[patricerafferty]

Hi, just want to clarify something PLEASE correct me if i'm wrong -

FORM 888s get scanned in with all other documents? They do not have to be posted in a hard copy!

My witness can scan through their completed form to my email address? Even if I collect them from people in a hard copy I still scan them through anyway right?

 

[Skybluebrewer]

Absolutely NOTHING gets posted in as a hard copy. Everything, including police checks, get scanned and uploaded to your immi account application.

Our friends/family emailed us the scans and we uploaded that.

 

[292905]

Form 888 Stat Decs and the accompanying passport scans have to be certified (notarized), prior to scanning them.

 

[Eh?]

Form 888 Stat Decs and the accompanying passport scans have to be certified (notarized), prior to scanning them.

They do? We just have the scans from our family in Australia that are certified. Don't have copies of passports.

 

[292905]

They do? We just have the scans from our family in Australia that are certified. Don't have copies of passports.

From the Form 888 instructions:

Note: If the visa applicant is outside Australia and is unable to
have an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident
complete this form, any person who knows the applicant and
their partner or fiancé(e) may also complete this form.
The person completing this form must provide evidence of their
current name, age and, where applicable, Australian citizenship
or Australian permanent residency (for example, a certified copy
of the birth certificate, Australian passport or passport
containing a permanent visa). All copies must be certified.

 

[Eh?]

They do? We just have the scans from our family in Australia that are certified. Don't have copies of passports.

From the Form 888 instructions:

Note: If the visa applicant is outside Australia and is unable to
have an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident
complete this form, any person who knows the applicant and
their partner or fiancé(e) may also complete this form.
The person completing this form must provide evidence of their
current name, age and, where applicable, Australian citizenship
or Australian permanent residency (for example, a certified copy
of the birth certificate, Australian passport or passport
containing a permanent visa). All copies must be certified.

So the Queensland State stat decs we have are basically useless?

 

[hisbooboo]

You need form 888 not stat decs for Australian citizen or permanent resident.

 

[Skybluebrewer]

The form needs to be certified to prove it was signed by the person making the statement. It doesn't have to be a certified copy of a certified signature. Just have them sign the original form in front of one of the witnesses listed on the form who are certifying the signature is of that person and upload a scan of it.

 

[Eh?]

Man. Rookie move on my part.

 

[Eh?]

The form needs to be certified to prove it was signed by the person making the statement. It doesn't have to be a certified copy of a certified signature. Just have them sign the original form in front of one of the witnesses listed on the form who are certifying the signature is of that person and upload a scan of it.

Man, did I ever sleep through this. Now that the initial shock of me being a total idiot has worn off, I realize what we have done and what we need to do (I think).

We had 3 Australian Citizens (partners family) write stat decs on a Queensland State stat dec. They were signed by the author and witnessed by a JP. I thought that's all we needed. Didn't realize we needed to fill in the actual Form 888.

Question - can Form 888 be typed in, or does it have to be hand written?

So the Queensland State stat decs we have are basically useless?

Basically, I'm an idiot who needs to pay attention to things more.

 

[hisbooboo]

It can be typed, our witnesses typed it up, printed it out and then signed it in front of a JP.

 

[Skybluebrewer]

We asked ours to type them so there wouldn't be any legibility issues. If they write it, it has to be in BLOCK LETTERING according to the form.

 

[Skybluebrewer]

Basically, I'm an idiot who needs to pay attention to things more.

Meh, it happens. That's actually why I'm still on this forum even though I've done the hard stuff in my partner visa apps already.

I'm always learning something new.

 

[Eh?]

Meh, it happens. That's actually why I'm still on this forum even though I've done the hard stuff in my partner visa apps already.

I'm always learning something new.

Well, I really appreciate you and everyone's help. Massive oversight on my part though. Rookie move, like I said. I'll have to let the AU family know tonight that they need to fill in these forms, get down to the JP with it and copies of their passport or birth certificate.

I'm still stressing about health exams for non-migrating kids under 18. They need them, they don't need them.

I'll be glad once this is all done and I'm relaxing in Australia, having a cold beer.

 

[Skybluebrewer]

Don't need a JP. The form gives an extensive list of who can certify the signature. They can pick one that's convenient for them (for example, if I were asked to do one I would ask my kid's teacher to witness it since I have to see her 5 days a week anyway. It would help me avoid going out of my way for a JP appt).

https://www.border.gov.au/Forms/Documents/888.pdf