[Fiori]

Hello!

I am Fiori, an Albanian citizen, in a de-facto relationship and engaged with an Australian partner. We have lived together-physically for more than 7 months and separately (virtually in ongoing communication of 5 months). We are going to apply soon for PMV and I need to ask few questions:

1. Can I use for Form 888 as a witness my mother or father in law, because I have met them personally (in Albania) and they are the only Australian Citizens that are constantly in touch with us as a couple (virtually and physically)?

2. Can I use my partners' Australian friends as witnesses, with whom we have been talking only on video calls together? I never had the possibility to meet them physically bcs my tourist visa application has been refused 2 times on the grounds that I have no incentive to come back in Albania (even why we explained our situation and my Australian partner lives with me in Albania in on-going basis and the reason was to meet his family, friends and attend his sister's wedding in Australia-but no evidence was taken in consideration) .

3. Is Form 888 - valid if it's filled from an Albanian mutual friend and certified by a public notary?

 

[BMHansen]

interested in the answer as well!

 

[Skybluebrewer]

"If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident and
you reside outside Australia, your statement cannot be
considered a statutory declaration under Australian law, even if
it is made using this form or the template provided by the
Attorney-General's Department. However, under policy, your
statement should be witnessed or certified according to the
legal practices of the country in which you make the
statement. Failing that, it should be witnessed by a person
whose occupation or qualification is comparable to those
listed above. This person should sign, date and specify their
occupation at the bottom of the statement."

So the Form 888 is for Australian citizens/PRs. If they're not an Aussie citizen/PR, they can just do a statement up in MS Word or similar, then just get the signature certified so it shows that they are taking credit for that statement.

Your Form 888 witnesses can be anyone that is known to you and your partner and is familiar with your relationship. There's no reason that can't be family, your friends, or your partner's friends.

We used my in-laws and my partner's close mates as our witness statements over the years. For the PMV 300, I had not been to Australia before and had only met my in-laws and my partner's best mates via video chats. We had no issues supplying those Form 888s without my having met them in person, but that's because they knew of me and knew of the relationship.

 

[konji__]

"This form must be completed by a person who:
• knows the visa applicant and their partner or fiancé(e) and
the history of their relationship;
• is at least 18 years of age; and
• is an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident.
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."

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Yes, but note Skybluebrewer comments above (beat me to it).

 

[Fiori]

This was really helpful to me! Thank you very much Skybluebrewer and konji!