Samsamsam

Hi Guys, Doing my partner visa application and have just got to the 'Review' page which summarises all of the information you've put in so far. I *think* after this page, is where you get to add the attachments. My question is - after I press the 'Next' button on the review page, is it possible for me to go back to the application and update any of the content? Is the content of the application editable until I submit the entire thing (post adding attachments)? Thank you

Morning all, thanks for chipping in with your feedback. I really didn't fancy 'popping over' for an onshore application anyway, and given covid-19 it's not really an option right now either. But understanding the various alternatives is always something I like to have in my back pocket (and I hope others find the discussion helpful). What's a migration agent cost for a consultation to determine the best route? I'm confident completing the forms and doing the spiel about our partnership/gathering evidence (went through a very exhuastive process 3 times to get my UK spouse visa), so not looking for this part...

Thanks Paul, Yup just dug into the immi.gov website on the 600 visa and it clearly specifies a 12 month grant is possible and like with the right justification. 145AUD isn't too bad either. Starting to wonder if the onshore visa route is what we really should be doing to enable my husband to start working ASAP with a bridging visa. Forgetting the current covid-19 situation for a second: 1. How long does it take to get a bridging visa typically (website doesn't have any guidelines)? 2. If you 'popped over' to Aus to apply onshore, could you then go back to the UK and continue living your life, then come back when either the bridging visa is granted or the partner visa is granted? Expensive I know. But we aren't actually moving to Aus until mid-2021, so waiting until we move to apply onshore would be a big delay. But if the bridging visa approval is fast, it might be the right thing to do? Thanks.

Hi Guys, Just about to submit my British husband's 309 partner visa (i.e. I'm the Aussie). We intend to travel back to Australia mid next year (his 309 visa will be about 8 months into the process), where I will start a new job. He will be looking after our then 1.5yr old son whilst waiting for the visa to come through. Looking for advice as follows: 1. I understand that he's allowed to travel to Aus on a 600 visitor visa while the 309 is still in process. I've heard some people say their 600 visa allows them 12 months stay. How do you go about getting a 600 visa for 12 months? 2. I've started to hear people mention a 'bridging' visa which would actually result in my husband being allowed to come to Aus before the 309 is approved AND work? Seems too good to be true? Can anyone shed any light on this as an alternative? And when would you apply for it - in the UK prior to leaving for Aus (skipping the 600 visa altogether), or do you get the 600 visa, come to Aus, then apply for the bridging visa? Thanks everyone.

Hi there, Thanks for the reply. He’s not a citizen yet (will be applying soon), that will take a few months to come through. In the meantime I’d like to proceed with my husbands partner visa application, so not sure about if my son needs to be named in either of those two sections of the partner visa form (migrating member, non migrating member, or either). Any advice on that? cheers

Hi Guys, Aussie posting here with a British husband and British 10 month old son (haven't applied for his Aussie citizenship yet). Just got to the part of the 309 partner visa application where it asks about members of the family unit. I had planned to do a separate citizenship application for my son who is 10 months old, which is only a few hundred dollars. I'm worried that if I list my son on the partner visa application, that I'll end up having to pay a bigger fee (looks like it's ~$9K instead of ~$8K). I don't know how to describe my son on the partner visa application in this case? Do I just leave him off? Does he come under the 'non migrating members of the family unit? Copied the definitions from the immi.gov website. I'm only a few pages into the application and already finding it to be a pain...!!! Thank you Migrating members of the family unit List only members of your family unit who are applying to migrate with you. Do not list your Australian citizen family members or Australian permanent resident family members. Non-migrating members of the family unit List all members of your family unit who are not applying to migrate with you. This includes your Australian citizen family members.

Hi Guys, Doing some budgeting for the overall 309/100 partner visa costs. I've seen some discussion on biometrics, started to look into it and found information here. In the opening paragraph it says: "You will need to provide your biometrics at an Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC) or an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC) if you apply: for a visa that is part of the biometrics program Applicable to me - applying for 309/100 visa from a country that is part of our biometrics program" Not applicable to me- applying from the UK Is this an "AND" relationship between the two bullet points, or an "OR"? If it's an "OR", trying to find out how much the biometrics collection costs in the UK. Does anyone have any experience? Thanks for your help.

Thanks guys, Also for anyone studying the health exam topic, I found information clarifying the *basic* health checks that must be completed for the partner 309/100 visa, link here. In short, permanent & provisional applicants need to get a health assessment covering: 1) medical exam, 2) chest x-ray, 3) HIV test. At the time of writing, this would cost you ~£330 in the UK, and $371 AUD in Aus.

Thanks for the quick response Paulhand, 4. The 4 months is purely based on our circumstances - it is the time difference between when we would be submitting our application vs when we would have the opportunity in Australia to do the medical. I understand many applicants are getting the medical done before being prompted by the case officer - so if we haven’t heard from the case officer by the time we’re in Aus on holidays, I am considering getting the medical done while we’re out there.

Hi Guys, Just started looking into the Health Examination element of the 309 partner visa application to prepare our overall budget! According to this website, there are a very limited number of locations in the UK where you can get a recognised medical from a "panel physician". I've phoned the places we could consider going to, and the costs quoted for the medicals are around £270 for the temporary full medical, or £330 for the permanent full medical. Then I've looked on the medmigration website and they list a "medical exam only" option for £175. So my questions are: Which medical is sufficient? I don't know if this answer varies based on the content of your application, or if it's standard based on the visa... also I wasn't sure if the 309 visa, given it's a stepping stone to the 100 visa, is considered temporary and you only therefore need the temporary medical...? We should meet the criteria to get upgraded immediately from the 309 to the 100 visa (married for 7 years, baby to be born any minute now!) - did anyone have to get a 2nd medical, or just the one was sufficient? Did any of you get your medical done in Australia (or otherwise overseas)? Or do you HAVE to get it done in the UK? We're going to be in Aus over xmas, and the fees there are significantly cheaper (done by a health provider called Bupa, fees listed here) - $232 AUD for the plain medical only. Assuming we can do it in Aus, then I'm thinking about uploading this to the application and the timing. We'll have submitted our initial application by mid-end Sep, and we would be doing the medical about 4 months later. Let's say, but some stroke of luck, we get a case officer coming back asking us to get the health check done at the 2-3 month mark. When the case officer asks you to submit your health check, do you need to complete this action within a certain time period e.g. would waiting 1-2 months to submit it cause any issues (besides the obvious fact that I've self inflicted a delay in the process)? Thanks for your help.

Indeed you're right! Another £516 for a returning resident visa after being out of the country for 2 years! They're like leeches!

Re: express service: it was a long shot but worth a try! Re: British citizenship: toying with the idea... from my investigation to date (and considering the current Brexit climate), I've only found one benefit of becoming a citizen, which is avoiding tax issues upon the death of my husband or I. Now that the UK government has agreed to allow Australians border entry via the e-passport gate in the future, there's no draw card anymore for the passport for me! I haven't studied the whole ILR vs citizenship piece extensively however, so i'd be interested on hearing about any other key factors i've missed...

Hi LottyC (and rest of forum!), Really useful discussion - thank you! There was a question raised which I *think* went unanswered, hoping someone might be able to cover it off: After your 309 application is approved, is there a certain time window by which you much enter the country in order to "activate" it. And if you don't meet this, the visa becomes invalid? We're just thinking of the scenario whereby where our plans to move to Aus get delayed due to other work/life commitments, and we can't actually make the move to Aus until many months (or even a year or two) after the visa is approved. I know coming to the UK on a visa, I had to enter within a 3 month period of approval... Cheers Sam

Hi Guys, Is it possible to pay for an express service to accelerate your visa application? My British husband will be applying via to 309/100 partner visa route (already married for 6 years). I ask because when I applied for my UK Indefinite Leave to Remain as a spouse of a British citizen, you could pay an extra £660 to do a service which got it done in a week. I was really hoping to find something equivalent for Oz! So far not finding anything ... Cheers Sam