CollegeGirl

That's what I did. The 820 gets granted very quickly, so I waited until I got it and THEN started the name change process. It was really pretty easy. Passport is the first thing I did, though. Everything else followed and was easily changed with marriage cert. and passport.

Yep, that's me. Happy I could help! xx

So sorry for taking so long to respond - busy couple of days for me. Yes, we used the same ImmiAccount for both. Not a problem to do that. And yes, you can use hubby's credit card. I did. That's yet another example of outdated information on their website. No insurance or Medicare documents required. I heard that's on a checklist somewhere - it's completely incorrect. They've copied and pasted from checklists for other types of visas. Medical coverage is not a requirement or any type of partner visa.

Holy moly.. that 56 year queue time is simply unbelievable.

Yep, this is way too soon to be trying for a PR visa after cancer of that nature.

You need to consult a professional migration agent.

I waited until I got to Australia to open mine, and it was fine. Walked in, talked to someone and walked out half an hour later with all my accounts set up. Easy peasy. There is a reduced ID requirement for new migrants for the first six weeks, so if you do wait until you get there, just don't wait any longer than six weeks to do it or you'll need additional forms of ID.

Have you called your local embassy to ask if you have a visa granted?

Marts14 - I would talk to an agent who specializes in medical conditions to make sure it's not going to be an issue. George Lombard and Peter Bollard are the two typically recommended here. I used George Lombard myself.

They'd give you 28 days to leave or apply for another type of visa. I'm not sure whether you'd incur a ban on applying for temporary visas for three years if you left in that case or not.

If you lose your student visa and had already applied for a 457, like I said, you'd go apply for a BVE. Do NOT leave the country if that happens - if you did, you'd likely incur a three-year ban on applying for temporary visas, which would include the 457.

It doesn't affect the process at all. Immigration doesn't count pregnancy for anything - it's not until the baby is actually born that they take it into account, and you should have your 801 well before that. It usually takes 3-4 months from your eligibility date. Even then, it's not necessary. The 801 is just a reassessment, not a new application. The baby would just be additional evidence that your relationship is still ongoing, which presumably you've already provided anyway. Oh, and even having a baby together doesn't speed up processing at all, much less being pregnant.

No, I don't personally know how long 457s are taking these days. I don't believe schools report your grades to Immi, they just cancel your visa if you quit/flunk out (as far as I know!) Partner visas are more my thing, so hopefully other people will come along and confirm.

It's quite possible your student visa will be cancelled, but there's no telling how long the school will take to get around to doing that. Keep your fingers crossed that your 457 is approved before that happens. If your student visa is cancelled AFTER your 457 application goes in but BEFORE it is approved, you'll have to go to Immi and get a Bridging Visa E to keep you in the country until your 457 is approved. This has no work rights, no study rights and no travel rights (and no ability to apply for travel rights. You can apply to be able to work if you can demonstrate serious financial hardship, but it's not a guarantee). Once your 457 is approved, it will override whichever visa you are on - student visa or BVE - and you'll be able to work for your employer. The student visa being cancelled may not keep you from getting your 457, but you will want to talk to your migration agent/lawyer if your student visa is cancelled before your 457 is approved, as you may need to submit something additional to Immi.

You'll be given a Bridging Visa A as soon as you apply for the 820. It will not kick in (become active) until after your 457 expires. If your 457 expires before your visa being granted, you'll continue to be on the BVA until the visa is granted. The BVA gives you full work and study rights, and if you need to travel outside Australia you just need to apply for a BVB to allow you to temporarily leave and re-enter the country. My guess is you'll get your 820 granted before your 457 expires, but at least this will give you peace of mind in case you don't. Do keep in mind, though, that you continue to be bound by the restrictions of the 457 (like needing a sponsoring employer) until your 457 expires or your partner visa is granted, whichever happens first.

Beginning of relationship = when you started dating. To exclusion of all others is the date you became de facto (probably the date you started living together).

Oh, and from what I've read here, it's possible hubby will be eligible for Parental Leave but you won't as you're not PR yet - I'd call or stop by CentreLink and see what they can tell you.

You're already entitled to Medicare on the 309, by the way, if by some chance you didn't know that and don't have it. You don't need another medical when your 801 reassessment rolls around, fortunately. They say they CAN ask for it again, but I haven't actually seen anyone asked for it. Perhaps people who had to go through the Health Waiver process? I'd love to know if any of them had to. My understanding is it's just if you had a Health Undertaking when you came over (for example, people who had TB have to go through certain treatment processes before they come over and after they arrive).

If you've given up on maintaining good relations with your boss, maybe say you'll resign as soon as you find another job, and remind him that if you can't and he lets you go he still has to pay for your flight back to the UK. Surely keeping you on for a little while longer is cheaper than flights back.

Your intended marriage date may be way too early. Wait times through London for this visa are now 10-14 months. I would not book anything nonrefundable if I were you....

You can expect your visa between January-February of next year (at 8 to 9 months after your application). London grants pretty religiously right around that timeframe. Just do your best to forget about it and get on with your life until then, and remember that you're lucky that you applied when you did, since applicants who applied just a couple of months behind you now have to wait 10-14 months for their grants.

Here you go: https://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/forms/partner/_pdf/info-permanent-partner-visa.pdf

They do a urine test, but it's again looking for specific things. Diabetes, for example.

Maggie answered perfectly - just to add to it, yes, you'll scan & upload one of your passport photos. No need to scan the back. Just the front.

They're not testing for that kind of thing. I believe the bloodwork is solely to test for HIV.