Partner Visa ImmiAccount Uploads

What is a partner visa ImmiAccount upload?

A partner visa ImmiAccount upload is the process of attaching supporting documents, such as identity documents, relationship evidence, police certificates and Form 888 statements, to an onshore or offshore partner visa application through the Department of Home Affairs online portal, ImmiAccount. Every partner visa ImmiAccount upload becomes part of the application record. The decision maker reads the application from those attachments, so a document that is attached to the wrong person, placed in the wrong category, unreadable or never registered may as well not exist.

This guide deals with the mechanics of each partner visa ImmiAccount upload. It explains where the Attach documents function sits, how to choose the correct applicant and document category, the file formats and size limits the Department publishes, how to write useful descriptions, how sponsor and child documents are attached, the errors that most often go wrong, what to do after lodgement, what happens when the attachment limit is reached, and how to confirm that files have actually registered. It applies to couples applying for the onshore Subclass 820 visa and Subclass 801 visa, and to couples applying for the offshore Subclass 309 visa and Subclass 100 visa. The same mechanics apply to the Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa. The wider requirements for each stream are explained in the complete guide to partner visas in Australia, and the onshore stream is covered in detail in the guides to the Subclass 820 visa explained, the complete Subclass 820 partner visa guide and the Subclass 820 requirements, documents and how to apply.

Why the mechanics of uploading matter

The relationship requirement is decided on the evidence. Under subsection 55(1) of the Migration Act 1958, an applicant may give the Department additional relevant information at any time before a decision is made, and the decision maker must have regard to it. In practice, for an online partner visa, that information is given almost entirely by partner visa ImmiAccount uploads. If an upload fails, or is lodged in a way that makes it hard to find, the evidence does not do its job. The Department's own help text also warns that some applications may be refused if documents have not been attached at the time of lodgement.

A well-prepared partner visa ImmiAccount upload is therefore not an administrative detail. It is how the couple's relationship evidence reaches the person who decides the application.

What this guide does not cover

This guide is about attaching files, not about choosing evidence. What evidence a couple should gather is covered in the partner visa document checklist and the 820 partner visa evidence checklist. How to present that evidence persuasively is covered in the guide to preparing evidence of a genuine relationship. The steps below assume the evidence is ready and the question is how to get it into the application correctly.

Where is the Attach documents function in ImmiAccount?

The Attach documents function is reached by logging in to ImmiAccount, opening the My applications summary page, selecting View details on the partner visa application, and then selecting Attach documents. That page shows the information each applicant needs to provide and lists the documents already attached. Every partner visa ImmiAccount upload after submission starts from this page.

The Department's quick reference guide for attaching documents to a submitted application sets out the steps in this order: log in, view the My applications summary page, select View details, select Attach documents, then attach each document against the correct document type. The Department's help text for the Attach documents page describes the same process in slightly different words: select the name of the applicant to see that person's list, select the category of document, select the best description from the list, select the files, and then select Attach. The exact labels on the screen have changed over time and may change again, so the wording seen on screen should be followed where it differs from any older guide.

If the account does not exist yet

A partner visa is lodged through the account of the person who prepares and submits the online application. If the couple has not yet created an account, the guide on how to create an ImmiAccount explains the steps. Each partner visa ImmiAccount upload should then be made from the account that holds the application, because that is where the Attach documents page for that application sits.

If a representative lodged the application

Where a lawyer or registered migration agent lodged the application, the application usually sits in the representative's ImmiAccount, and the representative attaches the documents. The representative is appointed by Form 956, and the Department then corresponds with the representative. Couples who are represented should send documents to the representative rather than attempting their own partner visa ImmiAccount upload into a different account, which can create duplicate records and confusion about what has actually been attached. The factual differences between the two kinds of representative are explained in the guide on whether to use a migration agent or lawyer for a partner visa.

Attaching documents before the application is submitted

Documents can be attached during the online application, and for some application types the Department requires documents to be attached before the applicant can proceed to pay and submit. The Department's help text says the application form itself tells the applicant what documents to attach and whether to attach them before or after submitting. For a partner visa, a partner visa ImmiAccount upload during the application process and a partner visa ImmiAccount upload after submission both end up on the same application record.

Why early attachment matters

The Department's guidance says attaching documents as soon as possible after submitting will assist processing, and that some applications may be refused if documents have not been attached at the time of lodgement. For a Subclass 820 applicant who is relying on a particular visa status at the time of application, or who needs to show that a de facto relationship meets the 12-month requirement or an exception to it, the core evidence should be in the application from the start. Applicants who are moving from a tourist visa to a partner visa, or who hold a visa with a no further stay condition such as condition 8503, should be particularly careful that the documents supporting their eligibility are attached when the application is made. The detailed rules on whether 12 months of de facto relationship is really required show why timing of evidence can matter.

Keeping the application form and the uploads consistent

The answers in the online form, including dates, addresses and relationship history, must match the documents uploaded. A partner visa ImmiAccount upload that contradicts the form creates a credibility issue that the case officer is entitled to raise. The same is true of Form 80, where addresses, travel and employment history must line up with the evidence. Before any partner visa ImmiAccount upload is made, the documents should be read against the form.

Choosing the correct applicant for each partner visa ImmiAccount upload

Each partner visa ImmiAccount upload must be attached against the person the document belongs to, because the Attach documents page keeps a separate list of documents for each person in the application. The Department's help text says there is a list of documents for each applicant and that the applicant's name must be selected to view that list. Selecting the wrong name places the document under the wrong person.

Applicant, sponsor and dependent child

A partner visa application usually involves at least two people: the visa applicant and the Australian sponsor. It may also include dependent children of the applicant. The documents for each person are different. The applicant's passport, birth certificate, character documents and health documents belong to the applicant. The sponsor's identity documents, evidence of Australian citizenship, permanent residence or eligible New Zealand citizenship, and police certificates belong to the sponsor. A dependent child's birth certificate, custody documents and passport belong to the child.

When a document concerns both partners, such as a joint lease, joint bank statement or a photograph of the couple, it is normally attached under the visa applicant in the relationship evidence category, because the relationship evidence is assessed as part of the applicant's criteria. Where the list shown on screen provides a specific category for the sponsor's evidence of the relationship, that category should be used instead. The right answer for any partner visa ImmiAccount upload is the category the system actually shows for that person.

What happens when the wrong person is selected

A file attached under the wrong person is still part of the application record, but it may not be seen where the case officer expects to find it. For example, a sponsor's police certificate uploaded under the visa applicant may leave the sponsor's police certificate category showing as Required. The case officer may then request the document again, which slows processing. The Department's guidance says a file cannot be removed once it has been attached, so the fix is to attach the document again under the correct person, with a description that explains the earlier error.

Applications with more than one applicant

Where dependent children are included, the list of applicants on the Attach documents page grows. Each child has a separate list. Each partner visa ImmiAccount upload for a child should be attached under that child's name, and documents that relate to more than one child, such as a custody order covering two children, should be attached under each child it concerns. Including children is part of the original application, and adding an applicant after lodgement is a separate process that the Department handles through its own form rather than through an upload.

Choosing the correct document category and evidence type

The correct document category for a partner visa ImmiAccount upload is the category on the Attach documents page that best describes what the document proves for that person. The Department's help text says to select the category of document needed, then select the best description of the document from the list, with an option to add a further description. Getting the category right is what allows the case officer to find each piece of evidence quickly.

Required and Recommended documents

The Attach documents page shows documents with different statuses. The Department's guidance says all documents with a status of Required must be attached, and that Required documents should be attached first, followed by any Recommended documents the applicant wants to provide. A Required document that is never attached is a gap the case officer will notice. A partner visa ImmiAccount upload plan should therefore start with every Required item for every person, before turning to the larger volume of relationship evidence.

Common categories for partner visa evidence

The exact categories shown depend on the application and may change, but a partner visa application commonly shows categories covering identity, character, health, relationship evidence, sponsorship and, where relevant, evidence about dependent children. Relationship evidence is usually grouped by reference to the four matters the decision maker must consider: the financial aspects of the relationship, the nature of the household, the social aspects of the relationship and the nature of the commitment. The guide to the partner visa relationship statement explains how the one statement ties those aspects together, and the statement itself should be attached in the category that best fits it.

When a document does not fit any category

The Department's help text says that if the document is not on the list, the applicant should select Other documents and enter a description. This is useful for documents such as an explanatory letter about a period of separation, a document relating to an earlier visa, or a combined chronology. The description then becomes the only label the case officer sees, so it must be clear. Using Other documents for evidence that has its own category, however, makes that evidence harder to find, so Other documents should be a last resort, not a default for every partner visa ImmiAccount upload.

Form 888 statements

Form 888 statements are supporting witness statements from Australian citizens or permanent residents who know the couple. They are not statutory declarations. Each Form 888 should be attached with a copy of the witness's evidence of Australian citizenship or permanent residence, as the form requires, and the description should identify the witness. The guide to Form 888 example answers and common mistakes explains what the statements should contain. From an upload point of view, each Form 888 and its accompanying identity document should be kept together in one file where possible, so the case officer does not have to match them up across several partner visa ImmiAccount uploads.

File formats and size limits for a partner visa ImmiAccount upload

The Department's ImmiAccount help text states that, for visa applications including sponsorship applications, files up to 5MB in size can be attached with the extensions bmp, dcm, doc, docx, dot, gif, jpg, pdf, png, ppt, pptx, rtf, txt, xls and xlsx. The same help text says compressed files and encrypted PDF files cannot be accepted. Every partner visa ImmiAccount upload must meet these requirements, or the file will not attach or may not open for the case officer.

These limits are set by the Department and can change. The figures above are taken from the Department's current ImmiAccount help text. Before a large partner visa ImmiAccount upload, the current help text on the Department's website and the guidance shown inside ImmiAccount itself should be checked, and the version on screen should be followed if it differs.

Why PDF is usually the best choice

Although several formats are accepted, PDF is usually the most practical format for a partner visa ImmiAccount upload. The Department's help text says documents containing more than one page should be provided as a single PDF document. A ten-page bank statement uploaded as ten separate images uses ten files of the limited number allowed, and forces the case officer to open each one. The same statement as one PDF uses one file and reads in order.

Compressed and encrypted files

A ZIP file or other compressed archive cannot be accepted. Neither can an encrypted PDF. This catches out many couples, because bank statements and payslips downloaded from online banking or payroll systems are sometimes password protected or encrypted. Before each partner visa ImmiAccount upload of a downloaded statement, the file should be opened to check it is not locked. If it is, the applicant should obtain an unprotected copy from the institution or produce a clear printed and scanned copy instead.

Keeping files under the size limit

A file over 5MB will not attach. High-resolution colour scans of multi-page documents often exceed the limit. The answer is to scan at a resolution that keeps the text sharp but the file manageable, or to split a very long document into logical parts, such as statements by financial year. Splitting should follow the content, not an arbitrary page count, so that each partner visa ImmiAccount upload is a complete and understandable document on its own.

Scanning and preparing documents before upload

Documents for a partner visa ImmiAccount upload should be scanned from the original, one document at a time, both sides, in colour where the original is in colour, and saved in an accepted format within the size limit. These requirements come from the Department's own guidance on scanning and attaching documents. The Department's help text also warns that low quality scanned documents may delay processing.

One document per file, both sides

The Department's guidance says to scan each document separately and include both sides. A passport, birth certificate and marriage certificate scanned together into one file are harder to classify and harder to read. A marriage certificate with an endorsement on the back is incomplete if only the front is scanned. Each partner visa ImmiAccount upload should contain one document, complete, in page order.

Colour scans

The Department's guidance says that if the original document is in colour, it should be scanned in colour. Colour matters for passports, identity cards, certificates with seals, and photographs. A black and white scan of a colour passport can make security features and photographs difficult to see, which can prompt a request for a better copy.

Translations

The Department's help text says documents in languages other than English must be accompanied by an English translation. If the applicant is in Australia when applying, the translation should be by a translator accredited by the National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). If the applicant is outside Australia when applying, the translation must be by a qualified translator and endorsed with the translator's full name, address, telephone number and details of their qualifications and experience in the language. For a partner visa ImmiAccount upload, the original language document and its translation are best kept together in one PDF, original first and translation second, so they are read together.

Photographs, messages and screenshots

Relationship evidence often includes photographs, message histories and call logs. These are frequently uploaded as hundreds of loose image files, which uses up the file limit quickly and makes the evidence hard to read. A better approach is to group them into a small number of PDFs, in date order, with a short caption or date on each page. Each partner visa ImmiAccount upload of this kind of evidence should be selective. Photographs across the whole relationship, with family and friends, are far more useful than hundreds of near-identical images from one holiday. The guide on why partner visas get refused shows how often thin or poorly presented social evidence becomes an issue.

File names

File names are not a substitute for the category and description fields, but they help. A file called "scan0034.pdf" tells the case officer nothing. A file named with the person, the document and the date range, such as the sponsor's name followed by "police certificate" and the date issued, is clear when it is opened. Consistent file naming also makes it much easier for the couple to check later which partner visa ImmiAccount uploads have been made.

Writing descriptions for each partner visa ImmiAccount upload

A description for a partner visa ImmiAccount upload should state, in a few plain words, what the document is, whose document it is and what period or event it covers. The Department's help text says the applicant should select the best description from the list and may add an additional description if required. That additional description is the main way of telling the case officer what a file contains before it is opened.

What a useful description looks like

Useful descriptions are specific. "Joint bank account statements, January to June" is useful. "Bank" is not. "Form 888 from the sponsor's sister, with her Australian passport" is useful. "Statement" is not. "Letter explaining the period living apart while the applicant completed studies" is useful. "Other" is not. A good description lets the case officer go straight to the evidence relevant to the question they are considering.

Descriptions for corrected or replacement files

Because an attached file cannot be removed, a corrected version of a document has to be attached as a new partner visa ImmiAccount upload. The description of the new file should say that it replaces or corrects an earlier file, for example "Corrected translation of marriage certificate, replaces earlier translation attached in error". This tells the case officer which version to rely on and avoids the impression that the couple is changing its evidence without explanation.

Descriptions and consistency

Descriptions should use the same names, dates and terms as the application form and the relationship statement. If the form refers to a particular address or period of living apart, the description of the related evidence should use the same terms. This small discipline makes each partner visa ImmiAccount upload easier to connect to the rest of the file.

Attaching sponsor documents

Sponsor documents are attached against the sponsor, either through the sponsorship lodged by the sponsor or against the sponsor's document categories shown in the application, depending on what the system displays for that application. The Department's partner visa guidance says the sponsor needs to provide police certificates when submitting the "Sponsorship for a Partner to Migrate to Australia", or as soon as possible after applying. A sponsor document attached to the wrong record is a common reason for a further request.

What sponsor documents are usually needed

Sponsor documents usually include evidence of identity, evidence that the sponsor is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, and police certificates. The sponsor may also need to provide evidence relevant to the sponsorship limitations. The rules on when a sponsor cannot sponsor a partner visa and the firm's page on sponsorship limitations explain those limits. Each sponsor partner visa ImmiAccount upload should be checked to confirm it sits under the sponsor, not the applicant.

Sponsor police certificates

Sponsor police certificates are among the most commonly misfiled documents. Because the sponsor is often the person who physically uploads everything, sponsor certificates sometimes end up under the applicant. The sponsor's police certificate category may then remain outstanding. The sponsor's police certificates should be attached in the sponsor's category, with a description naming the issuing country and the date of issue.

When the sponsor and applicant use different accounts

Where the sponsorship is lodged through a separate account, each partner should know which documents are being attached where. A shared list of who is uploading which document, and into which record, avoids both gaps and duplicates. Couples who are unsure whether a sponsor partner visa ImmiAccount upload has gone to the right place should check the sponsor's document list before assuming it has been received.

Attaching documents for dependent children

Documents for a dependent child included in a partner visa application are attached under that child's own name on the Attach documents page, in the categories shown for that child. Each child is listed as a separate applicant, and each child's list must be completed separately.

Documents commonly required for children

Children's documents commonly include a birth certificate showing both parents, a passport, evidence of the child's dependency, health examination results, and, where the other parent is not migrating, evidence of custody or the other parent's consent. These should be attached as separate files under the child, with clear descriptions. A partner visa ImmiAccount upload of custody documents should include the full order or agreement, not only the first page.

Custody and consent documents

Custody and consent documents are often long, translated and legally technical. They should be uploaded as complete PDFs with the translation attached. If the documents relate to more than one child, they should be attached under each child they concern. Where the other parent's consent is relevant, the document should identify that parent clearly so the case officer can match it to the birth certificate.

Children who are not included in the application

Where a child of the applicant is not included in the application, the Department may still ask about that child in the forms. Any document attached about a child who is not an applicant should be attached under the visa applicant, with a description that makes the child's status clear. A partner visa ImmiAccount upload under the wrong name in this situation can create confusion about who is actually applying.

Common partner visa ImmiAccount upload errors and how to fix them

The most common partner visa ImmiAccount upload errors are failed uploads, files attached under the wrong person, files placed in the wrong category, duplicate files, unreadable or incomplete scans, and files that cannot be accepted because of their format. Each has a practical fix, but the fix is always constrained by the rule that an attached file cannot be removed.

Failed uploads

A failed partner visa ImmiAccount upload usually has one of four causes: the file is larger than the size limit, the file type is not accepted, the file is compressed or encrypted, or the connection dropped before the attachment completed. The first step is to check the file against the Department's requirements. The second is to try again on a stable connection, preferably on a computer rather than a phone. If the system shows a technical error that persists, the Department's ImmiAccount help pages include a technical support channel. A failed upload should never be assumed to have succeeded. The file should be seen in the list of attached documents before it is relied on.

Wrong applicant

If a file is attached under the wrong person, it cannot be moved or deleted. The Department's guidance says attachments form part of the application and that applicants should not contact the Department to request deletion of an attachment. The fix is to attach the document again under the correct person, with a description that explains it was earlier attached under the wrong person. This creates a duplicate, but a clearly explained duplicate is far better than a Required category left outstanding.

Wrong category

A file in the wrong category is similar. It remains on the record, and the correct approach is to attach it again in the correct category if the wrong placement is likely to cause it to be missed. For minor misplacements, such as a joint utility bill placed under financial evidence rather than household evidence, re-uploading is often unnecessary, because the case officer reads the relationship evidence as a whole. For Required identity, character or sponsorship documents, the correct category matters more, and a further partner visa ImmiAccount upload in the correct place is usually wise.

Duplicate files

Duplicates happen when couples are unsure whether a file attached, when two people upload the same document, or when a whole folder is uploaded twice. Duplicates cannot be removed. They do not usually harm an application on their own, but they use up the limited number of files and make the evidence harder to read. The best protection is a written upload log, kept as each partner visa ImmiAccount upload is made, recording the person, category, file name and date.

Wrong file attached

Sometimes the wrong document is attached altogether, such as a draft statement instead of the signed version, or a document belonging to someone else. This needs care. The correct document should be attached promptly, with a description identifying it as the correct version. Where the wrong file contains information that may raise questions, or belongs to a third party, advice should be obtained before the next step is taken. An immigration lawyer for a partner visa can explain how best to address it in writing.

Unreadable or incomplete scans

A scan that is blurred, cropped, missing pages or missing the back of the document is not useful evidence. The Department's guidance warns that low quality scans may delay processing. The fix is a fresh, complete scan, attached as a new partner visa ImmiAccount upload, with a description explaining that it is a clearer or complete copy.

Attaching documents after lodgement

Documents can be attached to a partner visa application after it has been submitted, at any time until the application is finalised. The Department's help text says Attach documents allows supporting documents to be attached after submission until the application is finalised by the Department, and its website says documents cannot be attached to finalised applications and should not be emailed to the Department. Subsection 55(1) of the Migration Act 1958 supports this: until a decision is made, the applicant may give additional relevant information and the decision maker must have regard to it.

The process after lodgement

The process for a partner visa ImmiAccount upload after lodgement is the same as before: log in, open the application through View details, select Attach documents, select the person, the category and the description, choose the file and attach it. Documents already provided appear under the Received heading. The Department's help text confirms that further documents can still be attached in a category that is already listed as Received, which is how updated bank statements or later photographs are added.

Updated evidence across the life of the application

Processing of partner visas can take a long time. The guides on how long a Subclass 820 partner visa takes and on onshore Subclass 820 processing in practice explain why. During that period, the relationship continues and the evidence grows. Periodic partner visa ImmiAccount uploads keep the record current. Most onshore applicants hold a bridging visa during this time, and the guides on bridging visas in Australia, the Bridging Visa A and work rights while waiting for a Subclass 820 visa explain that status. The permanent stage involves a fresh assessment of the relationship, which is explained in the guide to Subclass 820 vs Subclass 801, and a file that was last updated at lodgement can look thin by then.

Uploads are not notifications of change

A partner visa ImmiAccount upload is not the same as notifying the Department of a change in circumstances. Under section 104 of the Migration Act 1958, certain changes must be notified, and the Department's partner visa guidance directs applicants to the Update Us function in ImmiAccount and to Form 1022 where relevant. A new lease uploaded as evidence does not, on its own, notify the Department of a change of address. Both steps may be needed.

Relationship breakdown and family violence

If the relationship ends while the application is being processed, the Department's partner visa guidance requires that the cessation of the relationship be notified through the appropriate form. That is a notification, not an evidence upload. The guide on what happens if the relationship breaks down explains the consequences, and where family violence is involved, the family violence provisions may allow the application to continue. These situations call for legal advice before any further partner visa ImmiAccount upload is made.

What happens when the attachment limit is reached

When the attachment limit is reached, ImmiAccount will not accept further files for that applicant, and the Department provides a separate "Attach additional documents" online form for use where the ImmiAccount document limit has been reached for all visa applicants in the application, or where an applicant is otherwise prevented from attaching documents in ImmiAccount. The Department's help text confirms that there is a limit on the number of files that can be attached for each applicant, and its quick reference guide states that the maximum number of files ranges from 30 to 60 depending on the application type.

Avoiding the limit in the first place

The limit is reached most often by couples who upload each page, photograph or screenshot as a separate file. Combining related pages into single PDFs, as the Department's help text recommends for multi-page documents, is the simplest way to stay within the limit. Planning each partner visa ImmiAccount upload before starting, with a list of files grouped by person and category, also helps. A couple with one hundred loose images will reach the limit quickly. The same images grouped into a handful of dated PDFs will not.

Using the Department's additional documents form

The Department's "Attach additional documents" form is a fallback, not an alternative upload channel. Its own wording limits it to situations where the document limit has been reached for all applicants in the application, or where the applicant is otherwise prevented from attaching documents in ImmiAccount. Before using it, the couple should check whether the limit has genuinely been reached for every applicant and whether combining files would solve the problem. Where it is used, the documents should be described and organised with the same care as any partner visa ImmiAccount upload.

Do not email documents

The Department's website says documents should not be emailed to the Department. Emailing evidence to a general address is not a substitute for a partner visa ImmiAccount upload and may mean the evidence is never placed on the application record.

How to check that partner visa ImmiAccount uploads have registered

A partner visa ImmiAccount upload has registered when the file appears in the list of attached documents for the correct person, in the correct category, after the Attach control has been selected. The Department's help text says documents are permanently saved for the application when Attach is selected and that the applicant will not receive any further acknowledgement from the Department. The on-screen list is therefore the only confirmation available.

A simple checking routine

After each session of partner visa ImmiAccount uploads, the person who uploaded should return to the Attach documents page, open each applicant's list, and check that every document intended for that person appears under the correct category. Required items should no longer show as outstanding once a document has been attached in that category. The upload log should then be updated. This routine takes a few minutes and avoids the much larger problem of discovering months later that a key document never attached.

Confirming information requested by the Department

Where the Department has asked for information, its help text describes a control to confirm that the requested information has been provided. Selecting it lets processing staff know the application is ready to assess. If it is not selected, the help text says the application will be assessed on the information available after the time given to respond has expired. Any partner visa ImmiAccount upload made in response to a request should be followed by this confirmation once everything requested has been attached.

Keeping a copy of what was uploaded

The couple should keep a copy of every file exactly as uploaded, in the same order and with the same file names, together with the upload log. This record is invaluable if the Department asks for a document again, if the couple changes representative, or if the application later goes to review. Couples who later hire an immigration lawyer after lodging their own application find that a clear record of every partner visa ImmiAccount upload saves time and cost in reviewing the file.

Responding to section 56 and section 57 requests by upload

A response to a section 56 request for further information, or a section 57 invitation to comment on adverse information, is usually provided by a partner visa ImmiAccount upload within the time stated in the letter. The letter sets the period for responding. Missing it can mean the decision is made on the information already held.

Section 56 requests

A section 56 request asks for specific information. The response should attach exactly what was asked for, in the correct person's list and category, with descriptions that match the wording of the request. A short covering letter, attached as its own file, can list each item requested and the file that answers it. The guide on responding to a section 56 request explains the wider process.

Section 57 invitations

A section 57 invitation puts adverse information to the applicant for comment. The response is usually a written submission supported by evidence, attached as a partner visa ImmiAccount upload. Because the information could be the reason, or part of the reason, for refusal, the response should be prepared carefully and checked before it is attached. The guide to the s57 natural justice letter for a partner visa explains how such letters are approached, and applicants with a short deadline can read about urgent immigration lawyer advice. The most common Subclass 820 refusal reasons show why these responses matter.

If a refusal has already been made

Once an application has been finalised, documents can no longer be attached to it. If a partner visa has been refused, the question is no longer about uploads but about review. Review deadlines are short and strictly applied. The guides on partner visa refused appeal options and what to expect at an ART review explain the next steps, and the firm's partner visa refusals page describes how refused applicants are assisted. A visa appeal lawyer can assess whether a refusal should be taken further, and couples considering a fresh application can read about a partner visa after a visa refusal and the firm's wider visa refusals work. The Administrative Review Tribunal replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on 14 October 2024.

How My Migration Lawyers helps with partner visa ImmiAccount uploads

My Migration Lawyers prepares, organises and attaches partner visa evidence for its clients, so that every partner visa ImmiAccount upload is made under the correct person, in the correct category, in an accepted format and with a clear description, and so that the couple's evidence reaches the decision maker in a form that can be read and relied on. The firm deals with complex partner visa cases and acts in many matters where the evidence file is large, the couple has lived apart, documents are in other languages, children are included or earlier uploads have gone wrong. It is well placed to handle those matters carefully from lodgement to decision.

Before lodgement

Before an application is lodged, the firm reviews the couple's documents against the application form and Form 80 so that dates and addresses match, identifies the Required documents for the applicant, the sponsor and any dependent child, and arranges the relationship evidence into a small number of complete, readable files. The couple's relationship statement remains their own account. The firm reviews it for gaps and inconsistencies, and the partners correct and confirm it before it is attached. Each partner visa ImmiAccount upload is then made from the firm's account, as the appointed representative, with a written record of what was attached and where.

After lodgement

After lodgement, the firm keeps the evidence current through planned partner visa ImmiAccount uploads, attends to change of circumstances notifications, and prepares responses to section 56 requests and section 57 invitations within the time allowed. Where the attachment limit becomes a concern, the firm plans the remaining uploads so that the most important evidence is not crowded out. The firm also advises on related issues that can affect the same application, such as Schedule 3 waivers and the Schedule 3 criteria for applicants who do not hold a substantive visa.

When a couple has uploaded documents themselves

Many couples come to My Migration Lawyers after starting the process themselves. Some have attached documents to the wrong person, uploaded duplicates, reached the file limit or are unsure whether key documents ever registered. The firm reviews the existing record, identifies what is missing or misplaced, and corrects the position through further, clearly described uploads. Couples weighing up their options can read about partner visa lawyer help compared with doing it yourself, or obtain a second opinion from an immigration lawyer on an application already lodged.

Who handles your matter

Partner visa work at My Migration Lawyers is led by Weiwei Zhang, Principal Lawyer. More about the firm is on the About My Migration Lawyers page and the partner visa lawyers page. My Migration Lawyers is an Australian immigration law firm acting for couples across Australia, including partner visa clients in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Hobart and Parramatta, with consultations by video. Couples comparing firms can read the guides on choosing a partner visa lawyer and the best partner visa lawyer in Australia, and the general guide to what an immigration lawyer does. The guide to booking an immigration lawyer consultation explains what happens at the first meeting.

Book a consultation about your partner visa ImmiAccount uploads

If you are about to lodge, have a large evidence file to attach, have received a request from the Department, or are worried that a partner visa ImmiAccount upload has gone to the wrong place, the right time to get advice is before the next file is attached. Book a Consultation with My Migration Lawyers to have your partner visa evidence and uploads reviewed. You can also call 1300 040 300.