I have an Australian friend whose fiancé is going to apply to migrate to Australia. Does anyone know the best way to do that? Is she better off applying for a fiancé visa or apply as a woman married to an Australian? Is it better to marry here or in Australia?

He lives here and is back and forward to Australia and plans to take her with him on his trips. Will that be a problem as she waits for permanent residency?

Any advice will be gratefully received.

Best placed in Migration forum - moving with link left in CM forum.

Doesn't really matter either way.

There is no 'Marriage' Visas any more ... the classification is a 'Partner Visa'

There is a 'Fiancée' Visa.

The Partner Visa processing time is currently circa 9 - 12 months ... apparently longer if applied for in Australia.

Cheaper by AUD $1,000 if applied for in Thailand.

There are bunch of us going through the process now ... aussie-partner-processing-wait-times

Just some terminology ... it's your Australian friend's partner who is applying for the Visa, not your Aussie Mate ... he's an Aussie already!

If she has never travelled to Australia before, might be a good start to get her a Tourist Visa first to see if she likes it.

Cost if applied for in Thailand = AUD $3,000

Hope that kicks you off.

.

Prospective marriage visa. You have to get married once approved within 9 months.

Doesn't really matter either way.

There is no 'Marriage' Visas any more ... the classification is a 'Partner Visa'

There is a 'Fiancée' Visa.

The Partner Visa processing time is currently circa 9 - 12 months ... apparently longer if applied for in Australia.

Cheaper by AUD $1,000 if applied for in Thailand.

There are bunch of us going through the process now ... aussie-partner-processing-wait-times

Just some terminology ... it's your Australian friend's partner who is applying for the Visa, not your Aussie Mate ... he's an Aussie already!

If she has never travelled to Australia before, might be a good start to get her a Tourist Visa first to see if she likes it.

Cost if applied for in Thailand = AUD $3,000

Hope that kicks you off.

.

My friend plans to spend much of his time with his bride in Thailand with several visits to Oz a year. Is she going to later have a problem with this, not being permanently domiciled in Australia while waiting for permanent residency?

Doesn't really matter either way.

There is no 'Marriage' Visas any more ... the classification is a 'Partner Visa'

There is a 'Fiancée' Visa.

The Partner Visa processing time is currently circa 9 - 12 months ... apparently longer if applied for in Australia.

Cheaper by AUD $1,000 if applied for in Thailand.

There are bunch of us going through the process now ... aussie-partner-processing-wait-times

Just some terminology ... it's your Australian friend's partner who is applying for the Visa, not your Aussie Mate ... he's an Aussie already!

If she has never travelled to Australia before, might be a good start to get her a Tourist Visa first to see if she likes it.

Cost if applied for in Thailand = AUD $3,000

Hope that kicks you off.

.

My friend plans to spend much of his time with his bride in Thailand with several visits to Oz a year. Is she going to later have a problem with this, not being permanently domiciled in Australia while waiting for permanent residency?

As far as I know can pose problems for citizenship. Not sure about the PR

If he's spending most of his time in Thailand, it's better she gets a Tourist Visa. Generally less hassle (some members will argue against it) to arrange and if issued with a 12 month multi-entry visa it's pretty much what your mate should be looking at.

My wife has been on this type of visa (or under various guises of whatever it has been called) since 2011 and it works perfectly for us as I live and work here but do travel back home every couple of months and my wife (with the odd exception) will travel with me.

Eventually we'll go down the permanent partner visa, citizenship etc etc etc... but for now the Tourist Visa works...

As for it affecting the outcome of applying for citizenship and living outside of Australia, so long as you can provide evidence of maintaining a "close and continuing" relationship with Australia the outcome shouldn't be affected negatively.

Thanks everyone. I have passed on your thoughts and advice to my mate.