verybest

Hey all, I'm a Brit who has been in a long term relationship with an Australian girl - first met in the UK in 2014, reconnected in 2015, properly began a relationship in 2016 in Europe, and after a months holiday visiting her in Australia last April, decided to make a more long term move here on a WHV (417) last July. It's worked out beautifully so we want to pursue a 820 visa, and have begun saving with the goal of submitting the visa in June, before my WHV ends at the beginning of July. Just shy of the living together requirement, unless you count the month I spent here beforehand - but we're confident we can provide the evidence to back up our relationship, whether that's shared utility bills or multiple stat. decs. from people who have seen our relationship develop and grow into what it is today, etc. etc. That said, my confusion about the visa application process regards when the 820 is considered 'lodged' - I've received so many different answers, and read so many different things even in official documentation. For example: would one be able to complete the relevant forms (40SP, 47SP) and pay for the visa, move on to the bridging visa and then continue to complete the rest of the application with supporting documentation, for example form 888? Is the visa 'lodged' when all the necessary documentation is uploaded online and paid for, or again could one continue to upload supporting evidence even after they have paid for the visa - and in this case, at what point would the bridging visa begin? Hope this makes sense!