Have you fallen in love with an Australian citizen or permanent resident and want to get married Down Under? Or do you want to bring your beautiful girlfriend to live with you in Australia? The prospective marriage visa is your chance to live out your fairy tale in one of the most beautiful and liveable countries on Earth.
But applying for this visa is no simple task. Approval rates are low, timelines are long, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. One mistake could shatter your dreams of building a life with your partner.
Applying for a prospective marriage visa in Australia is one of the most important decisions you will ever make in your life. This visa application provides a pathway to permanent residency in Australia – an opportunity that most people only dream of.
Being granted permanent residency means having the chance to live, work and study in Australia indefinitely. It opens doors to amazing job opportunities, world-class education, quality healthcare, and a high standard of living. For many, it is a life-changing milestone.
That’s why you should treat your prospective marriage visa application seriously and do everything you can to ensure success on your first try. A refusal could set you back years.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the prospective marriage visa, from eligibility to tips for creating a bulletproof application. Follow our advice, and your happily ever after in Australia awaits.
Eligibility for Prospective Marriage Visa
To be eligible for a Prospective Marriage Visa in Australia, you must meet certain requirements:
- You must be outside Australia when you apply for this visa.
- After this visa being granted, you must have a genuine intention to marry your partner within 9 months of arriving in Australia.
- Your partner must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Both you and your partner must be free to marry – that is, not already legally married to someone else.
- If either you or your partner have been married before, you must provide evidence that those marriages have ended (through divorce, annulment, or your former spouse passing away).
- You and your partner must have met in person at least once. The nature of your relationship must be genuine and continuing.
- You must be over 18 years of age. If you are under 18, you will need support from your parents or guardians and proof of age-appropriate relationship skills.
- You must meet health and character requirements. You will need to undergo medical examinations and provide police certificates to show you are of good character.
- You and your partner will need to provide evidence that your relationship is genuine, including proof that you have been in regular contact with each other. Examples include photos together, communication records, evidence of financial support, and statements from friends and family about your relationship.
The Department of Home Affairs assesses Prospective Marriage Visa applications very carefully. You must demonstrate that you and your partner have a real intention to marry and live together permanently once you move to Australia.
Applying for your Prospective Marriage Visa With or Without a Lawyer
Prospective marriage visa applications are complex, with many details that must be correct to avoid refusal. Without expertise, it’s easy to make mistakes that lead to refusal.
Statistics show that applications prepared without a specialised immigration lawyer have a much higher refusal rate. Common issues include:
- Not meeting the legal criteria and evidentiary requirements
- Inconsistencies in statements and supporting documents
- Failure to adequately demonstrate a genuine relationship
- Visa conditions and processes not properly followed
A specialised immigration lawyer intimately understands all legal requirements and how to avoid common pitfalls. They ensure that your application fully complies with regulations and is optimally presented to give you the highest chance of success.
With a lawyer, refusal rates for prospective marriage visas are far lower. Their expertise results in comprehensively prepared applications that satisfy decision makers.
Rather than risking refusal, it’s wise to engage a top immigration lawyer right from the start. Though an added expense, their knowledge and skills provide essential value that helps lead to the ultimate goal – visa approval and a happy life in Australia.
Why Choose a Lawyer Over Agent
When applying for a prospective marriage visa, it’s important to understand the difference between using a migration lawyer versus a migration agent. Here are some key considerations:
- Training and qualifications. Migration lawyers must complete extensive legal training, including a law degree, diploma of legal practice, and admission as a lawyer. This takes at least 5 years of full-time study. Migration agents complete a much shorter training program, often just a 6 month course.
- Legal expertise. As trained lawyers, migration lawyers have expertise in interpreting complex visa regulations and legislation. They can analyse laws, find gaps or ambiguities, and construct strong legal arguments, which migration agents lack the qualifications to do. This can make all the difference for a successful visa outcome.
- Experience with appeals and reviews. If an application runs into problems, a migration lawyer’s legal background prepares them to launch appeals or reviews of decisions through administrative tribunals and courts. Most agents cannot assist with appeals.
- Regulation and ethics. Lawyers are closely regulated with strict rules of professional conduct to protect clients. Agents have a less stringent regulatory regime with fewer consequences for unethical actions.
- Higher success rates. Statistics show visa applicants using a migration lawyer have measurably higher success rates compared to self-applications or those using an agent. Legal expertise counts.
Why you Should Consider Gold Migration Lawyers for your Prospective Marriage Visa
Gold Migration Lawyers are specialists in prospective marriage visas, having prepared and lodged thousands of these applications since 2009. Our lawyers have an in-depth understanding of the requirements and intricacies of prospective marriage visas that more generic immigration lawyers and agents lack.
Over the past 14 years, we’ve achieved extraordinary success rates with prospective marriage visa applications. We take great pride in our 100% approval record, having never had an application refused. Our extensive experience allows us to prepare watertight applications that maximize the chances of success.
At Gold Migration Lawyers, partner visas are all we do. We are not a jack-of-all-trades firm that handles every type of visa. Our focus on prospective marriage visas makes us true experts in this field. We stay on top of all the latest regulations, policies, and trends regarding these visas to provide our clients with up-to-date, strategic advice.
With over a decade of specialization in prospective marriage visas, Gold Migration Lawyers have an unparalleled depth of expertise. We’ve handled hundreds of successful cases and can expertly guide clients through every step of the process. Our specialized knowledge offers clients the best chance for visa approval so they can begin their lives together in Australia. You can contact Gold Migration Lawyers on 1300 320 300.
“Gold Migration Lawyers were lifesavers for my prospective marriage visa application. Their knowledge of the process was extensive and they paid attention to every detail. I got my visa approved in record time. I’m very grateful I hired them.” ★★★★★
How to Avoid Delays and Refusals
When lodging your prospective marriage visa application, it is absolutely critical that you submit a complete application from the outset. This means including all required documents and information to satisfy the Department of Home Affairs’ criteria.
If your application is incomplete or missing key details, the Department will almost certainly issue a Request for More Information (RFI). This means your application goes into a delay as you scramble to provide additional documents within a short timeframe – usually just 21 days.
Failure to adequately respond to an RFI by the deadline will lead to certain refusal of your prospective marriage visa. Even if you do respond in time, it causes significant delays to processing as your file goes back into the queue.
RFIs also cast doubt in the eyes of case officers, and may lead to additional scrutiny and questioning of your relationship credentials.
Unfortunately, most prospective marriage visa applications lodged without expert assistance face multiple RFIs, what can easily extend your visa processing time to many years if not refused. Key information and supporting evidence is routinely missed by applicants unfamiliar with the process.
At Gold Migration Lawyers, our experienced attorneys complete extensive preparation to ensure no stone is left unturned. We proactively submit a mountain of relationship evidence upfront, avoiding the need for any RFI.
This allows your application to be processed smoothly and efficiently. Our full and complete submissions on the first try avoid frustrating delays, repeated RFIs, and the risk of refusal.
Gold Migration’s Expertise In Prospective Marriage Visas
Gold Migration Lawyers has a proven track record of successfully preparing and lodging complete prospective marriage visa applications. Some key highlights that demonstrate our expertise:
- Our lawyers have been featured in Authority Magazine as top lawyers in prospective marriage visas. Authority Magazine interviews celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton, Shaquille O’Neal and more, so being featured is a great honour and proof of expertise.
- In 2023, Gold Migration Lawyers won the award for being the best migration firm for prospective marriage visas in Australia by Top Experts. After a strict ranking process with mystery shoppers and reviews, we were named one of the best.
- We regularly achieve fast processing times for clients. On November 2, 2023 a UK national who hired us got approval in just 3 months and 5 days. On March 10, 2023, an Indian National got approval in just 4 months. On March 14, 2023, a Filipino client got approval in only 5 months and 15 days.
- Our lawyers focus exclusively on partner visas. We are true specialists, while other firms simply dabble in this visa as one of many they handle. Our expertise delivers better results.
- Since 2009 we have done thousands of prospective marriage visas day in and day out. Over a decade of specialised experience translates into excellent visa approvals.
“Excellent services! I was feeling lost with my visa application until I hired Gold Migration Lawyers. They prepared all the paperwork for my fiancé visa perfectly. Their expertise gave me great peace of mind. I could not have done this without their help.” ★★★★★
Don’t Delay – Book Your Consultation Today! Let’s review your specific situation, answer any questions you have, and customise a solution…
You only have one chance to get your prospective marriage visa application right. Book a consultation with the proven experts at Gold Migration Lawyers to ensure your application is lodged accurately, thoroughly and efficiently the first time.
Unlike agents or lawyers without specific expertise in this visa subclass, our lawyers exclusively focus on partner visas day in and day out. We know exactly what the Department of Home Affairs is looking for and how to prove your relationship is genuine.
With a 100% approval rate, our specialised legal team will maximize your chances for a quick visa grant. We’ve already helped thousands of couples from around the world successfully navigate the application process.
Client Testimonials (GOOGLE REVIEWS)
“Gold Migration Lawyers are simply the best. I was referred to them by a friend who had a great experience with their prospective marriage visa application. From my first phone consultation to getting my visa approved, they made the entire process easy and stress-free. Their attention to detail is phenomenal.”
★★★★★
“I cannot speak highly enough of this firm. They handled my partner visa application swiftly and efficiently, answering all my questions along the way. They made what could have been a complicated process very smooth. I received my visa much faster than expected!”
★★★★★
“Excellent services! I was feeling lost with my visa application until I hired Gold Migration Lawyers. They prepared all the paperwork for my fiancé visa perfectly. Their expertise gave me great peace of mind. I could not have done this without their help.”
★★★★★
“Gold Migration Lawyers provided outstanding service. I was very anxious about my prospective marriage visa application, but they reassured me every step of the way. Their personal touch and attention to detail was amazing. Highly recommended!”
★★★★★
“I found their expertise in partner visas to be unmatched. Every item of my application was thoroughly checked and double checked before lodging. I received my visa approval incredibly fast. Money well spent for their services.”
★★★★★
“The team was always available to answer any questions I had about my fiancé visa application. I really appreciated their step-by-step guidance. My application went smoothly and my visa was granted without any issues. Thank you!”
★★★★★
“Gold Migration Lawyers were lifesavers for my prospective marriage visa application. Their knowledge of the process was extensive and they paid attention to every detail. I got my visa approved in record time. I’m very grateful I hired them.”
★★★★★
“I highly recommend Gold Migration Lawyers for partner and fiancé visas. They prepared an airtight application for my prospective marriage visa. Their expertise was obvious throughout the process. I could not be happier with the outcome.”
★★★★★
“The team at Gold Migration Lawyers were consummate professionals from start to finish. My fiancé and I felt very comfortable placing our application in their capable hands. We received our visa quickly with no issues. Money well spent!”
★★★★★