Following is our summary of the changes:

Sponsorship Approval Before Visa Application Lodgement

Currently the partner visa and sponsorship applications are lodged at the same time.  The proposal is that the sponsorship application, for the Australian partner, must be approved before the visa application can be lodged.

The unknown is how long it will take for the sponsorship to be approved.  If you are currently in Australia on a temporary visa and looking at applying for an onshore Partner (subclass 820/801) visa, you might want to consider lodging your application before this change comes into effect, to avoid the possibility of your current visa expiring before the sponsorship is approved.  Let us check that you can qualify and apply now.

 

New English Requirement – Permanent Partner Visa

Both the visa applicant and Australian sponsor must show evidence of a functional level of English (such as overall 30 in PTE) or that they have made reasonable efforts to learn English, at the permanent Partner visa stage.  Attendance at free English classes through the Adult Migration English Program (AMEP) could qualify.

 

Continued Prioritisation of Partner Visa Applications

We have certainly experienced much faster processing of Partner visas, particularly onshore applications.  The 2021-22 budget includes over 70,000 places for Partner visas.

 

Overall these are positive changes with the Government recognising the importance of family migration, while protecting the livelihoods of all involved.

Please note that these changes are not yet in effect, we will keep you up to date when they are confirmed.

 

How we can help?

We initially provide a free consultation, so we can check that you qualify and advise the best visa pathway for you.  We will then assist with the preparation and processing of the application, to make it very easy for you, and ensure the application is lodged completely and correctly.  We pride ourselves on the exceptional service we provide to our clients, always contactable by phone and respond efficiently to emails.

With over 14 years of experience with successful Partner visa applications, we give you the peace of mind that it is all looked after for you.