FAMILY VISAS
There are three kinds of visas that can be applied for on the basis of your family relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
1. Parent Visas. If you have a child who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and is willing to sponsor you, you can apply for a permanent or temporary Australian visa. Parent visas can be applied for inside or outside Australia. Parent visas can be very expensive and / or have very long queues, and you need expert advice to help you decide which visa is the right parent visa for you.
2. Child visas. If you have a parent who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and who is willing to sponsor you, you can apply for an Australian visa. Some visas require you to be dependent on you parent(s) and others do not, so you need to ensure that you apply for the correct kind of visa.
3. Partners. If you are married to, or in a de facto relationship with and Australian citizen or permanent resident, you can apply for an Australian visa. There are a number of different kinds of partner visa, and all have at least two stages.
a. Offshore partner visas (subclasses 100 and 309)- for people currently outside Australian. You apply for both subclasses of visa at once. If your application is successful, you will be granted a subclass 309 visa, which lasts for at least two years, and allows you to enter Australia. If you relationship is still genuine and continuing after that period, or if other humanitarian and compassionate circumstances apply, you will be granted a permanent subclass 100 visa.
b. Onshore partner visas (subclasses 801 and 820)- for people currently in Australia. You apply for both subclasses of visa at once. If your application is successful, you will be granted a subclass 820 visa, which will last for at least two years. If your relationship is still genuine and continuing after that period, or if other humanitarian and compassionate circumstances apply, you will be granted a permanent subclass 801 visa.
c. Prospective spouse visa (subclass 309)- for applicants intending to marry in Australia. This visa is applied for overseas, and allows you to enter Australia and marry your fiancé(e). After you are married, you apply for a subclass 801 and 820 visa in the same way as above.
All partner visas require extensive documentation to prove the existence of a "genuine and continuing relationship". The can be a daunting process and I can help you provide everything you need to DIAC.
