HibiscusDreams

Thank you! - Looking hopeful at the moment, but we won't start breathing again until the ink is dry on the law! Auspol is nothing is not full of intrigue and suprises. I remember the BBC once had an article saying if a film was made about modern Australian politics it'd have to be X rated and directed by Quentin Tarantino - they weren't wrong... That is a huge relief. My concern would be that they would require proof of a Class 300 visa before they would sign off on the marriage certificate, or would demand evidence of a 300 before accepting an application for an 820. Being able to do this would make our lives *so* much easier. Touch wood I've never been questioned by DIBP - just straight through the E-gates. If anyone has gone down this road (E-visitor and straight to 820) I'd love to hear your story, just for my own peace of mind - I'm hoping to live with my partner in Oz, not have her visit me in Nauru!

^^ This ^^. If you look anywhere in the world, it's always the more isolated regions that tend to be the most conservative and anti-immigrant, anti-lgbt etc. If you live in a diverse community you are more likely to know that foreigners aren't baby eating reptilians than someone who only reads about them in some Murdoch rag.

I can't see it happening. Though we share a lot of close personal/family and cultural ties, the economies are vastly different. Both countries also have a huge anti-immigration sentiment that politicians challenge to their doom. One Nation is doing well in QLD right now. Commonwealth government is on the ropes and is one constitutional crises away from being dissolved by the GG. If Abbott and his old school white Australia types want to whiten things up, it'd be an easy sell to do by promoting a crackdown on Asian immigration, rather than boosting European immigration to compete with it.

Thanks for your thoughts, @MaggieMay24. Alas we don't have sufficient evidence to go for a defacto. We're doing what we can to bolster our "credibility" as a couple but we just don't have the cohabitation time requirement - which ironically could only be met by going for the visas that have that very requirement as a prerequisite Obviously our relationship is paramount and though E-visitor would make life so much easier financially and logistically I'm loathe to do anything that would jeopardise our being able to be together. Our initial assumption was that once the legislation is updated we'd do exactly what you say above - enter on an E-visitor (as I usually do), have our wedding and put in straight for the 820.

Hi Chef, Thoughts on my rather unusual set of wheels?

Hi all, First post here. Our situation is a little unusual in that we are a same sex couple - with me from the UK and my better half Australian. We are living apart at the moment but plan for me to relocate from Merrie Olde England to NSW. We wish to marry so are hoping that SSM legislation will be passed soon to enable this, and are currently making tentative plans based on the assumption that legislation will pass and as far as immigration is concerned will mean the same rules currently applying to straight couples for fiancee and marriage visas will also apply to us. Following on this assumption, I'm a bit confused / surprised about the Class 300 visa. Do citizens of all countries who enter Australia to marry have to apply for the 300 before arriving, or is this only for citizens of countries that cannot use the e-visitor system? Most countries allow people to enter for weddings quite freely, usually on a regular social visit/holiday/family visit visa, then afterwards to apply for the main partner/residency visa. Is this not the case in Australia? We want to do everything strictly legally to avoid any issues, and so will start down this road as soon as we can if need be, but wanted to check to ensure we don't plan for needless expense and paperwork on a visa we don't need. Thanks for putting up with my ramblings! Jasmin