[kasunw16]

Hi!

So I am a citizen of Australia. I am currently in the process of assisting my fiancé who is a Sri Lankan citizen (working in the United Arab Emirates) to obtain a visa to live in Australia after our wedding in Sri Lanka.
We are looking at the prospective marriage visa (subclass 300) option to ensure that the both of us will be together in Australia immediately after the wedding (July 2019).

As stated in the partner migration booklet, we understand that the registration/ wedding ceremony can take place outside of Australia (in Sri Lanka).

However, we are required to provide the following:

"evidence that you intend to marry your fiancé(e) within 9 months of being granted the visa. Such evidence must be a signed and dated letter (on letterhead) from an authorised marriage celebrant who will conduct your wedding ceremony. The letter must include the place and date (or date range) on which the planned marriage ceremony may take place"

We would like to know where, how and from whom in Sri Lanka we can obtain such a document to assist in our visa application.

Thanks!

 

[Skybluebrewer]

I don't know about Sri Lanka celebrants or registry offices but keep in mind your partner must enter Australia once after the 300 is granted before you marry.

 

[CCMS]

Since your partner has to make an initial entry into Australia anyway, it might be easiest to have a simple civic wedding in Australia, followed by a traditional wedding in Sri Lanka.

 

[kasunw16]

Hi Nick,

Thank you for response.

We understand that we can conduct a small civic wedding in Australia and opt to have the traditional ceremony in Sri Lanka.

But are you aware of a method wherein we can conduct the registration/ wedding ceremony in one go at one place outside of Australia (Sri Lanka)? If so, who do you reckon we must approach?

Thanks,

Kasun

 

[Mish]

It is an expensive way to go about it as you will need to pay for 3 flights for your fiancee (Sri Lanka/UAE to Australia, Australia to Sri Lanka & Sri Lanka to Australia) vs 1 flight for your fiancee if you have in Australia and then do a ceremony in Sri Lanka later down the track.

Your fiancee being Sri Lankan should know who conducts weddings in Sri Lanka and how to go about it and getting the documentation required. If not you can try posting in the spouse visa waiting for Sri Lanka as they have all gotten married in Sri Lanka: http://www.australiaforum.com/visas-immigration/15852-spouse-visa-sri-lanka-167.html

 

[CCMS]

Hi Nick,

Thank you for response.

We understand that we can conduct a small civic wedding in Australia and opt to have the traditional ceremony in Sri Lanka.

But are you aware of a method wherein we can conduct the registration/ wedding ceremony in one go at one place outside of Australia (Sri Lanka)? If so, who do you reckon we must approach?

Thanks,

Kasun

This may be a good starting point:

The Government Information Center

The Sri Lankan HC in Canberra may also be able to provide you with the information you're after:

http://www.slhcaust.org/registration-of-marriages/

Personally I prefer to use the Australian NOIM, because I know for sure it will be accepted and it avoids unnecessary complications. It is also a relatively straightforward process.