[sabrina1258]

My friend (Philippines passport) wants to visit Australia to meet her partner. They have not met yet but have been in a long-distance relationship for over two years (communicating via Skype, FB). Have there been issues with visitor visas being declined for couples that have not met yet? They are a genuine relationship and they want to meet in Australia but are worried about getting their visitor visa denied.

 

[arod59]

Hi, when i first went to visit my now fiance, in 2015, we werent officially in a relationship as we had only been talking on skype and whatsapp so I wrote down that I was visiting a friend. I got a letter from him saying he would be providing accommodations for me and we gave an itinerary of roughly things we had planned on seeing around Sydney (we did a harbour cruise, visited a petting zoo cant remember the name, etc). After meeting and hitting it off we decided to be in an exclusive relationship so any visas from there on I wrote down i was visiting my de facto partner. I think if she provides evidence of genuine turisty things she wants to do/ and evidence of only a temporary stay, eg. she has a job to go back to after her visit, it should be fine.

 

[sabrina1258]

Thanks for your response, thats good news! Just wondering, did you have to pay for health insurance while in Australia on your tourist visa? I saw online that it should only matter for those staying in Australia for 6 months + but I'm honestly not sure.

 

[arod59]

Thanks for your response, thats good news! Just wondering, did you have to pay for health insurance while in Australia on your tourist visa? I saw online that it should only matter for those staying in Australia for 6 months + but I'm honestly not sure.

No, I only selected max stay of 3 months multiple entry so I got a valid visa for 12 months but each stay max 3 months

 

[Aussie83]

Thanks for your response, thats good news! Just wondering, did you have to pay for health insurance while in Australia on your tourist visa? I saw online that it should only matter for those staying in Australia for 6 months + but I'm honestly not sure.

There is no requirement to have health.
insurance personally though considering the low cost of it compared to if a accident happens.
For my wife and later her cousin it was only $160 for 0 excess for 3 months coverage.
Yes we never needed it but if we did anything would of costed significantly more.

 

[Gelaaa]

Hi,
Your friend can apply for tourist visa subclass 600. Just provide all evidence that she will return to her country. Her boyfriend can write ab invitation letter as well.