We’re past the rush of the June, thank goodness. Massive number of partner visas lodged in Manila, and some very long days for us. And we’re now getting a flood of visa grants coming through, thank goodness. Hope we’re soon over the long drought.

Back to Partner Visas……

Most of you would be aware of the fee increase by the Government (visa application charges, as they’re called….or VAC) for Australian Partner Visas which came into effect on 1 July 2015.

Has this been the start of the beginning of the end for partner visas? Not that we can see. New clients are coming along. We’re telling them the fee. They’re saying “When can we start?”

Price increases and how we handle them

I was having a discussion today with Jeremy, and he compared the VAC increase with the cost of cigarettes over the years.

I can remember cigarettes costing 89c a pack. This was back in the 70’s, and I was buying them for the old man. Now they tell me a pack of 20 costs $20.00 or more. Yes, people give up smoking. Some for health. Others work out it’s costing them $20 or more per day, and they decide they could do better things with $140 per week than spend it on cigarettes. Most people? No, they find a way.

I asked him (a reformed smoker, happy to say) if he would find it easier to give up cigarettes, or the woman he loved. The answer is obvious. He would find a way.

Actually, just did some sums. $140 per week x 52 weeks = $7,280.00. That’s more than the VAC. Smokers are managing to find a partner visa VAC every year of their lives! I think I’d rather have a good woman by my side than to have a morning cough. Much better value!

Where to now? What does the future hold?

So, we at Down Under Visa aren’t going anywhere. We’re still here, and still doing our best to make this a smooth and painless process for you. Not always easy, because we’re dealing with Philippines bureaucracy, Australian bureaucracy, intense emotions and good ol’ human nature and human imperfection. But we will now and will always stand by our resolve to never let a client down.

And I guarantee you that Australian men will keep falling in love with Filipina ladies. What else are they going to do? The Philippines is one of the last bastions where family values and the concept of marriage-for-life remains strong. There are some wonderful women here. Strong and capable as well as beautiful. Best decision I ever made, and our countless numbers of happy now-married clients over the years would all agree too.

And we will remain here in Manila, and will continue to manage visa applications for partner visas and prospective marriage visas for Australian Filipina couples. We have an outstanding success rate, and expect that to continue.