Partner Visa Financial Evidence

Partner visa financial evidence is the part of a partner visa application that shows how a couple shares money, assets, debts and household costs. The Department of Home Affairs must look at partner visa financial evidence because the financial aspects of the relationship are one of the matters the law requires a decision maker to consider. Strong partner visa financial evidence does not need to show wealth. It needs to show that two people manage their financial lives as a couple.

This guide explains what counts as partner visa financial evidence, how the Department assesses it, and how to present it. It covers joint accounts, leases and mortgages, shared bills, money transfers, financial support, beneficiary nominations and insurance. It also explains what to do if your income is modest, if you keep separate finances, if you married recently or if you have lived apart for a period. For the full picture of the partner visa process, see our complete guide to partner visas in Australia, and for advice on your own matter, our partner visa lawyers can review your documents before anything is lodged.

What is partner visa financial evidence?

Partner visa financial evidence is any document that shows the financial aspects of the relationship, as described in regulation 1.15A(3)(a) of the Migration Regulations 1994. It includes evidence of joint ownership of real estate or other major assets, joint liabilities, the pooling of financial resources, legal obligations one partner owes to the other, and the way the couple shares day-to-day household expenses.

In practice, partner visa financial evidence usually includes some or all of the following documents:

• statements for joint bank accounts, credit cards or loan accounts
• statements for personal accounts that show spending on shared costs such as rent, groceries, utilities and travel
• a joint lease, a mortgage, a contract of sale or a certificate of title in both names
• loan agreements for a car or other major item bought together
• utility, internet and phone bills in both names, or in one name with evidence that both partners contribute
• records of money transfers between the partners
• superannuation beneficiary nominations, life insurance policies and wills that name the other partner
• documents showing one partner is a guarantor for the other, or holds a power of attorney for the other

No single document is required. The Department looks at the relationship as a whole, and partner visa financial evidence is assessed together with the evidence about the household, the social aspects of the relationship and the couple's commitment. Our partner visa document checklist sets out the wider document list, and our guide to what evidence you need for a Subclass 820 partner visa covers the onshore application in detail.

What the law says about the financial aspects of the relationship

The law says that, when the Department considers a partner visa application based on marriage, it must consider all of the circumstances of the relationship, including the financial aspects of the relationship set out in regulation 1.15A(3)(a). This is the legal foundation for every request for partner visa financial evidence.

The five financial matters in regulation 1.15A(3)(a)

Regulation 1.15A(3)(a) lists five matters that make up the financial aspects of the relationship:

• any joint ownership of real estate or other major assets
• any joint liabilities
• the extent of any pooling of financial resources, especially in relation to major financial commitments
• whether one person in the relationship owes any legal obligation in respect of the other
• the basis of any sharing of day-to-day household expenses

The same five matters apply to unmarried couples under the parallel provision in regulation 1.09A(3)(a). The wording is deliberately broad. It does not demand joint property or a joint account. It asks how the couple deals with money, and partner visa financial evidence should answer that question directly.

Financial aspects are one of four aspects assessed together

The financial aspects of the relationship are one of four aspects the Department must consider. The other three are the nature of the household, the social aspects of the relationship and the nature of the couple's commitment to each other. The Department's own policy says that a decision maker must not simply count how many matters are satisfied and how many are not. The decision maker weighs all of the circumstances and decides, on balance, whether the relationship is genuine and continuing.

This matters for couples whose partner visa financial evidence is limited. A relationship can be accepted as genuine even where the financial evidence is modest, if the other aspects of the relationship are strong and the limited financial integration is properly explained. Equally, a large volume of financial documents will not save an application where the rest of the evidence does not support a genuine relationship. Our guide to partner visa relationship evidence explains how the four aspects fit together, and our article on preparing evidence of a genuine relationship explains how to build the evidence across all four.

The definition of spouse in section 5F

The four aspects support the test in section 5F of the Migration Act 1958. Under section 5F(2), a married couple must have a mutual commitment to a shared life as a married couple to the exclusion of all others, the relationship must be genuine and continuing, and the couple must live together or not live separately and apart on a permanent basis. Partner visa financial evidence is one of the main ways a couple shows the shared life that section 5F describes. A couple who shares a home, pays bills together and plans major purchases together is showing that shared life in documents.

Why partner visa financial evidence matters so much

Partner visa financial evidence matters because it is usually the most objective evidence in the application. A relationship statement and Form 888 supporting statements describe the relationship in words. Bank statements, leases and bills show the relationship in records created by third parties, often over months or years, and usually before anyone was thinking about a visa.

Decision makers know this. Where the financial records match the couple's account of their relationship, the records strengthen the whole application. Where they contradict it, for example where the couple says they have lived together for two years but every bill and statement shows different addresses, the contradiction becomes the focus. Many of the common reasons Subclass 820 partner visas are refused come back to evidence that does not match the couple's account. Our guide to why partner visas get refused explains the pattern.

For readers new to the process, our guides to what an immigration lawyer does in Australia, immigration lawyers across Australia and how to find, check and choose an Australian migration lawyer explain how professional help fits into a partner visa matter. The My Migration Lawyers blog also covers each stage of the partner visa in separate articles, and our partner visa lawyers guide explains what representation on a partner visa involves.

Partner visa financial evidence also matters at both stages of the application. It is assessed when the temporary visa is decided and again when the permanent visa is assessed. Our explainer on the difference between Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 explains how the two stages connect, and our Subclass 820 visa service page explains how we handle the onshore application.

Joint bank accounts as partner visa financial evidence

A joint bank account is useful partner visa financial evidence, but only when it is actually used. The Department's policy states that evidence that accounts have been operated with reasonable frequency and for a reasonable period of time is given more weight than recently opened accounts or accounts with few transactions.

How long should a joint account be open?

There is no minimum period set by law. The real test is whether the account shows ordinary shared financial life. A joint account opened two years ago and used every week for rent, groceries and bills is strong partner visa financial evidence. A joint account opened three weeks before lodgement with a single deposit is weak, and a decision maker may see it as created for the visa rather than for the relationship.

Couples who do not yet have a joint account should not panic, and should not open one only for the application. If a joint account is opened, it should be used for real shared spending from that point on. Over time it becomes stronger partner visa financial evidence, and it will be more useful at the permanent stage than at lodgement.

What the statements should show

Joint account statements are most persuasive when they show:

• deposits from both partners, such as salary or regular transfers
• payments for shared costs, such as rent, mortgage repayments, utilities, groceries and insurance
• activity across a meaningful period, rather than a few isolated months
• the names of both partners and the address of the shared home

Statements do not need to show large balances. A decision maker is looking at how the money moves, not how much there is. Couples are entitled to protect sensitive details, and partner visa financial evidence can be presented in a way that shows the relevant pattern without exposing every private transaction. This is discussed further in the section on presentation below.

Separate accounts can still show shared costs

Many couples keep separate accounts, and the Department's own policy recognises this. It says that some couples maintain separate accounts, but that in both joint and personal accounts there should be evidence of income or spending on shared costs such as utilities, rent and mortgage payments. Personal account statements that show one partner paying the rent and the other paying the groceries and power can be strong partner visa financial evidence, especially when the couple's relationship statement explains the arrangement.

Leases, mortgages and jointly owned assets

A joint lease, a mortgage in both names or a property owned jointly is among the strongest partner visa financial evidence available, because it involves a major financial commitment made together. Regulation 1.15A(3)(a) specifically refers to joint ownership of real estate or other major assets and to joint liabilities, and a home loan is both.

Residential leases

A lease in both names shows a shared legal liability for rent. It is also evidence of the nature of the household, because it shows where the couple lives. If only one partner is named on the lease, the couple can still show financial sharing through rent payments from both partners, a letter from the property manager or landlord confirming that both partners live there, and bills addressed to both partners at the property. Where a couple lives in a share house, the arrangement should be explained clearly so the decision maker understands who pays what.

Mortgages and property purchases

A mortgage held jointly, a contract of sale in both names or a certificate of title showing joint ownership is powerful partner visa financial evidence. A property owned by one partner before the relationship is not joint ownership, but evidence that both partners now contribute to the repayments, rates or maintenance still shows pooling of resources.

Cars and other major assets

Joint ownership of a car, a loan agreement for a car or a major household purchase, or a joint finance contract for furniture or appliances can all form part of partner visa financial evidence. The Department's policy gives loan agreements and major household purchases as examples of joint ownership of major assets. A shared business or a joint investment can also be relevant, provided the documents show both partners have a genuine stake.

Shared bills and day-to-day household expenses

The basis of any sharing of day-to-day household expenses is the fifth financial matter in regulation 1.15A(3)(a), and for many couples it is the most important part of their partner visa financial evidence. Most couples share daily costs long before they buy property or open joint accounts.

Day-to-day expenses include rent, groceries, utilities, internet, phone plans, insurance, transport, childcare and school costs. Evidence of how those costs are shared includes bills in both names, bills in one name paid from the other partner's account, regular transfers from one partner to the other to cover a share of household costs, and statements showing each partner paying different household bills.

The Department's policy gives an example of the type of arrangement it will look at: whether each partner is financially responsible only for their own expenses, with no pooling. A couple who genuinely splits everything individually and shares nothing is showing a weaker financial picture. A couple who divides household costs in an agreed way, even if they keep separate accounts, is showing exactly the sharing the regulation describes. The relationship statement should explain the arrangement in plain words, and the partner visa financial evidence should then prove it.

Money transfers between partners

Money transfers between partners are valid partner visa financial evidence when they show a real pattern of support or sharing over time. They are particularly important for couples who have lived in different places for part of the relationship, and for couples where one partner earns most of the household income.

Transfers are most persuasive when they are regular, when their purpose is clear, and when they match what the couple says in the relationship statement. A monthly transfer from one partner to the other to cover rent or household bills, made over a long period, is good partner visa financial evidence. So is a pattern of transfers to support a partner who is studying, unwell, caring for children or between jobs.

Transfers are less persuasive when they are sporadic, when they begin shortly before the application, or when the amounts appear to be sent and then returned. Remittance receipts with no explanation of their purpose, or transfers to relatives rather than to the partner, also carry less weight. Where transfers were made through a money transfer service rather than a bank, the receipts should show the names of both partners and the dates.

For an onshore couple who already live together, transfers usually form a small part of the partner visa financial evidence, because joint living costs tell the more important story. For a couple who lived apart before the applicant came to Australia, transfers may be the main financial evidence for that earlier period. Couples who moved from a visitor visa to an onshore application should read our guide to moving from a tourist visa to a partner visa in Australia, because the history before arrival is often examined closely.

Financial support of one partner by the other

Financial support of one partner by the other is a recognised form of pooling of financial resources, and it is legitimate partner visa financial evidence. Many genuine couples do not contribute equally. One partner may earn the household income while the other studies, cares for children, looks for work or waits for work rights.

Evidence of support includes statements showing the supporting partner paying the household bills and rent, regular transfers to the supported partner, the supported partner being an additional card holder on the other partner's credit card, and the supporting partner paying for the other partner's medical, education or travel costs. Where an applicant in Australia has limited work rights, the support arrangement should be explained, so the decision maker understands why the financial records look one-sided. Our article on working while waiting for a Subclass 820 visa explains the work rights that usually apply on a bridging visa, and our guide to Bridging Visa A explains the conditions.

Support evidence is not the same as sponsorship. The question is not whether the Australian partner can support the applicant. The question is whether the couple shares their financial life. Partner visa financial evidence that shows one partner supporting the other is relevant because it shows interdependence, not because it shows capacity to pay.

Legal obligations, beneficiaries, superannuation and insurance

Whether one person in the relationship owes any legal obligation in respect of the other is the fourth financial matter in regulation 1.15A(3)(a). The Department's policy gives examples such as one partner acting as guarantor for a loan taken by the other, and one partner holding a power of attorney for the other.

Other documents that show legal and financial commitment include:

• a superannuation binding or non-binding death benefit nomination naming the partner
• a life insurance policy naming the partner as beneficiary
• a will that provides for the partner
• private health insurance held on a couples or family policy
• car or home and contents insurance that covers both partners

These documents are useful partner visa financial evidence because they look forward. They show that each partner has taken steps to protect the other financially if something happens. They also tend to be created in the ordinary course of life, which gives them weight. A beneficiary nomination made the week before lodgement is still relevant, but it carries more weight when it sits alongside a longer history of shared finances.

Couples should keep the nomination or policy documents current. If the relationship statement says the partner is the beneficiary, the documents should show the same thing at the date of the application and again at the permanent stage.

Partner visa financial evidence for couples with modest incomes

Couples with modest incomes can present strong partner visa financial evidence, because the law looks at how money is shared, not how much money the couple has. A couple who rents a small flat together, shares a single phone plan, buys groceries from a joint account and pays each other back for small costs is showing financial sharing.

The mistake many lower-income couples make is to assume that their partner visa financial evidence is weak because there is no property, no car loan and no savings. That is not how the regulation works. Modest evidence should be presented carefully and completely. Small but regular transfers, shared bills, receipts for household items bought together and a joint account with ordinary activity can all carry real weight.

The relationship statement should explain the couple's financial circumstances honestly. If one partner is studying, between jobs or supporting family overseas, that context helps the decision maker read the records correctly. Partner visa financial evidence that matches a clear, honest explanation is far more persuasive than evidence that has been padded to look more impressive than it is.

Couples who keep separate finances, including for cultural reasons

Couples who keep separate finances can still meet the requirement, but their partner visa financial evidence must explain how shared costs are met. Many genuine couples keep their money apart for personal, religious, cultural or family reasons. Some cultures expect one partner to manage all household finances. Others expect each partner to keep their own income and contribute to an agreed set of costs.

The Department's policy accepts that some couples maintain separate accounts. What it looks for is evidence, in either joint or personal accounts, of spending on shared costs such as rent, utilities and mortgage payments. A couple who keeps separate accounts should therefore present statements from both accounts showing who pays what, together with a clear explanation in the relationship statement.

Couples who have been married before, or who have children from earlier relationships, often keep separate finances to protect those children or to manage obligations to a former partner. That is a legitimate reason. It should be explained, not hidden. Partner visa financial evidence that shows separate finances with an agreed contribution to joint household costs is consistent with a genuine relationship.

Same-sex couples, and couples whose relationship could not be openly acknowledged in the applicant's home country, may have limited joint financial records for earlier periods for good reasons. Our page on partner visas for same-sex and LGBTI couples explains how those circumstances are usually presented.

Partner visa financial evidence for newly married couples

Newly married couples usually have limited partner visa financial evidence, and the Department knows this. A couple who married recently, or who met only a short time ago, cannot show years of joint accounts or a long rental history. The law does not expect them to.

What a recently married couple can show is the beginning of a shared financial life: a joint account opened after the wedding and used for real spending, a lease signed together, bills transferred into both names, wedding costs paid together, and joint plans for major purchases. The relationship statement should explain the timeline, including when the couple decided to combine finances and why some steps have not yet been taken.

A short relationship is not a refusal reason in itself. It is, however, a reason the decision maker may look more closely at every aspect of the relationship. Couples in that position should present partner visa financial evidence that is consistent and dated, and should expect to provide more at the permanent stage. Couples who are engaged and not yet married should read our Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa page, because the evidence of financial aspects for an engaged couple is assessed in the context of their intention to marry.

Partner visa financial evidence for couples who have lived apart

Couples who have lived apart for a period can still present good partner visa financial evidence, but the evidence will look different for the period apart. During separation caused by work, study, family obligations, visa restrictions or travel restrictions, couples usually cannot share rent or utility bills. They can still show money transfers, joint savings for the future, one partner paying for the other's travel, joint bookings and support for each other's families.

Living apart for a period is not the same as being separated. Section 5F(2) refers to couples who live together or who do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis. A temporary separation for a good reason, explained in the relationship statement, is consistent with a genuine relationship. Partner visa financial evidence for that period should show the connection continued, for example through regular support transfers or joint plans and payments for reuniting.

Where the Australian partner is in Australia and the applicant is overseas, our Subclass 309 visa page explains how we act for Australian partners in that pathway. Couples who are deciding which pathway to use should also read our Subclass 820 visa explainer and our comprehensive Subclass 820 partner visa guide.

What Tribunal decisions show about partner visa financial evidence

Tribunal decisions show that partner visa financial evidence is often central when a refused partner visa is reviewed, and that the Tribunal looks at the real financial arrangements of the couple rather than a fixed checklist. In each decision below, the Tribunal remitted the matter. Remitted means the Tribunal sent the matter back to the Department to reconsider, with a direction or finding in the applicant's favour on the issue under review. The descriptions below are limited to the issues recorded for each decision.

• In Cherich Dorattioti (Migration) [2019] AATA 6052, the Tribunal remitted an onshore Subclass 820 partner visa refusal where the issues included joint ownership of assets and liabilities, pooled financial resources, and a shared household and expenses.
• In Le (Migration) [2019] AATA 3698, the Tribunal remitted an onshore Subclass 820 refusal where the issues included the sharing of day-to-day household expenses, the couple's living arrangements and the sharing of responsibility for housework.
• In Rachmayati (Migration) [2024] AATA 1678, the Tribunal remitted an onshore Subclass 820 refusal where the issues included a couple who had remained together continuously for eight years, shared expenses and pooled finances, and had built and sold a business together.
• In Le (Migration) [2025] ARTA 2423, the Administrative Review Tribunal remitted an onshore Subclass 820 refusal where the issues included a joint bank account, shared education expenses and incorrect residential information in the visa application.
• In Lam (Migration) [2020] AATA 5531, the Tribunal remitted a Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa refusal where the issues included money transfers and the Australian partner's short trips to see the applicant.
• In Akker (Migration) [2020] AATA 482, the Tribunal remitted a partner visa refusal where the issues included separately managed finances combined with joint contributions to expenses.

These decisions show several consistent points. Pooled finances and shared household costs are taken seriously. Separately managed finances are not fatal where both partners contribute to joint expenses. Money transfers can be relevant where the couple has spent time apart. And a joint account or shared expense can be weighed even where there is another problem in the application, such as incorrect information that has to be explained. Earlier decisions were made by the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal, which was replaced by the Administrative Review Tribunal in October 2024.

If your partner visa has been refused because of the financial aspects of the relationship, review deadlines are short and strictly applied. Our pages on partner visa refusals, partner visa appeal options and what to expect at an ART review explain the next steps, and our visa appeal lawyer guide explains when representation helps.

How to present partner visa financial evidence

Partner visa financial evidence should be presented so that a decision maker can see the financial pattern of the relationship quickly, without searching through hundreds of pages. Presentation does not change the facts. It makes the facts easy to find, which matters when a decision maker is working through a large file.

Select, do not dump

More documents do not mean better evidence. Twelve months of joint account statements in which every page looks the same do not add much to six months of carefully chosen statements that show the pattern clearly, together with older samples that show how long the pattern has existed. The aim is to show the full period of the relationship with representative documents, not to upload every statement ever issued.

Use a short financial summary

A short summary at the front of the partner visa financial evidence helps the decision maker. It can list each type of evidence, the period it covers and what it shows. For example, it can note that the joint account has been used since a particular month, that both partners deposit income into it, and that rent and utilities are paid from it. The summary should be factual and should match the documents exactly. It is not a place for argument.

Highlight the relevant entries

Highlighting the relevant transactions on bank statements, such as rent payments, transfers between partners and shared bills, saves time and draws attention to what matters. Highlighting should be consistent and should not obscure the original document. Where statements are long, a short note on the first page explaining what is highlighted is useful.

Keep the chronology consistent

Partner visa financial evidence should follow the same timeline as the relationship statement. If the relationship statement says the couple moved in together in a particular month, the lease, bills and change of address on bank statements should support that date. Inconsistencies in dates and addresses are one of the most common problems decision makers raise. Our guide to writing the partner visa relationship statement explains how the statement and the documents should line up.

Translations, certification and redaction

Documents not in English should be accompanied by an English translation. Couples can protect sensitive personal details that are not relevant, such as unrelated account numbers or private transactions, but should not redact anything relevant to the financial aspects of the relationship. Heavy redaction can raise questions. The safest approach is to redact only what is clearly irrelevant and private, and to keep the originals available if the Department asks for them.

Upload it in a logical order

Applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount, and partner visa financial evidence should be uploaded under the relevant evidence category with clear file names. Our guide on how to create an ImmiAccount explains the account itself. File names that describe the document and the period it covers make the evidence easier to assess.

Weak or contrived partner visa financial evidence

Weak or contrived partner visa financial evidence can damage the credibility of the whole application, not only the financial aspects. Decision makers see a great deal of evidence and recognise documents that have been created for the visa rather than for the relationship.

Common examples of weak partner visa financial evidence include:

• a joint account opened shortly before lodgement with one deposit and no ordinary spending
• money transferred into the joint account and withdrawn again within days
• transfers sent from one partner to the other and then returned
• a lease in both names where the bills, licences and bank statements show the couple living at different addresses
• a beneficiary nomination made the week before lodgement, with no other evidence of shared finances
• bills added in both names shortly before lodgement for a home where only one partner lives

None of these documents is automatically fatal, and some may be genuine. A couple who opened a joint account recently is not doing anything wrong. The problem arises when the partner visa financial evidence is presented as something it is not, or when it contradicts other evidence. The safer approach is to present the true position and explain it.

Contrived partner visa financial evidence can lead to more than a refusal. Providing false or incorrect information in a visa application can have serious consequences under the public interest criteria, including the integrity requirements in public interest criterion 4020. Couples should never provide a document they cannot explain truthfully.

Financial evidence after lodgement and at the permanent stage

Partner visa financial evidence does not stop at lodgement. The Department may ask for more financial evidence during processing, and it will ask for updated evidence when the permanent visa is assessed.

During processing, the Department may issue a request for further information under section 56 of the Migration Act 1958. Our guide on responding to a section 56 request for more information explains how to respond. If the Department has information that could lead to refusal, it may invite comment through a natural justice letter. Our guide to responding to a section 57 natural justice letter for a partner visa explains that process.

At the permanent Subclass 801 stage, the Department asks for evidence that the relationship has continued. Updated partner visa financial evidence is usually a central part of that material. Joint accounts that have been used since lodgement, a renewed lease, bills in both names and updated beneficiary nominations all show the relationship continuing. Couples should keep their financial records organised throughout the waiting period so the permanent stage submission is straightforward. Our article on Subclass 820 processing times and our guide to how long the onshore partner visa takes explain the timeline.

If circumstances change during processing, such as a new address or a change in the relationship, the Department must be told. Our guide to Form 1022 change of circumstances explains when it is needed. If the relationship ends, our article on what happens to a Subclass 820 application if the relationship breaks down and our page on family violence and partner visas explain the rules.

How the relationship statement and Form 888 connect to the financial evidence

The relationship statement and the Form 888 supporting statements give context to the partner visa financial evidence. The relationship statement is the couple's own account of their relationship, and it should explain how the couple manages money: who pays which bills, why the couple does or does not have joint accounts, how they plan major purchases and how they support each other.

Form 888 supporting statements are made by people who know the couple, and they speak mainly to the social aspects of the relationship. They can also mention what the witness has observed about the couple's shared life, such as the couple buying a home together. Our guides to Form 888 for partner visas and Form 888 example answers and common mistakes explain what a Form 888 should cover.

The key point is consistency. The relationship statement, the Form 888 supporting statements, the application forms and the partner visa financial evidence must all tell the same story. A decision maker who finds the same facts in every source is more likely to accept them. Character documents such as Form 80 must also be consistent with the addresses and dates in the financial records.

Special situations that affect partner visa financial evidence

Some applicants face issues that make the financial aspects of the relationship more important, because the decision maker will look more closely at the whole application.

An applicant who does not hold a substantive visa when the application is made must generally meet the Schedule 3 criteria unless they are waived, and the strength of the relationship is often part of the compelling reasons. Our pages on Schedule 3 waivers for partner visas, the Schedule 3 criteria when applying while unlawful and applying without a substantive visa explain these rules. An applicant whose visa carries a No Further Stay condition should read our article on condition 8503 and the Subclass 820 visa before relying on any evidence.

An applicant who has had a previous visa refused should read our guide to applying for a partner visa after a visa refusal, and our pages on visa refusals and visa cancellations explain the wider issues. Where the applicant's bridging visa and travel plans matter, our overview of bridging visas in Australia and our guide to Bridging Visa B explain the options. Partners of some New Zealanders living in Australia may need the Subclass 461 visa instead of a partner visa, and the financial aspects of the relationship are relevant there too.

Getting advice on partner visa financial evidence

Advice on partner visa financial evidence is most useful before the application is lodged, when the couple can still organise their records and explain any gaps. Couples who have already lodged can still benefit, particularly before a section 56 response or the permanent stage. Our article on hiring an immigration lawyer after lodging your own visa application explains how that works, and our guide to getting a second opinion from an immigration lawyer explains what a review involves.

Couples comparing their options may find our guides on when you need an immigration lawyer for a partner visa, a partner visa lawyer compared with doing it yourself, the differences between a migration agent and a lawyer for a partner visa and what a partner visa lawyer does in Australia useful. Our article on booking an immigration lawyer consultation explains what to prepare, and our guide to Form 956 and 956A explains how a representative is appointed.

My Migration Lawyers advises couples across Australia by video consultation. We act for couples in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Hobart and Parramatta. Couples choosing a representative may also find our guides on how to choose a partner visa lawyer in Australia, choosing a partner visa lawyer in Sydney, choosing a partner visa lawyer in Melbourne and choosing a partner visa lawyer in Brisbane helpful.

How My Migration Lawyers helps with partner visa financial evidence

My Migration Lawyers acts in many partner visa matters where the financial aspects of the relationship are a central issue, and many of those matters are complex. They include couples with modest incomes, couples who keep separate finances for cultural or family reasons, recently married couples, couples who spent long periods apart, and couples whose earlier application was refused because the decision maker was not satisfied about the financial aspects. The firm deals with complex cases as a regular part of its partner visa practice and is capable of handling them.

On partner visa financial evidence, the firm's work follows clear steps. First, we review every financial document the couple holds, including joint and personal statements, leases, loans, bills, transfers, insurance and beneficiary nominations, and we check them against the dates and addresses in the relationship statement and the application forms. Second, we identify gaps and inconsistencies before the Department does, and advise the couple on what further records they can obtain honestly and what needs to be explained. Third, we select the documents that show the financial pattern of the relationship across its full length, so the decision maker is not buried in repetitive pages. Fourth, we prepare a clear index and financial summary and organise the partner visa financial evidence so the relevant entries are easy to find.

The couple's evidence remains their own. The relationship statement is the couple's own account, reviewed and corrected by them, and the firm presents it and the supporting documents in the form the law requires. Where the Department raises concerns about the financial aspects, through a section 56 request, a natural justice letter or a refusal, the firm prepares a targeted response that addresses the specific concern with evidence and legal submissions.

Our partner visa work is led by Weiwei Zhang, Principal Lawyer. You can read more about My Migration Lawyers, see our immigration lawyers in Australia or visit our partner visa lawyers page.

If you are unsure whether your partner visa financial evidence shows the financial side of your relationship clearly, the right time to check is before the Department decides. Book a consultation or call 1300 040 300.