Partner visa changes to be aware of: Sponsorship may need to be approved first

 

For any partner visa application, there has to be a sponsor who is either an Australian citizen, An Australian Permanent Resident or an Eligible New Zealand Citizen. The sponsor for the partner visa application has to submit a separate sponsorship form. Currently, partner visa application can be made along with the sponsorship application from the partner and both applications are processed together. However, the upcoming changes would require the approval of family sponsors before an application for partner visa can even be made.

 

The changes are planned to be made with the view to:

·         separate sponsorship assessment from the visa application process for family sponsored visas;

·         require the approval of persons as family sponsors before any relevant visa applications are made;

·         impose statutory obligations on persons who are or were approved as family sponsors;

·         provide for sanctions if such obligations are not satisfied;

·         facilitate the sharing of personal information between a range of parties associated with the program; and

·         improve the management of family violence in the delivery of the program by allowing the refusal of a sponsorship application; and cancellation and / or barring of a family sponsor where inappropriate use of the program or serious offences are detected – especially those involving family violence.

(reference: Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2016)

 

The changes can come about anytime. Thus, if you are planning to lodge partner visa application, it would be wise to lodge as soon as possible! The changes will have major impact on those seeking to apply onshore partner visa while on another substantive visa. Specifically, this would have a huge effect on those  whose visa is close to expiry or where time is of essence.

---