Overview of the Australian Spousal Visa Application PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ben   
Saturday, 04 September 2010 15:04

So just in case someone else could find this useful, I hope to put up a brief overview of what Sylvia's application contained, and how it was laid out.

Again before I start, the usual disclaimer. I AM NOT A MIGRATION AGENT. I am just posting up how we (Sylvia and I) tackled the migration process to Australia, and my experience of it. THIS PAGE IS NOT ADVICE, just a journal of how we applied. We are not offering immigration advice, so use this page at your own discretion.

With that out of the way.... this was the gist of the covering letter which accompanied the application.

Before I get too far into it - there here are some decent helpers online



IMMIGRATION BOOKS

There are some reference manuals you can buy online to step you through the immigration process, and tell you more about migration law:


MIGRATION AGENTS:

If anyone is after a migration agent.... some branches online include



The Application

The application was submitted fully completed, with a 6 x A4 page of labeled photos and some 5 or 6 statutory declarations from friends, family and workmates. The application was in a folder with plastic sleeve inserts, divided with colored cardboard dividers into the sections listed below. An important aspect to the application was that we tried to make the layout as self explanatory as possible - we didn't want the immigration officer to have to search for things. We tried to join as many dots together and be as plain and specific in our statements as possible.

The completed application probably came close to around 50 - 60 pages long (if you include each page of the forms we had to fill out - and weighed around 7 kilos... not good when I only had a 20 kilo limit on the flight back home!

To whom it may concern,

Contained within is the application of Sylvia XXXXXXXXXXX for an Australian Spousal Visa. Sylvia is married to Benjamin XXXXXXX, an Australian citizen by birth. Sylvia is Zambian. Currently, both Ben and Sylvia are residing within Zambia at the time of writing this letter.

This application has some urgency, as Ben's temporary permit to stay in Zambia expires on the XXXXXX, at which time he must return to Australia. This means that Ben and Sylvia will be separated from February, until Sylvia's spousal visa is processed and approved. Sylvia is currently studying within Zambia, and her course is due to complete in April. It is their hope that Sylvia's spousal visa will be processed and approved by XXXXXX, so that they will be reunited in Australia, early XXXXXXX.

The week before Benjamin returns to Australia, both he and Sylvia will move from their listed marital home at XXXXXXX to a small bungalow at XXXXX, Zambia. This is the residence where Sylvia intends to stay while Benjamin is in Australia, waiting for her Spousal Application to be processed and approved.

THE APPLICATION SECTIONS: This application has been separated into the following sections:

  • General Documents
    • This covering letter
    • Application Document Checklist
    • Payment Receipts from Panel Doctor
    • Courier (DHL) receipts for delivery of Medical Check and Xray to the Australian High Commission (Pretoria)
    • Visa payment receipt
  • Applicant Details – Sylvia XXXXXXXXX:
    • Completed Form 47sp
    • Certified Copies of Sylvia's Zambian Birth Certificate, passport id page, Australian Blue Card (clearance to work with children in Australia) & passport photos
    • Sylvia's Zambian Police Check
    • Benjamin's and Sylvia's Marriage Certificate
    • Sylvia's Statement of the History of their relationship to date
  • Sponsor Details – Benjamin XXXXXXXX:
    • Completed Form 40sp
    • Evidence of Sponsor Status: Benjamin's Australian Birth Certificate, copy of passport id page & passport photos
    • Accountant tax statement and Bank statements
    • Proof of income: Sample weekly invoices sent from Benjamin to his clients
    • Benjamin's Statement of the History of their relationship to date
  • Evidence of Relationship
    • Financial Evidence:
      • Joint bank account statement
      • Written (personal) account of financial sharing
    • Nature of Household:
      • Written (personal) statement on housework
      • Rental / Tennancy statement
      • Evidence of cohabitation – letters (envelopes) addressed to Ben and Sylvia at their marital address
    • Social Context:
      • Statutory Declarations from Australian citizens (friends & Australian family)
      • Cards & email between Benjamin and Sylvia, and friends
      • Online evidence
      • Documents of shared / joint travel – Sylvia and Benjamin
    • Commitment to each other:
      • Phone records
      • Written and emailed correspondance
      • Invitations to Benjamin and Sylvia's wedding
      • Benjamin's and Sylvia's Australian Wills
      • Photographic evidence

NOTE ON NAMES: Before marriage, Sylvia's maiden name was Sylvia XXXXXX. Since marriage, it is her intention to adopt her maiden name as an additional middle name, making her Sylvia XXXXXX. Where possible, her name has been recorded as such.

CONTACT DETAILS: Should there be any questions regarding this application, please do not hesitate to contact Benjamin or Sylvia on the following numbers:

Benjamin: XXXXXX (Benjamin's Australian number)
Or Sylvia on : XXXXXX (Sylvia's Zambian number)

Last Updated on Wednesday, 03 November 2010 22:23