving bills, a letter, going to an event and basically build up a good chronological stack of information that didn't require them to go searching for things. When uploading the formal documents (passport etc) we put it all (i.e. both mine and my girlfriends) to both my and mine girlfriends profiles. I'm not sure 100% if you're supposed to, but thought better safe than sorry. We only had 1 year of solid continuous worth of shared formal letters such as bills. Before that we had occasional documents mainly as we weren't collecting them it was early in the relationship, but also our housemates were the nominated bill payers. But fortunately did have letters / cards from friends for before that as well as all the photos. - Once we uploaded, within a 3-4 weeks my online profile had a note about a medical. I did not receive a specific email requesting the medical but took this as the go ahead. 2-3 weeks later that was done and submitted. Nothing special to report, bit pricey but there you go! - About mid September (so maybe 6-8 weeks in) I had an email stating my case officer's name, some general info and requesting a police check. That was pretty quick to do, I think it takes 10 days from filling in the form, so got straight on with that. - Around late October / early November my girlfriends section on the profile said approved and mine was still pending. We took that as a good sign, i.e. they're satisfied shes a real life Aussie. - Next, mid November I received an email notifying me that my case officer has changed, but required not action. - Finally, December 15th the email came granting my Visa and even better it's permanent which wasn't expected as I thought we'd just fall under the 3 year requirement for evidence so would be granted temporary status. Pretty amazing feeling when we got it. I had thought we would then have a 3 month window to get over there and activate which made me drop my load. But after reading it properly, we have until August 2017!! Which is perfect for us. So all in all, around 4 months from submission to grant, no real correspondence other than two emails. One requesting a police check and the other notifying a change of case officer. The grant email seemed out of the blue but obviously welcome!! We had been anticipating a decision around June / July given the published timelines online. So, I hope this gives a little insight to those still waiting or about to submit. Feel free to ask any questions, I just thought I would contribute as I have found the forum super useful over the past few months / year! Good luck everyone and Merry Christmas!!!

Yeah can be pretty stressful, but fingers crossed it just keeps plodding on and then a nice little surprise email pops up and says G'day, come over mate!...fingers crossed!

Hi, Yeah I had the same - everything was received, mine still says this and my gf has moved to approved. I had the same as you have on the health check but took that note as a signal to go do it, perhaps I could / should have waited until the case officer contacted me by email but to be honest I wasn't really sure who they would notify me and took that as the go ahead for the health check. It was a couple of weeks between submitting my health check and actually receiving an email from them requesting the police check. Both are valid for 12 months from issue. I have now submitted both and heard nothing more, both a noted as received on my account too...so just waiting dreaming of the future at the moment. I will likely try to contact them soon just for an update and to see what response I get.

Hi Heyleykj, Yep, my gf set up her account and filled in her form, we ended up uploading all documents (hers and mine) on my profile, and then just hers on her account to make sure everything was there somewhere. We upload in August, I cant remember exactly how long before hers showed up on mine, but it wasn't long - just a few days. Hers no reads 'approved' (previously simply saying 'received') which changed around 2-3 weeks ago. Mine still reads 'received', I have also now been assigned a case officer and submitted both my police and medical checks. From memory it was only a couple of weeks after uploading I noticed an option on my profile noting the medical being required (we didn't receive a formal request) so I arranged for that and sent it in (from seeing it on my profile to submission was around 3 weeks). I received a formal request for the police check with a letter assigning a case officer after around 5 weeks, so filled it in (I'm in the UK, so here it takes 10 days) it arrived after 8 working days and got submitted straight away. The medical was digital and went straight from the doctor to DBIP. The police check was done online and a paper copy received which was scanned and uploaded. So we're just over 2months in now. We haven't heard anymore and from reading forums etc don't expect to for a while, but i'll probably still drop them an email soon to with a couple of questions. Hope that helps!

Hi Aelia, not you if you sorted this yet. I applied last month as an applicant my gf (Aussie) as the sponsor. I applied first online, uploaded everything, including a completed form and this gave me my TRN. MY gf then applied straight after entering my TRN to link us. She then uploaded everything after. Our account currently says all received, I then had a prompt for a medical which I've undertaken and the doctor sends it direct - took about 5 days from completing the medical to it showing up on my account. At the moment we're in the waiting game... Have you heard anything from them yet?

Hi Fi, How are you getting on with the partner visa? I'm considering my options at the moment with my girlfriend, looking at time it takes to get it sorted etc. I had started working towards a skilled visa but advised after several months that my skill set isn't wanted anywhere we want to go...

Hi, I am currently undergoing the Vetassess process, having applied under what I thought best fit my qualifications (Building Associate) I have been advised by my assessor I should be re-assessed under the 'Architectural Draftsperson' role. As I am applying for a 190visa this affects where I can apply. My intention was to head to Victoria which lists the Building Associate but not Architectural Draftsperson...Tasmania is the only place listing the draftsperson role, so my question is about the requirement to reside in the state of sponsor for a minimum of 2 years. I have read lots of different posts some saying its just a preference, but not enforceable. I hope to eventually achieve citizenship as my girlfriend is from Queensland and we'd like to get on with our lives, so I don't want to jeopardise anything down the line. The reason we haven't gone for the spousal visa is time and cost which are really prohibitive for us... Does anyone have experience of living in a different state to their sponsor and achieving citizenship or is an agent and can advise if this is possible? We're finding this a real struggle to understand how best to move forward... Thanks for any help!

Thanks ABG, taken me ages to find out what the Declaration, is but this is great finally starting to make sense.

Hi ABG, I'm going down the Statutory Declaration route as well, I've found a solicitor that is happy to act as a witness but I can't find what the actual Declaration should include. I have been emailing VETASSESS but struggling to have much luck. My solicitor can act as a notary but needs me to provide all the documents...is it simply a self written description what I do for a living? Thanks!

Thanks lebourvellec, easy as that!

Hi, I'm new to the forum but have found it a really great resource over the past couple of weeks while research my visa options, I now have a couple of questions hopefully someone can shed some light on. To give a bit of background, I'm hoping to begin the visa process asap and intend to move late 2016 / early 2017. My girlfriend is Aussie and has been here a few years. I'm 30, so nearing the end of any potential chance for a working holiday. From what I have read and understand, I should get all the various tests / assessments (health / police / IELTS / VETASSESS) done straight away to get the best score I can on skill select (targeting 65-70), the min. requirement appears to be 60. I've read a few different things regarding noting my girlfriend as Aussie, some say this will help, others say with this visa its only useful if her skills are listed (unfortunately not despite being pretty ace!). As far as I can see I don't need a job offer as part of the application - I'm looking at nominating myself as an architectural draftsperson (classes 312111, 312112 or 312199 matches my chartership definition). From reading different threads it sounds as though although I may be sponsored by one state and they require 2 years work within their state (which is fine - just looking at options) you are not legally required to remain there. Finally, although it seems pretty clear that if I'm nominating myself in a particular skill set I need to work within that - does this stop me finding causal work as we may do some travelling around before we get proper jobs as the money would be useful and its a good way of meeting people - but obviously I don't want to wreck the visa! I've looked at the spousal visa and although I'm confident we meet the criteria, its significantly more expensive with far longer processing times, as we would like to get on with things and have a little pocket money, fingers crossed for the 190! So my main questions are: 1. Can I find casual work whilst doing a bit of travelling as soon as I arrive under the 190? 2. Will noting my partner on the my application somewhere assist my visa? 3. How strict is the requirement to work the 2 years in the nominated state? If you move to another state must you provide proof you are unable to fine work or will you be kicked out? Thanks for your help!