Marriage Certificate

[taxidriver]

Hi...Before i got married i went to the Aus embassy in BKK & filled in the stat dec & got a translated copy in Thai then we got married at the local Amphur office.

Do i need to go back to the Aus embassy with the marriage certs?

If we decide to move to Oz one day,will the above question answered YES effect the visa process if not recorded shortly after the wedding?

Any help appreciated.

[kiwijack]

Hey Taxidriver, my understanding is that it doesnt matter as they only want to see your marriage cert as & when u apply for an OZ visa. If u intend to do this sometime then I suggest u start the process now as can take a while & also the already tight approach maybe tightened further. Note that they will tell u that a marriage cert is not proof of a relationship per se & u should , if u havent already, start getting things in BOTH your names, eg lease, bank accounts etc etc...everything ...& take lots of photos whenever u go anywhere & keep old airline tickets as proof that u are together as they adopt a reasonably cynical approach to such visa applications. But if u are fair dinkum & prevail & dont spit the dummy u will triumph but will take a couple of years to get permanent residency status.

They will require certified translations of all Thai documentation too. The Embasy has a pretty good brochure that guides u & the visa forms say it all. Cost will be more than 30000 baht plus medicals, police checks etc but its all routine if u go with the flow.

We applied 18 months ago with copious "proof " & no probs. Got her a multiple entry , no time limit interim visa within a couple of weeks of application which requires a trip to OZ within 12 months of issue to activate the next stage, permanent residency. She can work in OZ on the interim one but no welfare access. Despite some negative posts I found them fine to deal with, if somewhat bureaucratic, but at least it happens. Good luck.

[Airone]

I am in a similar the same boat:

I want to get a "fiancee" visa (to aussieland) to my GF. I signed all sort of paperwork, certificates, declarations, etc...

We intend to get married 31 days after her arrival in Sydney.

Can anyone tell me how long we must wait for her to get that visa? (2 weks, 2 months, 2 years...)

My intention is to move permatently to LOS when I retire from the work force. Meanwhile, we want her to be living with me here.

[Pink Mist]

The reason there are negative posts Jack is because it's not all beer and skittles, there are some not so pleasant case workers in the embassy.

Your advice is sound though, gather as much evidence of a "Serious ongoing relationship"as possible.

The processing time is a mystery or lottery, some people are getting processed very quickly and some more slowly, but the main thing to remember is the initial interview, this can be days or months.

When we did ours , we applied for visa in November and were given an interview in February, the actual processing time was less than 3 days ( we had some help from an influentual polly), but as far as I know they still quote 9 months as processing time.

Finally I would suggest getting hold of a booklet called "Partner Migration" it's avalable from the embassy and all DIMA offices in OZ. You can also download off the net for free, its very good and if followed to the tee you should have no probs, it also contains a section on Fiance visa. I cant give you a link to it right now but if you search previous posts in this section you will fin the link, otherwise it's the DIMA site maybe a google search will help.

[taxidriver]

Thanks guys for the advice.I've been in Thailand for 2 years and we have heaps of photos but not much else as we don't need email etc, because we are always together.Would having a non imm o based on marriage be an advantage also?

And pictures of my parents at the wedding here in Thailand?

Thanks

[regpye]

A new thing that started this month is that CentreLink are now handling Assurance of Support. I have my interview tomorrow here in AU.

One of the important things that Immigration want is a statement of your relationship, one written by yourself, the other written by your spouse. They are basing most of the application on you proving you have a steady and genuine relationship that will last. Need all the proof you can collect, so start doing it now.

I was told to book an appointment with AU Immigration office in BKK, at least 3 weeks before you want to see them, make a morning appointment (they close at mid-day) Also to have the medicals and police clearance done ready for when you put in your application, I was told it will save a lot of time processing.

Cheers,

Reg

[taxidriver]

Thanks for that Reg.Oh no,centrelink are a pack of DOGS.I only dealt with them once in between jobs and they hounded me to get a job immediatly like i was a bludger taking the piss,but lucky i got job after my first pay.All that tax i paid over the years & i needed a hand once, just to have some eastern european women giving me the third degree,######.Anyway,i don't know what more evidence i can come up with living with her in BKK other than a few more photos.Any ideas?

Cheers!

[regpye]

Hi taxidriver,

Here is a list of we have for submitting, maybe from that list you can see something that will help you or give you some ideas.

Application Contents.

Folder is in sections.

Applicant

o 47SP application Form.

o Certified copy of Wedding Certificate in AU.

o Statement of Our Relationship – contents:

Copy Passport Pages showing visits to AU.

Our Relationship Details written by Ubolrat.

Copies of ID and Other Documents.

o CD and VCD of wedding in Thailand.

o Passport sized Photos.

o Thai Police Clearance Check.

o Medical Information.

Sponsor

o 40SP Form

o Statement of Our Relationship – contents:

Copy of Passport Pages showing visits to Thailand.

Our Relationship Details written by Reginald.

Photographs showing some of our contact.

o Copies of ID, Citizenship, Parents Citizenship, Birth Certificate.

o Passport size Photos.

o Copies of Land Title and other documents.

o CD and VCD of Wedding in Australia.

o Certified copies of previous marriage and divorce.

Statutory Declarations by Supporting Witnesses.

o Shane M - Friend & Peterborough District Councillor.

o Barry D - Friend

o Ernest P - Friend

o George B . - Friend

o Christine M - Sister of Reginald.

o Ruth W . - Friend & Mayor of Local Council.

o Michael B . - Friend

o Ian O . - Friend

o Patricia R . - Friend.

Further information is available if required.

We have approximately 500 photographs in albums showing places we have been together in both Australia and in Thailand.

We have printouts of emails for several years on an almost daily basis. These emails are full content, not just headers.

Will let you know after today about CentreLink interview, I am not looking forward to it this morning.

Cheers,

Reg

[regpye]

Oh! Taxidriver,

One thing I forgot.

AU Immigration will not accept your original wedding certificate, they require a certified copy from births deaths & marriages.

Cost me $33 to get it and it was posted out to me.

Beats me why they do it that way, maybe to add a bit more to the overall costs (as if it isn't enough already)

Cheers

[regpye]

Assurance of Support

Just got back from the CentreLink office - What a waste of my good time!!!!

I get there in time for the appointment, but they don't know anything about AoS yet.

They called the big smoke and made another appointment for me in the city.

Now I have to travel for 3 hours each way instead of 90 minutes

Next appointment is on Thursday this week, so maybe we will know more after that?

Anyway, to save any complications for others, here are some contact details if in South Australia.

Nat Damico (Migrant Services Officer)

61 8 8306 2900

Address:

Nayler House

191 Pultney Street

Adelaide

1st Floor

Multicultural Services

[taxidriver]

Thanks again Reg,

I'm a bit lost still because we've only got Thai wedding certificates.

If she applies for a non imm interim visa,i don't understand how centrelink comes into the picture.Me and my wife are in BKK,so will this apply to us?

Cheers!

[regpye]

Hi Taxidriver,

I think you would be best advised to contact AU Immigration about this matter, because a lot has changed this last month.

If you are intending to return to AU there will be many things that will be taken into account, because they want to have someone responsible for your wife for the first 2 years that she is there with you. This is what AoS is all about, and now CentreLink have taken it over, you know what they are like?

It is really hard to contact Immigration by email in AU, but maybe you can get some help from AU Immigration in BKK?

You have a real postal address of Multicultral Services that you can contact by mail, that could be a good starting point if you have a bit of time. Ask them all about AoS and where to get further information from by post. Tell them your situation as it is and what you want to do, and then they know what questions you are asking.

Cheers,

Reg

[taxidriver]

Thanks mate,i've got some good tips from you Reg,Bronco and Kiwi and it's a helpful start.Now,i will get more info from the AU embassy and plan it out carefully.

Thanks again.

Cheers!