I had a former prospective marriage visa client email me the other day who is happily settled in Australia with his wife (now with her partner visa), and he continues to be an avid BLOG reader. He was mentioning about his wife getting her drivers license, and how important this is. It got me thinking that it was time to put down some thoughts about what happens after the partner visa is granted, and how to make it easier on the Filipina visa applicant and her Aussie sponsor.

First important thing – Read the visa grant notice!

This is the letter from the Department that tells you your Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa or Subclass 309 Partner Visa has been granted. This is the attachment I email out to you.

You will note that I tell you in the accompanying email that you must read the grant notice thoroughly, especially taking note of important dates. I really mean this, because you can get into trouble otherwise.

Important dates

The first important date is the “Must Make First Entry to Australia Before” date. Critical, because if you don’t enter Australia by that date, you have instantly breached visa conditions and they won’t let you in. So take careful note! This applies to both fiancée and spouse visas.

The next date applies to fiancée (prospective marriage) visas, and is the “Must not arrive after” date. Prospective Marriage Visas are valid for 9 months. The applicant must arrive (before the “must make first entry….” date) in Australia, marry the sponsor, and they must lodge the next-stage visa application which is the Subclass 820 Partner Visa application. Let that date go, and she is in Australia unlawfully.

So again, READ THE LETTER.

What else should you do?

As applicants would know, there is further assessment down the track for you. You will need to prepare for this before becoming a permanent partner visa holder. Two years after applying for the partner visa (be this a Subclass 309 back in Manila, or a Subclass 820 in Australia) the Department will contact you to further assess you for the permanent visa (either a Subclass 100 or a Subclass 801). This is fairly easy, especially if you are prepared.

So, how to be prepared for a Permanent Partner Visa?

Do the standard couple-things. They are going to look for evidence that you are living together like a normal couple, and not like a couple of housemates only. In most cases you will do these things anyway. I won’t give you an itemised list, but you should be combining your financial affairs (joint bank accounts, accounts/services/bills in joint names, joint membership of things, joint purchases, etc), and people should know you as a couple so that you can get further statutory declarations signed by those who will attest that you are a genuine couple. And make sure you collect documents which you suspect might be needed as evidence later.

Changes of addresses and passports

MUST tell the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in Australia immediately. Call them on 131 881. They need your address so they can contact you when they are ready to look at the permanent partner visa, and your passport is electronically linked to your visa. Change passports without telling them, and they can’t see that you have a visa at the airport. You could end up stuck somewhere, and that’s not a good thing at all.

I’m going to stretch this topic out into a few parts, and I’ll even get to the bit about getting a drivers license! Stay tuned!