Hello everyone,

I am a new member here, i really hope someone can help me with this. I've been looking for the answer for so long, THANKS EVERYONE!!!
Here's my case.

I'm from Hong Kong and living in Australia on a working holiday visa, the visa is gonna expires on April 6, 2012' , me and my Aussie boyfriend are getting married on mid-march. Then we will apply the partner visa after.
But my WHV is gonna expires soon after we married, we are worry about if I have to go back to my country.....Here's my questions...

- Can I able to stay in Australia while waiting my partner visa granted?
- If I can't, do I need other visa(s)??
- For my case, do I need to apply bridging visa?
- When should I apply the visas? Can we apply that in the next day after we married?
- For some of you know about the partner visa, should we apply it online, post or in person at the immigration department? Which is the best way to do?

PLEASE, hope you can help me with these questions, we really need some help, we tried to call the department but no one answer and help with these, we don't know what to do and we don't wanna miss any part of applying the visas, cause we really don't wanna be apart after we married, I don't wanna leave my husband....

Thanks for your time to reading this post, and hope you can help us out.
We appreciate it, Thanks heaps.

Have a good day.
Coty.

Hi CotyM,
I think you should be ok. You should automatically get a bridging visa when you apply for the partner visa. Generally the bridging visa will have the same conditions as that of the previously held visa (in your case WHV). Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Good luck to you. Hope you have a lovely wedding.

Quick note: if you have been in a de facto relationship (living together, sharing finances, etc) for a year you can apply now or if you register your relationship (can Only be done in some states). You don't necessarily have to be married to be eligible for the partner visa.

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CotyM

You can apply before you get married if you have been living together for 12 months or you get your relationship registered in your state. Not all states allow this though.

You will be issued a bridging visa but this will not start until your WHV has expired. Once the WHV expires the bridging visa will come into affect and that will allow you to stay in Australia while they process your partner visa. The bridging visa will have the same conditions as the WHV

You cannot apply online for a partner visa. Some offices will allow you to apply in person which is a better option if allowed. Otherwise you will have to send the application by mail.

The application is quite large and requires alot of documents so I suggest you download and print the forms now. Also download and read the partner visa booklet and document checklist and that will tell you what you need. All of this can be found at www.immi.gov.au

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Whatnext: Australian Sponsor
Husband Brazilian

Thanks for the replied miniature.moose

Regards of the de facto relationship - We've been together not over 12 months, so I guess we can only apply it after we married.
So u mean I dont have to apply the bridging visa as it would be automatically get a bridging visa when you apply for the partner visa?? Really? if so that'd be easier....
Thanks for reply and your help.....

So do u know When should I apply the visas? Can we apply that in the next day after we married?
should we apply it online, post or in person at the immigration department? Which is the best way to do?

If anyone know please guide me...
Thanks...
Coty

Thanks for replied Whatnext
Thats help a lot, I was thinking about to apply the bridging visa separate, I didn't know it would be issued automatically with the partner visa. And I already printed out the form Thanks a lot!!!
Hope the applying will be easy and smooth and get my partner visa without apart with my husband...
How long does it takes usually? I know its hard to tell to the different cases, but I've noticed some of the member here seems to got the partner visa granted pretty fast, some people got it like only 1 month....
We still finding out what documents do we need to apply the visa.
If the office can't allow we apply it in person, Should we send all the documents with the application form together??

Thanks for your help!!! )
Coty

Yes send everything together and try to organise the papers and evidence so it is easy to follow. Some people do get approved quickly but the current processing time is 12 months so be prepared for a long wait.

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Whatnext: Australian Sponsor
Husband Brazilian

Hi Coty,

as whatnext said, reading the partner migration booklet is really the best thing you can do to get all the relevant info. It is clear and makes compiling an application much easier. It should be your main guide and you can download it from the Australian immigration website.

Even if you haven't been together 12 months you can apply for the de facto visa if you register your relationship. There should be a thread about this somewhere on the site. Not sure which state you're living...relationship registration is only available in some states (not in WA). The 12 month requirement is waived if you register your relationship with the state authorities. Though it probably won't make too much difference in your case because you are getting married soon anyway.

Definitely start gathering evidence now (refer to the partner migration booklet for details). It took us 3 months to prepare our application. So if you start soon you'll have it all prepared to hand in once you get married. You will need police checks from any country you have lived in for a year or more (in total) and getting this from other countries can take time. You will also need to get medical checks done (see partner booklet or DIAC website).

Processing times vary from case to case and from office to office. Generally onshore processing takes a little longer than offshore processing (there will be a list of current target processing times on the DIAC website)...sometimes it takes less time than the target, sometimes more. It depends on the strength of your application and other factors. I think one month is very rare, especially for an onshore application. The good thing is that you will be with your husband and have the ability to work in accordance with the WHV while you wait.

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Thanks both of Whatnext and miniature for the help!

( Sorry for so many questions )

About the medical and police checks, when should I have medical checks? When I apply the working holiday visa I only had asked for the chest x ray and they provided all the address where I could have it done, and I should send them with my application form together? If so, is that means I could go have the medical checks now?? ( I'm sorry for these questions, but read in on the immigration website is kinda complicated and hard to understand for me )....
And about the police checks, I've living here in Aus more than 1 year, so I have to get one of Aus as well??
Hope to hear from u again
Thanks heaps.
Coty

Thanks both of Whatnext and miniature for the help!

( Sorry for so many questions )

About the medical and police checks, when should I have medical checks? When I apply the working holiday visa I only had asked for the chest x ray and they provided all the address where I could have it done, and I should send them with my application form together? If so, is that means I could go have the medical checks now?? ( I'm sorry for these questions, but read in on the immigration website is kinda complicated and hard to understand for me )....
And about the police checks, I've living here in Aus more than 1 year, so I have to get one of Aus as well??
Hope to hear from u again
Thanks heaps.
Coty

Miniature, would u mind to simply explain what evidence do we need to prepare??
Like photos?