Spouse Visa For Australia

[taxidriver]

Hi, My wife and I have been living in Thailand together and we married last March so I changed my visa to a non-imm O. We lived in a defacto relationship before this. Sometime over the next year we would like to live in Oz. I picked up an information booklet and application forms, I had a quick look and I need a bit of help with some questions:

* Do we have to be married 12 months before applying? or can it be a combination of the whole relationship(defacto/married)?

* I'm supporting my wife here on a non-imm O, so will I have to gain employment before we apply? I'm sure many blokes have been in this situation, finding a job is not an easy thing to do outside of Oz, but it is possible for me. Anyone have any ideas that have worked in the past? I'd rather chase the best one over there and how am I supposed to have a proper starting date? There must be something people do if they have been living here a while.

*Could my non-imm O be used as evidence of support etc ? There's a lot of evidence already been proven by Thai authorities, it must count for something.

*I already have a desirable career, but i'm also doing a part-time Uni degree(fee paying), should I tell them or keep my mouth shut?

* We have never had or needed a joint-bank account, but I might do it for this visa, how long is acceptable time to DIMIA officials?

If anyone has had any experiences or knowledge of this I'd appreciate your help.

Thanks!

[gburns57au]

Hi, My wife and I have been living in Thailand together and we married last March so I changed my visa to a non-imm O. We lived in a defacto relationship before this. Sometime over the next year we would like to live in Oz. I picked up an information booklet and application forms, I had a quick look and I need a bit of help with some questions:

* Do we have to be married 12 months before applying? or can it be a combination of the whole relationship(defacto/married)?

* I'm supporting my wife here on a non-imm O, so will I have to gain employment before we apply? I'm sure many blokes have been in this situation, finding a job is not an easy thing to do outside of Oz, but it is possible for me. Anyone have any ideas that have worked in the past? I'd rather chase the best one over there and how am I supposed to have a proper starting date? There must be something people do if they have been living here a while.

*Could my non-imm O be used as evidence of support etc ? There's a lot of evidence already been proven by Thai authorities, it must count for something.

*I already have a desirable career, but i'm also doing a part-time Uni degree(fee paying), should I tell them or keep my mouth shut?

* We have never had or needed a joint-bank account, but I might do it for this visa, how long is acceptable time to DIMIA officials?

If anyone has had any experiences or knowledge of this I'd appreciate your help.

Thanks!

try this website....

www.immi.gov.au

This should be of a help to you....

[taxidriver]

Thanks! Iv'e looked at that site and I know most of what is required but does anyone know about having a job lined up if been living in Thailand?Or are all the Aussies who have been in this situation before not floating around in this site this week? Do I arrange a job before going for her visa or will funds in the bank suffice?

[gburns57au]

Thanks! Iv'e looked at that site and I know most of what is required but does anyone know about having a job lined up if been living in Thailand?Or are all the Aussies who have been in this situation before not floating around in this site this week? Do I arrange a job before going for her visa or will funds in the bank suffice?

Your situation is not so common....that maybe why there is a lack of replies.

As long as you have proof of the defacto relationship, then it will count as being married. Your visa status may not be enough proof on its own for the Oz Authorities. You need as much as you can get. Your wedding certificate after March should be ok.

As an Aussie (I think) you wont have any trouble but it maybe hard to get a spouse visa for the missus without any prove of income. You may need to come here and get a job first then apply for her to come over. You basically have to sponsor her to come over.

Your Uni Course shouldnt be a prob at all and they probably wouldnt want to know about it.....They only worry about your earnings not your spending.

Joint bank account wouldnt be necessary after March if you have the Marriage certificate but as added proof of the relationship it could come in handy.

Dont take this as gospel, You really need to contact the immigration here and find out the answers to your specific requirements.

[taxidriver]

Thanks gburns! I have heaps of proof and I can get a well paying job easy enough but I would like to get a job from here first,but it could be difficult as far as starting dates etc are concerned.The joint bank account serves no purpose to us and how we live,it would only be to satisfy them.It would have to be a Thai bank anyhow.I would have thought that 50% of people with Thai partners would be in my situation and the rest would be living at home working,sending emails or calling each other everyday.

[Pink Mist]

you dont have to be married for 1 year before applying, as soon as you are legally married then apply.

as far as the authorities are concerned as lon as she wont be a burden on the oz taxpayer for 2 years then you should be ok, you will be sponsering her so a few bucks in the bank will be helpfull. a job would be good beforehand but if you have a stable work history in LOS with a reasonably employable vocation that should go in your favour.

get your application in asap somet6imes tyhey can take a while.

[gburns57au]

Thanks gburns! I have heaps of proof and I can get a well paying job easy enough but I would like to get a job from here first,but it could be difficult as far as starting dates etc are concerned.The joint bank account serves no purpose to us and how we live,it would only be to satisfy them.It would have to be a Thai bank anyhow.I would have thought that 50% of people with Thai partners would be in my situation and the rest would be living at home working,sending emails or calling each other everyday.

What makes your situation different is that you are both living there and you married her while you were living there, and now wish to come back here.

Most guys marry there and go to live there, never to return. Bring the girls here to marry and live here or marry them there on a holiday and bring them back here. Most would have jobs here already or would be retiring. It is your employment situation that sets you apart from most people.

Still nothing is impossible, If you can get your dates sorted out and get confirmation of employment here, it would be a great help to you.

Good Luck..

[chuckygobyebye]

You're lining yourself up for a lot of no fun.

Firstly, did you know a spouse visa can take up to 12 months to issue?

Secondly, the non-refundable application is Bt36,000.

Thirdly, I don't know about the Aussie embassy here but if they're like every other embassy I've ever delt with they're a sack of a-holes and there are lots of 'unwritten rules' about which applications are accepted.

I would recommend that you get your wife a tourist visa here and then apply for residency when you both get there (she gets a bridging-visa while her applicaiton is under consideration) and talk to an immigration agent. If you do apply for a spouse visa here, you _must_ do all you can to show that your relationship is a genuine one. Letters, photos, evidence of travel together are all good.

[neverburi]

Secondly, the non-refundable application is Bt36,000.

[Artisi]

I have just been through it, it was a lot of work getting all the paper work together - but after delivering the last piece of the jig-saw - the Thai police report for my wife- approval came thru 2 days later.

You have to show that you have an ongoing and committed marriage - supported by at least 2 Stat. Decs. - preferably from 2 aussie citizens. An extensive letter from both of you explaining how you meet, how the relationship developed - how you live together now and share your life. Photo's of you together with other friends etc.

All that immigration is looking for is that you have a genuine marriage and that you can support each other if you move to Aust.

If you haven't got the booklet which explains everything to you in clrear language- I suggest you get it and read it carefully.

[RJJ]

It is not impossible to get the Visa for Australia, although they make it as hard as they can because there are many people trying to come to Australia, and everyone they process in this manner is one fewer that can immigrate using the non-invited queue (currently approx 10 years wait).

In February this year, my fiance and I successfully applied for a Prospective Marriage Visa (also known as Fiance Visa). This gives up to 9 months entry into Australia.

After we married in Australia, I thought I would just stroll into DIMIA and show the marriage certificate and that would be it, but no, someone has to fund the DIMIA retirement fund. That means it is a brand new FULL application for the Spouse Visa, which I lodged today. (Wish us luck).

I didn't know what had to be done to get the Visa, so I went to a horrible little man in Pattaya to assist us with our application. I call him a horrible little man because he sucked 75,000 baht out of me before he would give any assistance. Extremely expensive, but he did have all the answers. (He used to have a mail order bride business in London)

There is a huge list of things they want to see, but the main points are:

1) the continuing relationship (that this is not being done just for entry into Aus)

2) your financial situation will not put any strain on the social security. She will not be entitled to claim any benifits for 2 years, but they want to make sure YOU are not living on the DOLE too.

3) Stat Decs from as many people as you both know that you are a genuine couple

4) Lots of photos of both of you. Many of my photos were without me, because I was holding the camera. Buy a tripod or get someone else to take some happy snaps.

5) They do like to see a common bank account, or at least transfers between your accounts to show common financial situation.

6) Kids??? Is she pregnant or do you have a child between you? We have an 11 month old boy. This really boosts the bonus points.

In BKK the Spouse visa can take between 2 and 9 months. 9 months is where there is a unfavourable police report and bad history, etc.

You will need to get the police clearance report, which generally takes 15 working days, unless you pay the unofficial "Hurry Up" fee, where it will be ready in 2-3 days. Save baht and apply now.

You will also need the health clearance check.

The easiest place to get that is in the soi opposite the Australian Embassy in Sathorn Road. Can't remember the name of the hospital, but it is only 500 meters away.

If you are legally married in Thailand, you need to sign a special Stat Dec at the Australian Embassy. This Stat Dec is already filled out, you just need to add your names and is available at the Consular Section of the Embassy.

Get the information pack and read it again and again.

There is a fair bit of information on the forms you need to fill out too (Forms 40SP and 47SP)

Download them from the Internet. http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/books1.htm#how

Good Luck.

PS, The Immigration section is only open in the morning, but the Consular section is open all day. If you really need to see the Immigration people, tell the front gate you are going to see Consular section. Both sections are on the same floor. Smart hey? I used this method 3 times.

[redctt]

I take it that you are legaly married and you have australian citizenship,and not knowing your financial situation ie how are you are supporting your wife and yourself while living in thailand.

But the main thing is, you need to have a job in Oz to show that you can financialy support both of you,(unless you have won the lottery LOL ).

Then you would need to apply for a spouse visa for your TG,and that can take some time.

I know of 2 guys who married in thailand and wanted to bring thier wifes here,one applied in July 2002 and got the visa in 8 weeks, the other guy applied in december 2002 and finaly got the visa early this year (some 2 yr difference) now i dont know why that was so, as they both had decent paying jobs, all i can say it must have something to do with thier personnal circumstances or that november/december is a very busy time for the embassy processing all the tourist visas?? who knows.

I applied for my TGs fiancee visa in early May 2003 and she got approval 6 weeks later.

But if you only had a buddhist wedding, its not legaly reconised here,and it would be so much easier for you to go the fiancee visa route,but you need to have that job in Oz.

Good luck with your application and dont give up, you may not get the visa first time around, even though its a lot of money, try again,because they will know you are serious about your intentions.

Cheers

Colin

[jtm]

I didn't know what had to be done to get the Visa, so I went to a horrible little man in Pattaya to assist us with our application. I call him a horrible little man because he sucked 75,000 baht out of me before he would give any assistance. Extremely expensive, but he did have all the answers. (He used to have a mail order bride business in London)

Hi there RJJ

I'm an Australian registered migration agent -married to my Thai wife for 13 years-and could have done it for half the price of your mate in Pattaya

Hope it all worked out OK

Cheers

[snoophound]

Was that including the dima fee??

Wow that spouse visa fee is getting expensive.

Guess it shows committment though.

Too many sex slavery cases in aus hitting the press.

Its normally not falangs involved ....the latest is chinese with a couple of indo or malay girls,but thai girls have been victims too.

The nett nett of it is Thai and Phillipino are unfairly singled out ,but chinese are everywhere,and usualy the ones not paying tax and doing the exploiting.

It really makes me wonder how they get in so easily.

I didn't know what had to be done to get the Visa, so I went to a horrible little man in Pattaya to assist us with our application. I call him a horrible little man because he sucked 75,000 baht out of me before he would give any assistance. Extremely expensive, but he did have all the answers. (He used to have a mail order bride business in London)

Hi there RJJ

I'm an Australian registered migration agent -married to my Thai wife for 13 years-and could have done it for half the price of your mate in Pattaya

Hope it all worked out OK

Cheers

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[simple1]

You have just wasted 75000 baht. By researching through thaivisa and Oz government web site/s you would have learned all you needed to know. All the info the ripoff artist gave you is in the public domain. Don't use agents, never, never unless you can't read...

[Khutan]

One thing they seem to have a constant interest in here is the "Genuine relationship" notion. Annoying though it may be.

So lots and lots of photo's and jount Bank accounts and rent recipts. I know the last 2 are a misnomer in this country - generally. Hope that helps.

They can (if they like) count the defacto period......

Basicly they enforce the act any way they like and it is not the same as the help line says.... The Help line in Australia is helpful, but they are not embassy staff, so cannot issue a visa.

Hope that helps.

[taxidriver]

Thanks everyone for all the info.My wife has no criminal or health problems and we have evidence (rent contracts,photos before , during & after the wedding)my parents

are even in the photos.

redctt- we are legally maried & I'm supporting her on money in my Thai bank it was part of the requirement to get the visa 400,000 bt + a fair bit in my Aus bank.

RJJ- No we haven't got kids yet and she isn't pregnant.

I guess we will piece together everything for the application and try our luck.

Can she do the health check before we go in and present it with the application?

In my application pack, I didn't see a list of accepted hospitals,where can I go & do we just take in the results or what?The booklet wasn't too clear on that.

[RJJ]

Can she do the health check before we go in and present it with the application?

In my application pack, I didn't see a list of accepted hospitals,where can I go & do we just take in the results or what?The booklet wasn't too clear on that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The list is on the australian embassy website: http://www.austembassy.or.th/visas/approve_doctors_eng.php

It suggests you make an appointment, but went there on a weekday and were finished in an hour or so. Take your passports with you to the hospital.

Because we already had already submitted our application, the hospital used our reference number and delivered the report to the embassy.

We went to this hospital: (It is in the soi almost directly opposite the Aus embassy, about 300 meters walk)

The police report takes the longest time. That is the one you should jump on ASAP.

[Pink Mist]

you should have recieved an official document for the medico's to fill out when they do the examination, also a list of recognised hospitals that can do the job.

from memory you get these at the initial interview/briefing, along with a heap of other paper work

you have got to have all the stuff ready for the first interview with a your case officer.

[taxidriver]

I only recieved 3 forms, 40SP & 47SP and settlement details form and also the help booklet.

Should I go back and get the medical check form?

Bronco, are there 2 interviews? So do we fill out the 2 forms, go there have an interview & recieve more paper work, then go fill that out and go back again?

Is there a form for police clearence?

Can we fill out the 47SP form together, part L question 87 goes on about migration agent????

Also not clear on sponsers, if my mother sponsers us what does she provide?

Stat decs, my mum and her husband are the only Oz citizens that have met her,will they be able to write the sta decs?

Sorry to ask so much, but I want to get it right. Thanks!

[Pink Mist]

We got all the medical and police check forms at the initial briefing, it's not really an interview, it's where you initially lodge your application, an embassy worker should explain the process, and you can submit your evidence of relationship ie pictures, correspondance, translated marriage certificate etc at this stage. The worker should make an appointment for an interview with a case worker, we had a 3 month wait.

The forms for the police clearance consist of an introduction, the special branch address, a list of things required for submission. It was slightly outdated, just take a couple of passport photos and the rest of the stuff mentioned it's that easy.

Stat decs are handy, also remember that people who havn't met your wife can write them for you, in my case, my friends and bosses at work wrote some attesting to the fact that I was a lot happier, settled and seemed devoted etc ( just an idea for you)

You will be sponsoring your wife.

Question 87, is really about getting help with the application from an outside agency, from memory we left that blank and enquired at the briefing whether I needed to complete that question as the person who filled the form out, cant remember the outcome but it's no big deal.

Edited November 20, 2004 by bronco

[taxidriver]

Thanks a lot for the information! It's clearer now

One more question: form 47SP question 73. Evidence of family members who have served in the armed forces. Her grandfather has retired from the airforce and her uncle still works in the airforce, her father did but he has passed away.

On her mum's side, her uncle works in the army.

These are all office jobs. Has anyone been through this and why do they want this evidence? It should be fun getting all of this together.

[Pink Mist]

I think you mean Q 79, it says "people included in this application" aand by that it means people applying for a visa in the application ie a son or daughter.

My wife has a brother serving in the army and her father also served untill his death, I put no and n/a for Q 80, again if you want just leave it blank and ask when you submit your form.

[taxidriver]

They must have updated the form because Q 73 is about the armed forces only and Q 79 is assistance in completing form, Q80 asks if the agent is registered.

Q 9 now asks whether any dependants are migrating with her (in our case no).

Q 37 asks fof her family details.

Q 58 asks her for my family details.

The design date for this form is 07/04 , so they changed/updated this year, but I still don't know why they need info on people in armed forces (just curious) maybe for security reasons incase any aussies are marrying into terrorist families.

I'll get the copies of their rank, discharge papers etc, but what a bloody hassle.

Cheers!

[Pink Mist]

Taxidriver I was looking at a form from the Oz immigration link in the pinned topic "Links to Immigration Sites", that has a design date of 11/04, hence the confusion.

As I said in another post, my wife still has a brother serving in the army, but he is not included in the application so I didnt bother with that question.

Have a read of the form in the Oz immigration site, that maybe clearer.

regards

Edited November 23, 2004 by bronco