If your visa application was refused or cancelled you are probably doing some research to see how you can turn around your case. You may have realised that one option is to file an application with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (“AAT”) and another option is to lodge an appeal with the Federal Circuit Court. But…
AAT reviews: Don’t forget to take these 2 steps
If you choose to handle your AAT appeal yourself (never advisable) there are many things to keep in mind but you should always remember to never lose sight of these two very important points: have a good look at your original visa application to see if there are any issues which you missed but which…
Bridging Visa E – Key Issues
A Bridging Visa E is for people who don’t currently hold any other visa. It comes with very strict conditions and very limited rights. If you are thinking about applying for a Bridging Visa E, there are some key issues you need be aware of. The long term consequences of going on a Bridging Visa…
309 (offshore) Australian Partner Visa – 3 tips
For those of you thinking of applying for an Australian Partner Visa offshore (subclass 309 visa) – here are 3 tips to keep in mind. Processing time At the time of writing this article, an offshore application is processed quicker than an application filed inside Australia. Offshore 309 applications are currently processed between 13 to…
Mandatory visa cancellation on character grounds
If you have a substantial criminal record and you are serving a jail sentence, your visa must be cancelled by law. This is called mandatory visa cancellation based on character grounds, under section 501(3A) of the Migration Act. And you can’t simply appeal the decision either. If you know of someone (perhaps a family member)…
Major changes for parent visas – Assurance of Support harder
UPDATE 10 May 2018: It looks like the Government will reverse the changes which increased the income threshold in respect of assurance of support. This means old rules would be applied again, which is a lot more beneficial to migrants. We will provide more details as they become available. The Government has recently introduced major…
Received a visa cancellation notice?
Have you received a letter from the Department of Home Affairs telling you that they are considering cancelling your visa? This is called a Notice of Intention to Consider Cancellation of visa. Don’t ignore it. It’s important to act quickly. UPDATE: check out Part 2 of the video at the end of this post. Does…
Civil partnership: should you register your relationship?
Are you planning to apply for an Australian Partner Visa based on your de facto relationship? If you haven’t been in a de facto relationship for 12 months, then you may need to register your relationship as a civil partnership. Read this article or check out our video to find out more. When you apply…
Re-entry ban – everything you need to know
What does a re-entry ban mean? What is a public interest criteria or PIC? If you have overstayed a Visa in Australia, or if you have provided false documents or information to the Immigration Department, then you may have come across these terms before. So let’s take it one step at a time. UPDATE: Check…
Partner visa application: Should I submit onshore or offshore?
Is it better to apply for a partner visa onshore or offshore? In this article we highlight some of the benefits of applying onshore, while you are still in Australia. To start with the obvious, some people are simply not able to make an application onshore. For example, they may be living and working overseas…
VIDEO: 3 Tips for Partner Visa Applications PLUS 2 Client questions answered
Facebook live broadcast. If you have any questions that you would like us to discuss in our weekly broadcast, email or call us, or leave a comment on our Facebook page. This week’s video is about Partner Visa applications? Check it out for some tips that will hopefully clarify some of the issues surrounding the…
Visa overstay part 2 – how to get a new visa
In the first introductory part of this article, we looked at the basic issues surrounding visa overstay. In this part, we consider whether it is possible to apply for a new visa. The starting point is that just because you overstay your visa, it doesn’t mean that you cannot apply for a new visa. You…
Visa overstay – Part 1: the Basics
In this 3 part series, we will be looking at the issue of visa overstay. In particular, we will consider what are the immediate and long-term consequences of overstaying your visa. What happens when you overstay a visa? Your Visa is valid up to a specified date. You would have been advised about this date…
Visa cancelled? Application refused? You have appeal rights
Most Visa cancellations and refusals can be reviewed and appealed. There are a number of different avenues to seek a review. It is important to obtain legal advice before lodging an appeal because, as we explain in this article, with the right advice you can significantly increase your chances of success. Internal review The easiest…
Partner visa, children and the health test
When you apply for a Partner Visa, you and your dependent children must pass the health requirement as part of the application. What happens if you pass the health test, but your child has a medical condition? Does this mean your visa application will be refused? The basics The starting point is that Partner Visa…
