[BallyOz]

Hi all.

We successfully secured the partner visa (309) and are now due to apply for the second stage (100).

However, we were wrong about the second stage on two fronts. 1) we thought we'd be notified 2) we thought we could apply for second stage two years after it was granted (December 5 2018), not the date it we applied for it (July 24 2018).

Now, we are freaking out a bit here. Clearly the application needs to go in and quickly, but is there anything else we need to do? Are in we going to suffer the consequences for a late application?

Hoping we haven't made a complete mess of this.

 

[BallyOz]

Called Home Affairs today, explained the situation: "mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!"

They said it should be okay (no guarantees, of course) and to contact the processing centre by email, while they put a note on our file (so anyone having a look in the next few weeks will see an application is coming). We're now going to try smash it out as quickly as possible. The evidence is all there, and strong, it's just a matter of getting it all together now.

 

[Skybluebrewer]

I would definitely get it in sooner rather than later. You can knock it out in a day if you really wanted to. At least get in the strongest evidence first. Also, I wouldn't trust any information the call centre gives.

I personally would wait to contact them until after you have everything in. When I contacted them, they looked at my app within 24 hours and made a decision.

 

[BallyOz]

Thanks. With stat decs and the police check, it's going to take a little bit of time. The rest we will certainly be flying through as quickly as we can.

Hard to know if emailing would help or hinder the situation alright.

 

[LadyRogueRayne]

I suggest doing as Sky said: get the application and as much uploaded as you can, then email. And work on getting the rest done asap.

 

[Ejona]

I would definitely get it in sooner rather than later. You can knock it out in a day if you really wanted to. At least get in the strongest evidence first. Also, I wouldn't trust any information the call centre gives.

I personally would wait to contact them until after you have everything in. When I contacted them, they looked at my app within 24 hours and made a decision.

Did you contact them in their call centre number?

 

[Skybluebrewer]

Did you contact them in their call centre number?

Haha, nope and never will! Useless that number is.

Used this.

 

[BallyOz]

Hi all. Just about to lodge the application tonight. Quick question: Do our personal statements need to be witnessed, or can we just sign and date them as we did first time around? As per usual, there is lots of conflicting advice on this.

Just to clarify, I mean the statements by the Applicant and Sponsor about their relationship, not the Stat Decs by witnesses, which have to be completed using the Form 888 and witnessed.

 

[Skybluebrewer]

Hi all. Just about to lodge the application tonight. Quick question: Do our personal statements need to be witnessed, or can we just sign and date them as we did first time around? As per usual, there is lots of conflicting advice on this.

Just to clarify, I mean the statements by the Applicant and Sponsor about their relationship, not the Stat Decs by witnesses, which have to be completed using the Form 888 and witnessed.

The sponsor does the sponsor's stat dec and needs to be witnessed. The applicant just fills in the boxes in the online form or alternatively uploads a separate statement. That one doesn't need to be witnessed. Far easier to just answer in the boxes, in my opinion.

 

[LadyRogueRayne]

Hi all. Just about to lodge the application tonight. Quick question: Do our personal statements need to be witnessed, or can we just sign and date them as we did first time around? As per usual, there is lots of conflicting advice on this.

Just to clarify, I mean the statements by the Applicant and Sponsor about their relationship, not the Stat Decs by witnesses, which have to be completed using the Form 888 and witnessed.

The applicant makes his/her statement in the application (in the boxes provided). The sponsor has to fill out a stat dec and have it witnessed: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Visa...s/Trav/Visa/Appl/Partner/stat_dec_sponsor.pdf

If the applicant does a statement, I don't know if it needs witnessed or not. Maybe someone else can answer that for you.

 

[BallyOz]

The applicant makes his/her statement in the application (in the boxes provided). The sponsor has to fill out a stat dec and have it witnessed: homeaffairs.gov.au/Visasupport/PublishingImages/Trav/Visa/Appl/Partner/stat_dec_sponsor.pdf

If the applicant does a statement, I don't know if it needs witnessed or not. Maybe someone else can answer that for you.

Thanks. We seem to have made another mistake, which is approaching the statements in the same manner as we did for the 309:

- Two personal statements on the development of the relationship
- Joint statements on the nature of finances, commitment, household, and social context

All of these were signed, but not stat decs.

 

[LadyRogueRayne]

Ok, well do up stat decs and load them in. If they haven't looked at your application yet, then there shouldn't be an issue. To be safe, I'd do them both as stat decs.

 

[BallyOz]

Thanks again. You're very helpful and kind.

My wife will do her sponsor stat dec tomorrow. I have five comprehensive statements to address the questions in the form for the applicant.

Overall, I feel our evidence is very strong, it's just the delay in getting it in and the doubts around the process that have me worried... still!