Bangkok Or Melbourne More User Friendly?

[fishhooks]

I'm currently in Thailand and travel back and forth from Melbourne (AUS).

Have a Thai wife, we have been known to each other for two years, recently married here in Chaiyaphum, have ample phone and photo records and support bank transfers etc. dating back the two years.

Have together travelled to Cambodia and Burma.

Just wondering on some kind advice as to better for me to start a Spouse Visa process here in Bangkok, or do it when home in Australia, next month, September.

Sorry if there is a similar thread.

[boof623]

I'm currently in Thailand and travel back and forth from Melbourne (AUS).

Have a Thai wife, we have been known to each other for two years, recently married here in Chaiyaphum, have ample phone and photo records and support bank transfers etc. dating back the two years.

Have together travelled to Cambodia and Burma.

Just wondering on some kind advice as to better for me to start a Spouse Visa process here in Bangkok, or do it when home in Australia, next month, September.

Sorry if there is a similar thread.

it is really up to you,

it will depend if you have all the required documents in thailand with you, you can of course put together an application over there but it usually is better if you get everything together and lodged it in one go, the application for a spouse visa must be lodged in thailand for all the requirements that you need you can look them up on the dept of immigration and citizenship website which will give you all the info you should need, police clearances for your wife can be done now as they are valid for i think 12 months, but hold off on the health checks for your wife until you have lodged your application and got a case file number as the doctor will send these straight to the embassy and they can get lost if not referenced to a file number

have a bit of a look arround this site as its full of useful info and can save you a lot of time and effort in not having to rework your application because you have left something out

best of luck

[gburns57au]

I'm currently in Thailand and travel back and forth from Melbourne (AUS).

Have a Thai wife, we have been known to each other for two years, recently married here in Chaiyaphum, have ample phone and photo records and support bank transfers etc. dating back the two years.

Have together travelled to Cambodia and Burma.

Just wondering on some kind advice as to better for me to start a Spouse Visa process here in Bangkok, or do it when home in Australia, next month, September.

Sorry if there is a similar thread.

I think your wife should do it....

About the only time a spouse visa can be lodged in Oz is after a fiance visa marriage and on refugee or humanitarian grounds.

So your good lady will need to lodge the application there...you will have to arrange for at least two stat decs from Oz citizens....they should be on the 888 form...you can have other stat decs as supporting evidence though.

Health checks can be done prior to the application being lodged....the results will be held at the Embassy until the application is lodged.

cheers

[david96]

As you are recently married in Thailand you should apply for a spouse visa in Bangkok. If you meet the criteria for this

visa you spouse will be issued with a temporary subclass 309 for 2 years and then at a second stage of processing (in Australia) she will be granted a subclass 100 and she will have permanent residence status.

It is at the second stage of processing that the two form 888s are used, to be submitted by two persons that know your relationship well. Those forms are statutory declarations.

There is quite a lot of information on the forum that will assist you.

[gburns57au]

As you are recently married in Thailand you should apply for a spouse visa in Bangkok. If you meet the criteria for this

visa you spouse will be issued with a temporary subclass 309 for 2 years and then at a second stage of processing (in Australia) she will be granted a subclass 100 and she will have permanent residence status.

It is at the second stage of processing that the two form 888s are used, to be submitted by two persons that know your relationship well. Those forms are statutory declarations.

There is quite a lot of information on the forum that will assist you.

Sorry David but you are wrong.....the two stat decs are required on a form 888 for the initial spouse application...My missus is going to be applying as soon as she gets the two 888 stat decs and two other stat decs in support which I have just sent to her. The 888 stat decs will need to be accompanied by a certified copy of proof of citizenship, either the citizenship cert or the passport front page for each person making the declaration.

He will need also a letter from the spouse and the sponsor detailing how they met, what they have done together, future plans etc....in their own hand....with the Thai partner it needs to be the original letter in their hand and a certified translation.

[fishhooks]

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He will need also a letter from the spouse and the sponsor detailing how they met, what they have done together, future plans etc....in their own hand....with the Thai partner it needs to be the original letter in their hand and a certified translation.

********************************************************************************

Thanks for the good advice all round.

So the above I take it means, the husband (sponsor) and spouse each need to compile a letter with the relevant info and present it with the application.

My wife is not too bad with written english, thus would this be acceptable, or better to originate in Thai.

Just one other thing at the moment: we will be in BKK in a few days, can we just call in to the Embassy and collect all the application documents required?

[david96]

• Written supporting statements from at least two people who are Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia and who know you and your sponsor. These statements can be made on form 888 or as a Statutory Declaration.

gburns57au, your spouse must have lived in Australia for a period of time perhaps on a tourist visa for an Australian

citizen or permanent resident to know her well enough to submit a form 888, otherwise it would not be possible at least not in Thailand.

[Mighty Mouse]

Sorry David but you are wrong.....the two stat decs are required on a form 888 for the initial spouse application...My missus is going to be applying as soon as she gets the two 888 stat decs and two other stat decs in support which I have just sent to her. The 888 stat decs will need to be accompanied by a certified copy of proof of citizenship, either the citizenship cert or the passport front page for each person making the declaration.

He will need also a letter from the spouse and the sponsor detailing how they met, what they have done together, future plans etc....in their own hand....with the Thai partner it needs to be the original letter in their hand and a certified translation.

I'm confused now. Have procedures changed recently?

It's been a few years since I jumped through the hoop so I may be out of date, but what you state is now a requirement is contrary to what is posted on the DIMA website.

Evidence of Relationship

• Written statement from the applicant detailing the history of the relationship i.e. how, when and where the first meeting took place and how the relationship developed

• Written supporting statements from at least two people who are Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia and who know you and your sponsor. These statements can be made on form 888 or as a Statutory Declaration.

• Evidence of contact/relationship with the sponsor (for example: letters with original envelopes, emails, telephone bills, photographs, money transfers, etc.)

• The marriage certificate, if married.

The above clearly states that either a stat. dec. form 888 or a normal stat. dec. may be submitted. Has this now changed? In all of the applications submitted by my de-facto we used normal stat. decs. only. No form 888 at all.

With regard to the covering letter outlining the history of the relationship and any other written submissions, no papers were submitted by us in our personal handwriting.

Since when has it been a requirement to submit such papers "in their own hand?"

It says nothing about this on DIMA website.

[gburns57au]

I'm confused now. Have procedures changed recently?

It's been a few years since I jumped through the hoop so I may be out of date, but what you state is now a requirement is contrary to what is posted on the DIMA website.

Evidence of Relationship

• Written statement from the applicant detailing the history of the relationship i.e. how, when and where the first meeting took place and how the relationship developed

• Written supporting statements from at least two people who are Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia and who know you and your sponsor. These statements can be made on form 888 or as a Statutory Declaration.

• Evidence of contact/relationship with the sponsor (for example: letters with original envelopes, emails, telephone bills, photographs, money transfers, etc.)

• The marriage certificate, if married.

The above clearly states that either a stat. dec. form 888 or a normal stat. dec. may be submitted. Has this now changed? In all of the applications submitted by my de-facto we used normal stat. decs. only. No form 888 at all.

With regard to the covering letter outlining the history of the relationship and any other written submissions, no papers were submitted by us in our personal handwriting.

Since when has it been a requirement to submit such papers "in their own hand?"

It says nothing about this on DIMA website.

Please read the checklist requirements on the applicants form 47SP pages 22 and 23. regards written statements.....Written usually means in ones own hand...they dont ask for a typed statement.

Also page 23 of the partner migration booklet Statutory Declarations 3rd paragraph. regards stat decs and form 888

Booklet 1 page 30 1st paragraph and note regards the marriage extract.

That should answer all the questions.

[gburns57au]

• Written supporting statements from at least two people who are Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia and who know you and your sponsor. These statements can be made on form 888 or as a Statutory Declaration.

gburns57au, your spouse must have lived in Australia for a period of time perhaps on a tourist visa for an Australian

citizen or permanent resident to know her well enough to submit a form 888, otherwise it would not be possible at least not in Thailand.

David....the requirement is for an Oz citizen or permanent resident....it does not state that they must live in Oz....So if you are in Thailand and have some Aussie mates there...they can do the forms.

In my case my wife has been here four times for a total of 10 months in the last 20 months and therefore has met a lot of Aussies. If you are in the situation where your partner hasnt met any of your Aussie friends or family, then yes, it is a dilemma. I cant tell you how to overcome that...But I am sure that some people can be resourceful.

[gburns57au]

********************************************************************************

He will need also a letter from the spouse and the sponsor detailing how they met, what they have done together, future plans etc....in their own hand....with the Thai partner it needs to be the original letter in their hand and a certified translation.

********************************************************************************

Thanks for the good advice all round.

So the above I take it means, the husband (sponsor) and spouse each need to compile a letter with the relevant info and present it with the application.

My wife is not too bad with written english, thus would this be acceptable, or better to originate in Thai.

Just one other thing at the moment: we will be in BKK in a few days, can we just call in to the Embassy and collect all the application documents required?

If your wifes English skills are good then she can submit the letter in English....will save the translation fee....word of warning...they will pick a dictated letter as against a letter she has wrote herself.

You can buy the application pack which contains the two application forms and the booklet...the 888 forms can be downloaded from the website...the cost I believe is about 400 baht.

[Mighty Mouse]

Please read the checklist requirements on the applicants form 47SP pages 22 and 23. regards written statements.....Written usually means in ones own hand...they dont ask for a typed statement.

The statements written by you and your partner can be on ordinary writing paper or a statutory declaration form. Each statement or statutory declaration must be signed and dated by the person who wrote it. DIMA

"In ones own hand" is your term. ("it needs to be the original letter in their hand and a certified translation.") This implies in ones own handwriting and this is not necessarily the case. The words used in such letter/stat. dec. must be those of the writer.

Also page 23 of the partner migration booklet Statutory Declarations 3rd paragraph. regards stat decs and form 888

Form 888 is specifically structured to obtain only the pertinent information relating to the writers knowledge of the relationship. In the past the same information supplied on a standard stat. dec. was accepted. In dealing with todays requirements, it seems that form 888 should now be used.

You are using the latest Partner Migration book. My copy of this book was printed in 2002 and there is no paragraph on Statutory Declarations. I have since read the latest book on line and can now see from where you are quoting. It therefore pays to stay abreast of the changes in requirements

[gburns57au]

You could be right about the written bit MM

page 38 at the bottom says that it can be on ordinary writing paper or a stat dec...I guess I looked at that as meaning a writing pad type paper....

The whole application and booklet can be very vague as to what is actually required...for instance the form says marriage cert is ok.....the booklet says No.

I guess just try and play it safe.

[steffi]

Do you have to go thru all this <deleted> if you've been married for over 5 years and can show cohabitation for at least 3 of years?

You could be right about the written bit MM

page 38 at the bottom says that it can be on ordinary writing paper or a stat dec...I guess I looked at that as meaning a writing pad type paper....

The whole application and booklet can be very vague as to what is actually required...for instance the form says marriage cert is ok.....the booklet says No.

I guess just try and play it safe.

[david96]

Where were you married? Thailand or Australia? Offshore or onshore?

Spouse temporary visa (subclass 820) and permanent visa (subclass 801)

For people to stay in Australia with their partner, who must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. If two years after you apply the spousal relationship is ongoing, a permanent visa may be granted.

Spouse Temporary Visa (Subclass 309) and Permanent Visa (Subclass 100)

For people from overseas to enter and stay in Australia with their partner, who must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. If two years after you apply the spousal relationship is ongoing, a permanent visa may be granted.

Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)

For people from overseas to enter Australia, marry their fiance(e), who must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Once married, holders of this visa can then apply to remain permanently in Australia.

[david96]

The Form1127 (07/07) Partner Migration Book should not be read literally. It is a guide used by applicants worldwide for applications onshore and offshore.

Determine what subclass your partner is applying for, eg.

Subclass 300 or 309. 1 letter signed from applicant and 1 letter from the sponsor, may be handwritten, typed or printed with translations as required.

Subclass 100 or 801 2 Form 888s/ statutory declarations signed and witnessed may be handwritten, typed or printed. These are legal documents.

All the the forms required are in the partner migration package available from DIAC in Australia or at an Australian Embassy depending on whether the application is onshore or offshore.

[gburns57au]

Do you have to go thru all this <deleted> if you've been married for over 5 years and can show cohabitation for at least 3 of years?

Short answer is Yes........

But at least you will have plenty of evidential proof to the relationship

[gburns57au]

The Form1127 (07/07) Partner Migration Book should not be read literally. It is a guide used by applicants worldwide for applications onshore and offshore.

Determine what subclass your partner is applying for, eg.

Subclass 300 or 309. 1 letter signed from applicant and 1 letter from the sponsor, may be handwritten, typed or printed with translations as required.

Subclass 100 or 801 2 Form 888s/ statutory declarations signed and witnessed may be handwritten, typed or printed. These are legal documents.

All the the forms required are in the partner migration package available from DIAC in Australia or at an Australian Embassy depending on whether the application is onshore or offshore.

Onshore or offshore doesnt make a whole lot of difference....

Back to the 888 forms again....lets give a scenario here Dave........forget the book for a moment.

You put the application in without the 888 forms.....they can ask for the forms to be supplied or refuse the application as being incomplete.

Or you can supply the forms in the first instance and have no problems....

Which would you choose ???

The Booklet states quite clearly as I indicated before....that the 888 forms are required for the temporary spouse application....A member here has already told us that they were pedantic and demanded the 888 forms be used when his partner supplied standard Stat decs.

[Mighty Mouse]

I agree with you, Graham, it does seem pedantic to insist that the required information be recorded upon a special Form 888. It makes you wonder whether the forms are more important than the information but, as you have correctly suggested, is it worth having the application rejected because you have failed to follow instructions.

If you can't follow the simple visa application instructions, what are the chances that you won't be able to follow any imposed visa conditions.

The whole application process is performed by public servants. They operate like robots. If something is out of place they grind to a halt, so it's best to give 'em what they want.