LewisLad

Agreed!!!!!

George, you're my hero! However, I'm starting to get a feel of how DIAC think and arent they likely to reject a tourist visa due to the fact Ive been on a working HOLIDAY visa for the last 2 years????

Yeah that's my worry! It'd be good to know the average processing time with BDM, I'll have 2 months, its gonna be tight! She has studies so cant come to the UK unfortunately. IF the certificate does not come I could go home and do the Proposed Marriage visa........or skilled nomination perhaps IF i can get the points.

Haha that would be suicide! De facto visas can take 13 months!!!

http://www.australiaforum.com/visas-immigration/5820-registering-your-relationship-victoria-tips.html FAO Rupert. Someone on this forum got their partner visa after living together for 10 months and relationship registered in Vic. Hope we are as lucky!

p.s. Good luck Franconian!

If it takes Victoria 2 months to certify then I'll be outstaying my WHV :-{ I couldnt get a bridging visa but does anyone know if i could get a tourist visa? If Victoria reject it then im screwed :-/

Hi there, Me and my Aussie girlfriend are hoping to register our relationship in Victoria next month (once both of us can prove we've resided in Vic for 12 months). One month later I'm hoping to apply for my de facto visa. Am i right in thinking that a registered relationship waivers the co-habitation for 12 months rule?? If so, where is this in writing? Immi website? BDM website? We will only have lived together for 4 months when i apply, we have plenty of other evidence of our relationship though, holidays together, photos, character witnesses, gift reciepts etc Also, how long did it take to register the relationship? It says min 28 days on the website. Thanks a lot, Lewis

i believe i will not be able to leave the country once my application is in place as bridging visa's would only allow me to leave the country in exceptional circumstances and i believe employment not to be one of them Maybe someone can shed some light on this, i thought you can actually apply for a different bridging visa whilst on the 'waiting for spouse/de facto' bridging visa????

Thanks George and Louisa. George, you are correct my WHV ends at the end of April. There are 2 issues here, the first is that I think i'll have to leave my employer until i apply for the de-facto visa (which i cannot do until March cos we're registering the relationship with Vic BDM and do not meet the requirements until then). The second, and the one im most concerned about now is the fact that my girlfriend hasnt told Centrelink we're a couple yet which goes against what we WILL be telling immigration. I didnt think you had to tell them until you register the relationship but now im not so sure. Oof, my head hurts!

Hmmmmmm, this had crossed my mind if im honest but im sure i read on the centrelink website that they like it if you're independent from your parents or guardians. I took this from the Welfare rights: If you receive Youth Allowance your rate of payment is either: dependent - this means you receive a lower rate of Youth Allowance, and your parent’s or guardian’s income and assets will affect your payment. Centrelink may reduce your Youth Allowance each fortnight because of their assets or income. Dependent Youth Allowance can be either paid at the “at home” or “away from home” rate ; or independent - this means you receive a higher rate of Youth Allowance, and your parent’s or guardian’s income and assets will not affect your payment. Your rate of Youth Allowance may also depend on where you are living. How do I know if I’m independent? You will be regarded as “independent” from your parents or guardian if: you are 22 (if you’re not studying full-time you’ll transfer to Newstart at 21); you are or have been married, in a registered relationship or have been a member of a couple for at least twelve months; you have, or have had a dependent child; it would be unreasonable for you to live at home (see below for more details); you have supported yourself by working (see below for more details); you have a partial capacity to work – for Youth Allowance (unemployed) only (see below for more details); Is this good news or am i being optimistic? Thanks for the replys guys, big help

Hi, There are a couple of things regarding my current situation so any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm currently on my second Working Holiday Visa (WHV) and looking to obtain a de facto visa via my girlfriend. The WHV states that you cannot work for one employer for more than 6 months, I started working for my current employer 5 months ago on a casual basis and have taken 6 weeks off during that time. So my question is...........is it 6 months in total excluding time off or a strict 6 months from the date you started? Secondly, my girlfriend is a student, is that an issue for the de-facto visa. She works part-time in retail, im only concerned because there is a section on the visa form about the 'sponsors' employment. Should i put student or retail assistant? And Thirdly, my girlfriend also receives Centerlink payments as the 'living away from home allowance', will this stop if we declare our relationship officially. Thanks, Lewis

Yeah we qualify for the 12 months in Victoria in 1 months time (I'll apply then)

Can you pick and choose what you give them? For example, we dont have a shared bank account but if we eat out i will pay as she earns very little. Things like that arent really hard evidence. We are a genuine couple and i understand that they are trying to deter "fakes" but some of the evidence is tricky for even genuine couples.

Hi, Me and my aussie girlfriend have been together for 9 months, my visa is up in 3 months time (it will just be 12 months be the time my visa expires). We've only lived together for the last 6 months BUT in Victoria I believe the 12 month cohabitation rule is waivered if you can register your relationship. If so, what other evidence will we need. Thanks, LewisLad