How to Navigate the Maze and Apply for a Marriage Visa in Australia
They say that love knows no boundaries, or international borders come to that. As a "foreigner" you may have fallen in love with a citizen of Australia and you are both thinking about the next steps, leading to marriage. You'd also love to be able to live with your loved one in Australia, but realise that there are a number of steps to take in order to achieve this. What do you need to bear in mind?
The Path Ahead
The good news is that the government wants to help you as much as it can and as a consequence has introduced a prospective marriage visa. This is a temporary option for foreign nationals and has a nine month duration. During this time, you'll be able to enter Australia with the intention of getting married to a citizen or permanent resident.
What's the Small Print?
As you can imagine, there are some restrictions, in order to ensure that this is valid and above board. The person who you intend to marry has to be the sponsor of the application and you have to be able to prove that you have met before. You need to have background and health checks and assert your intention to live in your new country, once the marriage is complete.
The visa will allow you to travel in and out of the country multiple times during the nine-month period. You can sign up for higher education so long as you pay for it yourself and you may even be eligible to work. Once the marriage ceremony has taken place, then you will be able to upgrade your status to that of a partner and ultimately you can convert this into permanent residency.
Sponsor Obligations
The person who sponsors the application is required to take a certain amount of responsibility for you during the nine-month stay in Australia. In particular, this extends to finances and your compliance with any rules or employment conditions that are set down by the government. Also, your sponsor may not have sponsored anyone else for the same type of visa within the last few years.
Starting the Process
Before you start, gather together all your documentation including a certified birth certificate, a certified copy of your passport and two passport photographs. You'll need to show that you have prearranged for the wedding ceremony within the nine-month allotment. Fundamentally, you have to be able to prove that you have met in person, that you have interacted and communicated progressively over the time that you've know each other, and you have to indicate how will you will live together as a married couple.
Getting Help
Some people worry about the subjective nature of the evidence that they have to provide and worry still more about the procedure. This is why it's a good idea to get a qualified agent to help you navigate the maze and ensure that your applications are successful. For more information, contact companies like Fisa Pty Ltd.
