I am an Aussie resident and citizen. My Japanese girlfriend and I have have made the decision to live togther in Australia.

We have not lived togther before.

She currently has a electronic 12mth Visa that allows 3 mth stays and is half way through.

We would like to eventually get married but want to for 12 mth 1st.

Any suggestions on best course of action with Visa type andif should apply here or O/S?? My research indicates that the only visa options open to her at this stage are the e676 toruist visa, and to seek a new one for 12mths, then aplly for a 820 spouse visa??

Any advice please....

thank yo

Welcome to the forum. Your girlfriend might want to consider applying for a working holiday visa, if she is eligible and hasn't had one already. This would allow her to work and stay in the country for 12 months, but she would have to apply in Japan.

There is the prospective marriage visa.

Continually staying on a tourist visa is not a reliable option, as immigration will start to questioning her why she is staying in the country for so long and wonder how she is supporting herself.

頑張ってください！ (good luck)

Update: I see that the 676 visa does allow stays for up to 12 months. You need to have health insurance and show that you have enough funds to support yourself during your stay in Australia. Since there is no option of working, I would expect you would need quite a hefty amount of money in your bank account.

Another option of course would be doing some kind of study and you can do some part-time work on this visa.

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Please post your visa application details in the visa timeline threads - Skilled visa applications Spouse/Defacto applications

Mike,

Thank you very much for the above advice.

The problem we encounter is that the intending or Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) requires us deomonstrate evidence of a genuine and continuing relationship including the expectation that we have lived together, shared important financial and social support etc.

We would love to demonstrate that but hav not yet lived together so we want to do that by living in he same country. It looks like we probably only have the choice of the e676 visa to continue for th next 6mths then apply. problem then, is that the Prospective Marriage Visa must be applied for outside of Aus.

do you know if there is another Prospective Marriage Visa that can be applied or in AU?

and in terms of study, is it University or other types of study allowed.


thank you and cheers

Mike,

My girlfriend is over 30 and would not qualify for the working hol visa. Finance is not an issue for support either.

thanks

Not that I am aware of. Sorry, I didn't realize this was the case.

I thought this was just for a defacto visa. I couldn't see this under the link I posted for the prospective marriage visa.

You can do any course that is approved by the government - tafe, uni, english lessons. I have seen in the past surfing courses for example that had been approved for the student visa.

At least this would give your girlfriend something to do with her day

I am just not sure how readily 12 month tourist visas are given out. A call or visit to immigration might help you to see what options you have.

Once you get this sorted out, it would be a good idea to start putting things in joint names, like utilities, bank accounts, rental lease etc. This will help when you then apply for either the spouse or defacto visa.

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Please post your visa application details in the visa timeline threads - Skilled visa applications Spouse/Defacto applications

Mike,

Thank you for the update,

As i read it the only option we really have to have a trial living experience together in Australia is the study visa path.

If my GF was to be here for 12mths living with me and studying and then we made applicaton for the 882 visa, do you think immigration would accept the 12 mth living in Aus together as ok?

thank you

I am sorry I don't know anything about the 882 visa (Designated Area-sponsored Overseas Student Visa Australia).

I think the easiest path would be to live together for 12 months while she is on a student visa and then either get married or if you still need more time, apply for the defacto visa.

If you search on defacto visa in the search box, you will get lots of information on the requirements. The defacto visa is pretty straight forward if you prepare for it in advance.

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Please post your visa application details in the visa timeline threads - Skilled visa applications Spouse/Defacto applications

Mike

So i have it clear in my mind, a course of action could be:

1. Use exisiting eta visa which allows the GF to be in Aus now
2. She can then apply for the student visa ie ELICOS Temporary Visa for a 12 mth plus course
3. After 12 mths then apply for the On Shore 820 spouse visa.

is this the best path or can you suggest any other areas?


thank you very much for your assistance