Hello, I’ve only just come across this forum today. I’ve spent the best part of the day browsing and reading information to get some advice on our situation.
My boyfriend and I have been together just over 3 years, and lived together over a year. I am Australian, and he is Canadian. We live in the UK where (I have lived there approx 16 years now).
Around January of this year, we had made the decision we want to move to Australia. We want a family, a house, sunshine. A good quality of life and to be near my family. We had not yet submitted our application, but had started gathering the paperwork and filling in the forms.
In early May, I go a call from my mother to tell me she has MDS. It’s a blood cancer that can develop into leukaemia. There is no cure. There is possible treatment but it will likely make her very sick. Both my parents are elderly, my father is disabled and in a wheelchair. My mother is his primary carer. She has been given a prognosis of 12-18 months.
I am currently in Australia helping her come to terms with it and trying to get as much information from her doctor (fortnightly) appointments as we can. My return flight to London is booked this friday and I am terrified of leaving.
I am needed here now. There is so much going on with both my parents and their conditions, I really want to be home to support them emotionally and help where I can.
We have gathered most of the information we need to submit the visa, but I am now torn. I recently learned about a bridging visa which would allow my partner to come immediately and stay until our application is (fingers crossed) granted. If there’s one person I need close to me right now with all that is going on it is him.
So my questions:
Has anyone had any success with compassionate reasons on prioritising the application? I have read I can submit a letter, which I will do.
Is a on-shore application / bridging visa a good option for us? I see the wait times can be longer, but if it means he can come and be here with me at this time, we would consider this.
We were applying for the off-shore partner visa. Does applying on-shore complicate anything? Does it change the application we have already started.
I would really appreciate any advice.
Thank you so much!