De factor Visa Queries

[Guest PommyKas]

Hi all

 

I am currently in Australia on a One Year Working Holiday Visa that expires mid January. I am in a relationsip with an Australian girl and have been since Feb 2008. I am looking to move to Australia on a de facto visa and have been living with her since I came in Jan 2010 and so will apply in Jan 2011 once I have completed the 12mth requirement.

 

I have read a few things on this site which has contradicted what I understood to be the case so I have a few questions!

 

 

1. I was told by immigration to apply for my De facto Visa on the very last day of my current visa and should I do so I will be given a bridging visa that will entitle me to remain in Australia and also work. Is that so?
   
2. I have also been told that it will speed up my application if I get both my police and medical checks done beforehand, has that been the case with others?
   
3. A friend who went through this process in WA told me I needed to get a federal police check and not a national one but I keep reading I need a national one, is she mistaken?
   
4. With regards the evidence required do I need to include originals of bank statement, invitations, photographs etc or would certified copies suffice?
   

I think that is all the questions I have for now!

 

Many thanks in advance for any help you may provide especially since I really need to get on this now lol!

 

Kas

[Guest PommyKas]

Prob would help matters if I did not spell incorrectly de facto in my subject line

[piglet1]

It does speed up the processing somehow if you front load everything. But for me (Malaysia), i need to lodge my application before I can go for my medicals (my CO contacted me 2 weeks after lodging, to go for my medicals), in which I just did this morning! I submitted my police check together with my application though, there's only 1 type of police check (Certificate of good conduct) over here. Sorry, can't be much of a help!