G'day all,

I am an Australian citizen with a Thai wife. We live permanently here in Thailand.

We will visit Australia for 6 weeks next year and then return to Thailand. I have read the Australian Visa

info here and on the immigration website regarding visiting Oz by Thai partner. The info is inconclusive, so Im

wondering if someone here has actually done this and which visa did their wife use? We dont want to stay in Australia

so the migration temporary then permanent visa is not required. Is there a tourist visa that can be granted on the basis

of being married to an Australian citizen as opposed to having to do the whole employment, bank account, sponsorship thing?

Any experience or advice with this much appreciated.

Cheers....

Sub class 676 visa

Your wife will need to satisfy DIAC that her intention is to visit Australia as a 'genuine visitor' only. Unfortunately she will have to go through the same process as any other applicant applying for a tourist visa. This will involve the submission of whatever supporting documentation necessary to evidence that her intention is to visit Australia as a genuine visitor only.

As gburns57au has stated the most appropriate visa to apply for is a subclass 676 visa applied for on the Form 48R.

Attached is a useful information sheet from the Australian Embassy, Bangkok which may assist you:

VisitorVisa.pdf

Good Luck

Bridge

Bridge, if he is not a resident of Oz, even though he is a citizen, would a letter of invitation asist in this case?

Adam.

Bridge, if he is not a resident of Oz, even though he is a citizen, would a letter of invitation asist in this case?

Adam.

It will if it outlines the areas of financial support, etc. If they are staying with rellies then a letter from the rellies regards accommodation would also assist. He can also use it to outline his reasons for not wanting to do a spouse visa at this time.

Bridge, if he is not a resident of Oz, even though he is a citizen, would a letter of invitation asist in this case?

Adam.

It will if it outlines the areas of financial support, etc. If they are staying with rellies then a letter from the rellies regards accommodation would also assist. He can also use it to outline his reasons for not wanting to do a spouse visa at this time.

Anyone can supply a letter of support. What weight however that DIAC attaches to that letter of support (if any) will depend on many circumstances. In the OP's situation, he is an Australian citizen who lives permanently in Thailand but wants to visit Australia with his Thai wife for a holiday - sounds fair enough. As gburns57au has pointed out he can also use it to outline why not wanting to apply for a spouse visa.

It is my personal view that that the 48R in many cases doesn't allow an applicant to present a complete application to DIAC. Many applications fail simply because the applicant has failed to satisfy the decision maker that their intention is to visit Australia as a genuine visitor only as required by the Migration Regulations 1994. A thorough application will consist of more than just a completed 48R.