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Should I apply for a Partner Visa for my Thai girlfriend from Thailand or from Australia?
Partner VisaAustraliaThai GirlfriendVisa Application ProcessImmigration AdviceOnshore vs Offshore ApplicationsBridging VisaVisa AgentsTourist VisaVisa Costs
Dec 3, 2024
a year ago
Gregory **********
ORIGINAL POSTERI have a Thai girlfriend, known for 3 years, travelled back and forward to see her. She has spent 3 mths in Australia on tourist Visa last year. I am now looking at a Partner Visa so she can live with me in Australia. What is your advice on whether to get her to apply from Thailand or I do all the paper work from here. I used a Thai Visa Agent to get Tourist Visa to make sure I made no mistakes. Any constructive advice would be appreciated.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the best approach for applying for a Partner Visa for a Thai girlfriend to live in Australia. The user considers whether to initiate the application process while she is in Thailand or after bringing her to Australia on a tourist visa. Comments provide various insights, suggesting that applying from Australia is preferable due to benefits such as bridging visas and quicker processing times. Various experiences and recommendations including costs and the role of immigration agents are also shared, emphasizing the importance of strong documentation to support the application.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Thai Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Samuel ********
Let’s be honest, it’s a Disneyland holiday relationship.
Unless you actually lived in Thailand like me for prolonged period. Actually have a relationship you can substantiate, they person actually has something to offer to Australia they will get a visa.
My girlfriend recently was granted an Australian visa and will be moving over in a couple months once I get everything ready.
Unless you actually lived in Thailand like me for prolonged period. Actually have a relationship you can substantiate, they person actually has something to offer to Australia they will get a visa.
My girlfriend recently was granted an Australian visa and will be moving over in a couple months once I get everything ready.
Mitch ********
Just finished my partner visa with my.partner. was easy enough. Used an agent based in Australia. And applied for the visa while my Thai partner was in Australia on a tourist visa that way she could stay in Australia on the bridging visa. Needed a lot of photos together and with friends and family and proof of messages.
Probably could do it without an agent but they made everything super easy. Did everything and made sure they constantly made sure we were on top of sending them all our evidence and paperwork
Probably could do it without an agent but they made everything super easy. Did everything and made sure they constantly made sure we were on top of sending them all our evidence and paperwork
Steve ********
I did one for a friend of mine and his partner a couple of years ago. I live in Thailand, as did they, so the application was submitted from here. I believe the cost was about AU$ 7900 with no agents fees, as I did it. If you can work your way around the bureaucracy, and the not user friendly online application, it’s doable yourself.
David **********
@Steve *******
cost now more like $11,000 plus it was about $10,000 for me recently but has gone up this financial year a lot .Ray *********
What do you expect from a convict government! bunch of crooks and if they say no it's all gone, I wish I could do business the way they do, thanks for the money, but.....
Steve ********
@David *********
Ouch, that's a substantial increase.Reply to
Steve ********
Reply
Ray *********
@Steve *******
I did similar for my daughter's husband back in *******
same price or near enough, can't remember how long they waited for their approval. You are correct it's doable, if I remember correctly we needed photo's of her and her husband together at different gatherings.Reply to
Ray *********
Reply
Kev *********
The application is made via Australian ImmiAccount. They will guide you with regards what documents you need. The decision can take up to 1 year for a settlement visa. Pm me.
Steve ********
@Kev ********
I helped a friend and his Thai girlfriend apply for one a couple of years ago and it was granted in less than a month, so obviously there are variations in timescales.Kev *********
@Steve *******
for sure, circumstances too. As I said a decision CAN take up to a year. Was the application for visitor or settlement?Steve ********
@Kev ********
SettlementKev *********
@Steve *******
That's really quick Steve. Well done.Steve ********
@Kev ********
Got lucky I guess. But the application was like writing War and Peace, maybe they got bored reading it. On a separate occasion, in 2007, I applied in the UK for permanent residency in Australia. I obviously fulfilled the criteria, and having submitted a box file full of paperwork, in person, to the Aussie Embassy in the Strand, I was granted my permanent residency within 24 hours!Kev *********
@Steve *******
great. The biggest application I handled for Australia involved a Thai that had been deported for not being in a de facto marriage. It looked that way because her husband's illness developed after 4 years together, prevented them from living together ****
- only together 3 days a week ( work commitments of the lady). Long story. I produced doctors reports, information of medication, testaments from close friends etc. Took me 6 weeks to get everything ready to present to Australian immigration. She was approved for settlement but they deliberated for a year. My closing statement was to ask Australian immigration if a terminally ill citizen was hospitalised to receive palliative care preventing a couple being together, would this be considered a non de facto relationship. Incidentally, the husband was critically ill. Very sad because they were a genuine couple fighting his illness and separation.Steve ********
@Kev ********
You are to be commended for the effort you put into that application. One of the problems with may visa agents is that they are in it for the money, they don’t actually care about their clients. I’ve helped many friends apply for various visas and I put the kind of effort, care and attention into it as if I was applying for myself.Kev *********
@Steve *******
Thanks buddy. The greatest payment is seeing people happy. More than once I've choked back tears. Old softy lolReply to
Kev *********
Reply
Wayne ********
Not from Australia was just wondering is a partner visa the same as a marriage visa? And are they calling it a partner visa just to be politically correct?
Steve ********
@Wayne *******
Basically, yes. In Australia they have a term 'de facto' which unlike the UK 'common law', is a legal status, so you can apply for what is called a partner visa, even if you are not actually married, but are in a provable 'de facto' relationship. The United Kingdom does not recognise common law marriage. That said, the rules in the UK may have changed, I've been out of that loop for some years, but I do believe they have a legal partnership status now. There was certainly a point in time, back in the 90's, when if you were in a hetrosexual relationship and you could get married, i.e. you were not barred from doing so because you were already married, then to get residence status for your partner, you had to marry. I know that because it happened to me. The irony was that if you were already married, but not divorced, or you were in a same sex relationship, so in both cases you could not get married, then you could apply for residential status for your partner. This was before the The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act of 2013 came into force in the UK in March 2014.Ray *********
@Wayne *******
most likely with our woke governmentReply to
Ray *********
Reply
Steve *******
NEVER EVER take them home. Omg amature hour. Don't do it. 75% end in her running off with someone else. Don't mix your worlds.
David **********
@Steve ******
well it's a pretty fragile relationship tk start with if it can't survive that.Reply to
David **********
Reply
David **********
Do it yourself. It's easy. I answered all the questions except maybe 2 or 3 and Visa Centre sorted answers for free the day I handed the Application in. 6monthTourist Visa is the easiest. Then we had a Child and did a 6month Family Visa. Then did the hardest one which was the Right to Remain / Marriage Visa. ALL done in Bangkok.
Xjwhudkwhry ********
'travelled back and forth to see her'. If you've never lived together she's definitely NOT your GF lol, not only yours anyways ;) use your head, the one that is on your shoulders...
Ryan ****
Visa fee is up around $9k, $3k+ for an agent then allow another $1k for police checks, translations etc.
I did the application for my wife without an agent but if you want to do that be prepared to put in countless hours of research to work out how to put together a quality application.
My wife had a multi entry tourist visa, so we did the partner visa application onshore. We got the approval very quick and without any RFIs.
We were married before she moved here and then by the time of the stage 2 application had a son.
I did the application for my wife without an agent but if you want to do that be prepared to put in countless hours of research to work out how to put together a quality application.
My wife had a multi entry tourist visa, so we did the partner visa application onshore. We got the approval very quick and without any RFIs.
We were married before she moved here and then by the time of the stage 2 application had a son.
Floyd ******
The PMV 300 is another option. We went this route without an agent. Was approved in 4 months.
Chaz ******
Do it in Bangkok
Dean ********
Do all the paperwork in Australia buddy, I'm currently going through the visa process for my wife
Sammi ******
Greg, I used this company successfully in Melbourne run by Thais. Also started off with a tourist visa, then student visa to improve my partner's English. You can then make the application from within Australia and no need to leave, because she will be on a bridging visa while a decision is being made.
David **********
@Sammi *****
this is all very easy to do without paying many thousands to an agent. Just did it myself recently and was surprised how easy it was just a lot of boring paperwork.Jae *****
@Sammi *****
A Bridging Visa does not automatically grant the applicant permission to leave the country and most importantly is the permission to work. If the applicant departs, the entire application becomes invalid. Additionally, if the application is refused in accordance with the relevant subsection or section, the applicant must lodge a review application with the Tribunal. If the Tribunal upholds the minister delegate’s decision, the situation becomes more complicated, potentially requiring a Judicial Review or Ministerial Intervention. This process can take a very long time unless the applicant provides exceptionally strong supporting documentation.David **********
@Jae ****
a bridging B visa does exactly this. My wife has been in Australia now one year, we changed to bridging visa and now can come and go as she pleases from Australia.Sammi ******
@Jae ****
I never suggested leaving--I said there is "no need to leave". The Tribunal process is complicated, but I have never known anyone involved in it. A good agent will know your chances.Reply to
Sammi ******
Reply
Jae *****
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%20visa%20lets%20the%20de,Partner%20visa%20(subclass%*****
).Jae *****
You will find all the relevant information in this link, mate. I applied for my partner, and the process took almost two calendar years.
Reply to
Jae *****
Reply
David **********
I used an aussie migration agent but he has retired
Geoff *************
I did in Aust. Cost about $8000. Need good scanner/computer upload as much info as possible like photos, phone calls, plane tickets, references in Thailand and Australia. Day one you pay the money however the lady gets a Medicare card and is allowed to work. A lot of effort but can be done over time. It takes 12 months to obtain permanent residency.
Brent ********
Mate I can put you in touch with my Visa agent, he’s amazing and definitely knows his stuff.
Speak to
Simon Wetherel is amazing.
Below is a link to Simon’s profille if you want to get in touch.
//
Speak to
@Australian ****************
.Simon Wetherel is amazing.
Below is a link to Simon’s profille if you want to get in touch.
//
********************************************************
Jack ****************
What agent did you use for tourist visa?
Gregory **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jack ***************
knights pattayaReply to
Gregory **********
Reply
Ross ************
Have you had "no further stay" condition applied to her tourist visa? That condition will prevent a partner visa application in Australia. Partner visa just over $9,000, agent start $3k. It is not difficult to do a tourist visa application online. A 3 mth one may have better chance of not having "no further stay". Once in Australia apply for partner visa. This way your girlfriend gets to stay in Australia while partner visa under consideration. If you get no further stay you will have to wait until visa expired and start again. You can apply for partner visa offshore, girlfriend out of Australia, and still bring in on tourist visa while waiting for offshore partner visa outcome. Do your due diligence/research on Australia immigration for requirements and it is best to exceed vs underdone. Good luck.
Paul ********
******************************
Paul ********
My friend
Immigration lawyer Sydney will help
*********************
Immigration lawyer Sydney will help
Lawrence *******
It's all done from your country.
Marty ******
Get Aussie agent
Matthew *******
Much better to do it in Australia if possible as she will then be on a bridging visa while waiting for it to process, offshore you could be waiting up to 5yrs before if could be granted and she is then able to come to Aus
David **********
Do a partnership visa full residency would help if you flew over there and married her
David **********
Do it in Australia have photos and proof of relationship will take up to 12 months but it is worth the wait my wife has been here 5 years
Patricia ********
Better to get an Australian immigrant agent.
Ali ************
Did you check the cost? I think about AUD $8000 plus $2000 for the agent.
Matthew *******
@Ali ***********
moreFrank ******
@Ali ***********
moreDazza **********
@Ali ***********
and the restAndy **********
@Ali ***********
about the same for the u.k. .!Reply to
Andy **********
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