Partner Visa Lawyer Fees: Costs and Services

Partner visa lawyer fees are the professional fees a law practice charges to advise on, prepare and manage an Australian partner visa application. This guide explains what partner visa lawyer fees actually buy, stage by stage, what is usually charged separately, what makes a matter more complex, and what to check in a costs agreement before signing.

Most people searching for partner visa lawyer fees want a number. This article does not give one, for a simple reason. A responsible quote depends on the facts of the matter, and a figure without a defined scope tells a couple almost nothing. Two quotes can look similar on paper while covering very different work. The useful question is not only how much partner visa lawyer fees are, but what the fee includes, when it is paid and what happens if the matter becomes more complex.

For a broader view of how lawyers charge across all visa types, see the firm's guide to how much an immigration lawyer costs in Australia and its article on what a fixed-fee immigration lawyer quote should include. The guide to partner visa lawyers in Australia, fees and how to choose covers choosing a lawyer. This article goes one step further. It breaks partner visa lawyer fees down into the actual work done at each stage of a partner visa, so that a couple can read any quote and know what they are paying for.

What partner visa lawyer fees pay for

Partner visa lawyer fees pay for legal advice and legal work on the application, not for the visa itself. The visa application charge is paid to the Department of Home Affairs. The professional fee is paid to the law practice for the work its lawyers do.

That work is more than filling in forms. A partner visa is assessed on whether the relationship is genuine and continuing, whether the applicant meets the health and character requirements, and whether any other criteria apply to the applicant's visa history. The legal work behind partner visa lawyer fees therefore includes:

• advising whether the couple are eligible and which subclass applies;
• identifying risks in the applicant's visa history before anything is lodged;
• planning the evidence of the relationship across the four aspects the Department assesses;
• reviewing the relationship statement, which is the couple's own account, for accuracy and completeness;
• guiding the people who give Form 888 supporting statements;
• preparing, checking and lodging the application;
• managing correspondence with the Department, including requests for more information; and
• preparing for the permanent stage of the visa.

The firm's complete guide to partner visas in Australia explains the visa framework this work sits within, including the onshore Subclass 820 partner visa, the offshore Subclass 309 partner visa and the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa.

Fixed fee or hourly billing for partner visa lawyer fees?

A fixed fee is a set professional fee for a defined scope of work, agreed before the work begins. Hourly billing charges for the time a lawyer actually spends, at an agreed rate. Both are lawful ways of charging, and both must be disclosed in writing.

How a fixed fee works

Under a fixed fee, the client knows in advance what partner visa lawyer fees will be for the work described in the costs agreement. If that work takes longer than expected, the fee does not rise. The benefit for the client is certainty. The client can plan, and does not need to worry that every email or phone call is adding to the bill.

The important words are "for the work described". A fixed fee only gives certainty if the scope is clear. A fixed fee that says "partner visa application" and nothing more leaves open questions. Does it include a response to a section 56 request? Does it include the permanent stage? Does it include a reply to a natural justice letter? A good costs agreement answers those questions in writing.

My Migration Lawyers works on fixed fees per matter. The scope of each fixed fee is set out in the costs agreement, phase by phase, before the client commits.

How hourly billing works

Under hourly billing, partner visa lawyer fees depend on the time recorded. Time is usually recorded in small units. The final cost is not known at the start, although the law practice must give an estimate of total legal costs.

Hourly billing can suit matters where the work is genuinely unpredictable. For most partner visa applications, the stages are well known, and the work can be scoped in advance. That is one reason many couples prefer a fixed structure for partner visa lawyer fees.

Which is better for a partner visa?

Neither structure is better in every case. The better question is which structure gives the couple a clear understanding of the total cost and the work included. A fixed fee with a precise scope gives the most certainty. An hourly arrangement with a realistic estimate and regular updates can also work. A fixed fee with a vague scope, or an hourly arrangement with no meaningful estimate, gives neither.

Stage 1: initial advice and eligibility review

The first stage that partner visa lawyer fees should cover is advice on eligibility and risk. Before any evidence is gathered, the lawyer should confirm which visa applies and whether anything in the applicant's history creates a problem.

This stage usually involves:

• confirming the relationship type and whether the couple meet the basic requirements for the subclass;
• checking where the applicant will be when the application is lodged, which decides whether an onshore or offshore application applies;
• reviewing the applicant's current and past visas, including any conditions such as condition 8503;
• identifying whether the applicant holds a substantive visa, because an applicant without one may face the Schedule 3 criteria;
• checking for prior refusals, cancellations or character issues; and
• explaining the two-stage structure, in which the permanent stage is generally assessed about two years after the combined application is lodged.

This advice is the foundation of everything that follows. An error at this stage, such as lodging without addressing Schedule 3 or overlooking a no further stay condition, can make the rest of the work pointless. The article on moving from a tourist visa to a partner visa in Australia shows how visa history can change the advice.

The difference between the stages is explained in the article comparing Subclass 820 and Subclass 801. Couples who want to understand the legal requirements in more depth before paying partner visa lawyer fees can read the Subclass 820 visa guide to requirements and documents.

Stage 2: evidence planning

Evidence planning is the stage where partner visa lawyer fees begin to show their value. The Department assesses the relationship against four aspects: the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects and the nature of the commitment. The evidence must address each of them.

Evidence planning means working out, with the couple, what evidence they actually hold, what is missing and how the gaps can be explained honestly. It is not about inventing evidence. It is about presenting the couple's real circumstances in the form the law requires.

A lawyer will usually:

• give the couple a document checklist suited to their facts;
• review what the couple provide and identify gaps;
• advise on how to explain periods apart, separate finances or limited joint documents; and
• check that dates and addresses are consistent across every document.

The firm's guides on how to prove a relationship is genuine, preparing evidence of a genuine relationship and the partner visa document checklist show the scale of this work. For onshore applicants, the 820 partner visa evidence checklist sets out the documents commonly provided.

When comparing partner visa lawyer fees, ask whether the quote includes a review of the evidence itself, or only the lodgement of whatever the couple provide. The difference matters.

Stage 3: relationship statement review

The relationship statement is the couple's own account of how they met, how the relationship developed and how they live together now. It is the client's own evidence. The lawyer does not write the couple's story for them. The lawyer reviews it, raises questions, identifies inconsistencies and asks the couple to correct and confirm it.

Partner visa lawyer fees should cover this review because the relationship statement is often the document the case officer reads first. A statement with wrong dates, missing events or claims that do not match the evidence can raise doubts about the whole application.

The review usually checks:

• that dates of meeting, commencing the relationship, moving in together and any marriage match the documents;
• that periods apart are explained;
• that each of the four aspects of the relationship is addressed; and
• that the statement is consistent with Form 80, Form 888 statements and earlier visa applications.

The firm's article on the partner visa relationship statement explains what the statement should cover. Forms that the Department may request alongside it, such as Form 80, are covered in the firm's Form 80 guide.

When to ask about partner visa lawyer fees

The best time to ask about partner visa lawyer fees is before anything is lodged and before any deadline is close. Early advice gives the lawyer time to review the visa history, plan the evidence and set a scope that fits the facts.

Timing matters for three reasons. First, an applicant's current visa may be about to expire, and the visa held at the time of lodgement can decide whether Schedule 3 applies. Second, a visa condition such as condition 8503 may need to be dealt with before an onshore application is possible. Third, evidence takes time to gather, and a rushed application is more likely to contain gaps and inconsistencies.

Couples who ask about partner visa lawyer fees only after a problem appears, such as a section 56 request or a natural justice letter, often find that the work is more urgent and more complex. That does not mean help is unavailable. It means the scope will be different, and the costs agreement should say so.

A useful approach is to treat the first conversation about partner visa lawyer fees as a conversation about the work. Ask what the lawyer sees in the facts, which stages will be needed and which risks could change the scope. The answers will reveal more about the quote than the figure itself.

Why quotes for partner visa lawyer fees differ

Quotes for partner visa lawyer fees differ because the work behind them differs. Two couples applying for the same subclass can need very different amounts of legal work. One couple may have lived together for years, with joint leases, joint bank accounts and a clean visa history. Another couple may have spent long periods apart, hold few joint documents and have a prior refusal on file.

Quotes also differ because law practices define scope differently. One quote may include only preparation and lodgement. Another may include evidence review, Form 888 guidance, responses to every section 56 request and the permanent stage. The figures cannot be compared until the scope is compared.

Experience and supervision also matter. A matter run by a lawyer who handles partner visas every week will usually be prepared differently from one run by someone who handles them occasionally. The firm's guides on how to find, check and choose Australian migration lawyers and on what an immigration lawyer does and when one is needed explain how to check who will actually do the work.

The practical lesson is simple. When comparing partner visa lawyer fees, put the quotes side by side and compare the work, phase by phase. A lower figure that excludes half the stages is not a lower cost.

Stage 4: Form 888 guidance

Form 888 is a supporting statement given by an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who knows the couple. It is not a statutory declaration. Partner visa lawyer fees should include guidance for the people giving these statements, because a weak or inconsistent Form 888 can do more harm than good.

Guidance usually covers who is eligible to give a statement, what the statement should say, how it should be signed and how it must match the relationship statement. The witnesses write their own statements in their own words. The lawyer explains the requirements and reviews the completed forms for errors before lodgement.

The firm's articles on who can make a Form 888 and what it should say and Form 888 example answers and common mistakes explain the detail.

Stage 5: application preparation and lodgement

Preparation and lodgement are the stage most people picture when they think about partner visa lawyer fees. This is where the forms are completed, the documents are organised and the application is lodged online.

The work usually includes:

• completing the application with the applicant and checking every answer;
• organising the evidence into a clear structure the case officer can follow;
• checking certified copies and English translations;
• confirming the sponsor's part of the application is complete;
• lodging the application in ImmiAccount and confirming lodgement; and
• advising on the bridging visa position after lodgement where the applicant is in Australia.

Where a lawyer acts, the lawyer is usually appointed as the applicant's representative using Form 956. The article on Form 956 and Form 956A explains the difference between a representative and an authorised recipient. Couples lodging on their own will need to create an ImmiAccount first.

After an onshore application is lodged, many applicants hold a bridging visa while the application is processed. The articles on bridging visas in Australia, Bridging Visa A and work rights while waiting for a Subclass 820 visa explain the position. Advice on the bridging visa is part of what partner visa lawyer fees should cover at lodgement.

Stage 6: responding to section 56 requests

A section 56 request is a request from the Department for further information under section 56 of the Migration Act 1958. It can ask for more evidence of the relationship, police certificates, Form 80, health examinations or an explanation of something in the file.

Partner visa lawyer fees should state whether responses to section 56 requests are included. Some requests are simple, such as a new police certificate. Others go to the heart of the case, such as a request for more evidence of the relationship or an explanation of an inconsistency. The time to respond is stated in the request and is short. A missed deadline can lead to a decision on the information the Department already holds.

The firm's article on responding to a section 56 request for more information explains how these requests work. When comparing partner visa lawyer fees, ask what happens if two or three requests arrive. Is each one included, or is each charged separately?

Stage 7: preparing for the permanent stage

The permanent stage is the second stage of a two-stage partner visa. For an onshore application, the temporary Subclass 820 visa is followed by the permanent Subclass 801 visa. The permanent stage is generally assessed about two years after the combined application was lodged, and the Department asks for updated evidence that the relationship is continuing.

Partner visa lawyer fees may or may not include this stage. Some arrangements treat it as a separate phase with its own fee, agreed in advance. Others leave it out entirely. The costs agreement should say which applies.

Preparing for the permanent stage usually involves advising on what updated evidence to gather, reviewing new Form 888 statements, updating the relationship statement and responding to any further requests. Changes in circumstances during processing may need to be reported, and the firm's article on Form 1022 change of circumstances explains when.

If the relationship ends during processing, the position is very different. The article on what happens if the relationship breaks down during a Subclass 820 application explains the options.

What is usually not included in partner visa lawyer fees

Several costs in a partner visa application are paid to third parties, not to the law practice. They are usually separate from partner visa lawyer fees, and a costs agreement should say so clearly.

Government visa application charges

The visa application charge is paid to the Department of Home Affairs when the application is lodged. It is set by the Migration Regulations 1994, it changes from time to time and it is not part of partner visa lawyer fees. Applicants should check the current charge on the Department's website before lodging. The firm's article on what a Subclass 820 partner visa costs discusses the components of the total cost.

Health examinations

Partner visa applicants must usually meet the health requirement. Health examinations are carried out by approved panel physicians and are paid directly by the applicant. They are not part of partner visa lawyer fees.

Police certificates

Applicants are usually asked for police certificates from Australia and from other countries where they have lived for the required period. These are paid to the issuing authority. The lawyer can advise which certificates are needed, but the certificate costs sit outside the professional fee.

Translations

Documents not in English must be accompanied by an English translation. Translation costs are paid to the translator. Partner visa lawyer fees usually include checking the translations, not paying for them.

Tribunal review

If a partner visa is refused and review is available, the application to the Administrative Review Tribunal carries its own fee, paid to the Tribunal. The legal work on a review is a separate matter. It is almost never included in the partner visa lawyer fees for the original application, and a costs agreement that suggested otherwise would need careful reading.

Other third party costs

Other costs can include certified copies, courier fees and documents from overseas authorities. These are usually small, but a clear costs agreement says whether the law practice will pass any of them on as disbursements.

What makes a matter more complex and changes the scope

Some partner visa matters are straightforward. Others carry legal issues that need substantial extra work. Partner visa lawyer fees for a complex matter should reflect that work openly, from the start, rather than through surprise charges later.

Schedule 3 criteria

An onshore applicant who does not hold a substantive visa at the time of application usually has to meet the Schedule 3 criteria in the Migration Regulations 1994. For a Subclass 820 visa, those criteria can be waived where there are compelling reasons. Preparing a Schedule 3 submission is significant legal work. The firm's Schedule 3 waiver page and articles on Schedule 3 criteria for unlawful applicants and the Schedule 3 partner visa waiver explain it.

Condition 8503 waiver requests

Condition 8503, the no further stay condition, prevents the visa holder from being granted most other visas while in Australia. A partner visa cannot be lodged onshore while the condition applies unless it is waived. A waiver request is made to the Department and is granted only in limited circumstances. The article on applying for a Subclass 820 visa with condition 8503 explains the issue. A waiver request is separate work and should be priced as such.

Prior refusals and cancellations

A prior visa refusal or cancellation can affect whether a partner visa can be lodged in Australia and how it will be assessed. The firm's article on a partner visa after a visa refusal and its pages on visa refusals and visa cancellations explain the issues. Partner visa lawyer fees for these matters should include the extra analysis needed.

Character issues

Criminal history, charges or adverse information can raise the character test and the public interest criteria. These issues require careful disclosure and, often, detailed submissions. They change the scope of partner visa lawyer fees because the legal risk is higher and the work is greater.

Onshore or offshore: does the subclass change partner visa lawyer fees?

Yes, the subclass can change the scope of the work, although the core stages are the same. Every partner visa requires eligibility advice, evidence planning, a relationship statement, supporting statements, lodgement and responses to requests. What changes is the risk profile around those stages.

Onshore applications

An onshore application for a Subclass 820 visa is made while the applicant is in Australia. Onshore matters more often involve visa history issues: an expiring student visa, a visitor visa with condition 8503, a bridging visa that is not a substantive visa, or a period without a visa. Those issues can bring in Schedule 3, a waiver request or bridging visa advice. Partner visa lawyer fees for onshore matters should account for that analysis. The firm's articles on the Subclass 820 visa and the Subclass 820 partner visa requirements explain the onshore pathway.

Offshore applications

An offshore application is made while the applicant is outside Australia. Offshore matters usually have fewer visa history complications in Australia, but they can involve overseas documents, police certificates from several countries and evidence of time spent together across borders. The legal work is still substantial, but its focus is different.

Prospective Marriage applications

A Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa is for a couple who intend to marry in Australia. The scope includes evidence that the couple have met, that they intend to marry and that the relationship is genuine. A later onshore partner application usually follows after the marriage, which is a further stage that a costs agreement should address if it is included.

Whatever the subclass, the principle is the same. Partner visa lawyer fees should be quoted after the facts are known, not before.

Partner visa lawyer fees when an application is withdrawn or the relationship ends

A costs agreement should explain what happens to partner visa lawyer fees if the matter ends early. Relationships change, plans change and some couples decide not to proceed.

Under a phased fixed fee, the usual position is that the client pays for the phases completed or commenced, and does not pay for phases not yet reached. Under hourly billing, the client pays for the time recorded up to the point the matter ends. In either case, the costs agreement should say how work in progress is treated.

Where the relationship ends after lodgement, the applicant must tell the Department, and the legal position changes. Some applicants may still have a pathway, for example under the family violence provisions or where the sponsor has died. Others will need advice on their remaining visa options. That advice is a new scope of work and should be disclosed as such.

Couples should also understand that the government visa application charge is generally not refunded simply because an application is withdrawn. That is a matter of Department policy and law, not of partner visa lawyer fees, and it is another reason to obtain advice before lodging rather than after.

Later issues that change the scope of partner visa lawyer fees

Some issues that change the scope only appear after an application has been lodged. They are among the most important reasons to read the costs agreement closely before signing.

A section 57 natural justice letter

A section 57 letter invites the applicant to comment on information the Department considers could be a reason for refusal. It is a serious step, and the response often decides the outcome. The firm's article on the section 57 natural justice letter for a partner visa explains how to respond. A costs agreement should say whether a section 57 response is part of the fixed partner visa lawyer fees or a separate phase.

Family violence

Where a relationship ends because of family violence, the family violence provisions in the Migration Regulations 1994 may allow the applicant to continue towards the permanent visa. These matters need sensitive handling and specific evidence. The firm's family violence partner visa page explains the provisions. The scope of work is very different from an ordinary application, and partner visa lawyer fees should reflect that.

Refusal and Tribunal review

If a partner visa is refused, the time to apply for review at the Administrative Review Tribunal is short and strictly applied. Review is a new matter with its own scope. The firm's page on partner visa refusals and articles on partner visa refusal appeal options, what to expect at an ART review and when to engage a visa appeal lawyer explain the process.

Other factors that change the scope

Other matters can also change the scope: a same-sex relationship with limited public evidence, as discussed on the LGBTI partner visa page, a sponsor with a previous partner sponsorship, explained on the sponsorship limitations page, or dependent children included in the application. None of these makes a partner visa impossible. Each one makes it important that partner visa lawyer fees are quoted on the real facts.

Paying partner visa lawyer fees in phases

Many law practices divide partner visa lawyer fees into phases tied to stages of the work. Payment in phases means the client pays for each stage as it is reached, rather than paying the whole fee at the start.

A typical phase structure might separate:

• the initial advice and onboarding stage;
• evidence review and application preparation;
• lodgement;
• responses to further requests during processing; and
• the permanent stage.

Phased payment helps couples plan, because the cost is spread over the life of the application. It also makes the scope clearer, because each phase has its own description of the work. When reading a phased quote, check what triggers each payment, whether a phase can be skipped if it is not needed, and what happens if the client decides to stop part way through.

My Migration Lawyers sets out its fixed fee for each phase in the costs agreement, so the client can see what is paid, when, and for which work.

The costs agreement: what it must disclose

A costs agreement is the written agreement between the client and the law practice about legal costs. In New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia, legal costs are governed by the Legal Profession Uniform Law. Other states and territories have their own legal profession legislation with similar principles.

Disclosure under the Legal Profession Uniform Law

Under section 174 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law, a law practice must, when or as soon as practicable after instructions are first given, disclose to the client the basis on which legal costs will be calculated and an estimate of the total legal costs. The disclosure must be in writing.

The disclosure must also tell the client about their rights, including the right to negotiate a costs agreement, to negotiate the billing method, to receive a bill and to request an itemised bill. The law practice must take reasonable steps to be satisfied that the client has understood and consented to the proposed course of action and the proposed costs.

If something changes significantly, such as a new legal issue that changes the scope, the law practice must update the disclosure in writing as soon as practicable. That obligation is important for partner visa lawyer fees, because many of the complications listed above only appear after a matter has started.

Consequences of failing to disclose

Under section 178 of the Uniform Law, if a law practice fails to comply with its disclosure obligations, the costs agreement is void, and the client is not required to pay the legal costs until they have been assessed or any costs dispute has been determined. The failure can also amount to unsatisfactory professional conduct or professional misconduct.

Form of the costs agreement

Under section 180 of the Uniform Law, a costs agreement must be written or evidenced in writing. A costs agreement cannot provide that the legal costs are not subject to a costs assessment.

What a partner visa costs agreement should state

A clear costs agreement for partner visa lawyer fees should state:

• whether the fee is fixed or hourly, and the amount or rate for each phase;
• exactly what work each phase includes;
• what is excluded, such as government charges, health examinations, police certificates and translations;
• whether section 56 responses, a section 57 response and the permanent stage are included;
• when each payment is due;
• what happens if the scope changes; and
• what happens if the client ends the arrangement early.

The firm's guide on how to choose Australian migration lawyers, fees and services and the complete guide to immigration lawyer fees and choosing a lawyer set out further points to check.

Questions to ask before agreeing to partner visa lawyer fees

Before signing a costs agreement, a couple should ask direct questions and expect direct written answers. Useful questions include:

• Is the fee fixed or hourly, and what exactly does it cover?
• Who will review the relationship statement and the evidence?
• Are responses to section 56 requests included, and how many?
• Is a response to a section 57 natural justice letter included?
• Is the permanent stage included, and if not, how will it be priced?
• Which costs are paid to third parties and are not part of the partner visa lawyer fees?
• What happens if a Schedule 3 issue or a character issue appears later?
• How are payments staged, and what triggers each payment?
• What happens to the fee if the relationship ends or the application is withdrawn?
• How will the law practice communicate, and how quickly?

A lawyer who answers these questions clearly is showing how the matter will be run. The firm's articles on when an immigration lawyer is needed for a partner visa and how to choose a partner visa lawyer in Australia add more questions.

Couples who are weighing a migration agent against a lawyer can read the factual comparisons in migration agent or lawyer for a partner visa and migration agent vs immigration lawyer. Both registered migration agents and lawyers can assist with partner visas. The right choice depends on the matter and on what the couple need.

Why the cheapest quote can cost more

The lowest quote for partner visa lawyer fees is not always the lowest total cost. The true cost of a partner visa includes the risk of refusal.

A refusal can lead to a Tribunal application, with its own fee and a long wait. It can lead to the loss of the right to apply again in Australia in some circumstances. It can mean a new visa application charge on a fresh application. For an applicant without a substantive visa, it can mean the loss of lawful status. Each of those outcomes costs far more than careful preparation.

This is not a comment on any particular provider. Many factors contribute to a refusal, and no lawyer can guarantee an outcome. The point is that a quote should be compared on scope and quality of work, not on the figure alone. The firm's article on why partner visas get refused and the article on the most common reasons Subclass 820 visas are refused show how evidence problems lead to refusal.

Couples deciding whether to apply on their own can read the comparison of a partner visa lawyer and doing it yourself. Applicants who have already lodged and now want help can read about hiring a lawyer after lodging your own application. Those unhappy with current representation can read how to change immigration lawyer in Australia or seek a second opinion from an immigration lawyer.

Reading two quotes for partner visa lawyer fees: a hypothetical comparison

The following example is hypothetical. It does not describe any client or any provider. It shows how the same couple could receive two quotes for partner visa lawyer fees that look alike but are not.

A couple in Australia are preparing an onshore application. The applicant holds a visitor visa. The couple receive two written quotes.

The first quote states a single fixed fee for "preparation and lodgement of a partner visa application". It says nothing about the evidence review, the relationship statement, Form 888 statements, section 56 requests or the permanent stage. It does not mention the applicant's visitor visa conditions.

The second quote is divided into phases. It includes initial advice on the applicant's visa history, including whether condition 8503 applies. It includes evidence review against the four aspects of the relationship, review of the relationship statement, Form 888 guidance, lodgement, responses to section 56 requests during processing, and a separate phase for the permanent stage. It lists government charges, health examinations, police certificates and translations as excluded.

The first quote may look lower. But if the visitor visa carries condition 8503, the first quote has not addressed the issue that decides whether an onshore application can be made at all. If the Department sends a request for more evidence, the first quote may lead to a further charge. The second quote shows the couple the whole path.

The lesson is not that one figure is right and the other is wrong. The lesson is that partner visa lawyer fees can only be compared once the scope has been compared.

Common misunderstandings about partner visa lawyer fees

Several misunderstandings appear again and again when couples compare partner visa lawyer fees.

"The fee includes the visa charge"

It usually does not. The visa application charge is paid to the Department, not to the law practice. A quote that combines the two without separating them makes comparison difficult. Ask for the professional fee and the third party costs to be shown separately.

"A fixed fee covers everything"

It covers the work described in the costs agreement. If the scope says lodgement only, a section 57 response or the permanent stage may be extra. Read the scope, not just the figure.

"Hourly billing is always more expensive"

Not necessarily. Hourly billing can be reasonable where the work is uncertain and the estimate is realistic. The law practice must give an estimate of total legal costs and update it if there is a significant change.

"Paying a lawyer guarantees the visa"

No. No lawyer can guarantee that a partner visa will be granted. The decision belongs to the Department, and on review to the Tribunal. Partner visa lawyer fees pay for advice, preparation and representation, which reduce avoidable risk.

"The permanent stage is automatic"

It is not. The permanent stage is a separate assessment, and the Department asks for updated evidence that the relationship continues. Partner visa lawyer fees for the permanent stage pay for preparing that evidence properly.

How a paid consultation works

A paid consultation is a fixed appointment in which a lawyer reviews the couple's circumstances and gives initial advice. At My Migration Lawyers, consultations are held by video, and the consultation fee is separate from the fixed fee for any later work on the matter.

In the consultation, the lawyer usually reviews the applicant's visa history, confirms which visa applies, identifies risks such as Schedule 3 or condition 8503, and explains the stages of the work. Where the couple decide to proceed, the firm provides a costs agreement setting out the partner visa lawyer fees for each phase in writing.

Preparation makes the consultation more useful. The firm's article on booking an immigration lawyer consultation explains what to bring, and the article on urgent immigration lawyer advice explains what to prepare where a deadline is close.

How My Migration Lawyers handles partner visa lawyer fees and the work behind them

My Migration Lawyers acts in many partner visa matters, including complex cases involving Schedule 3, condition 8503, prior refusals, character issues, section 57 letters and family violence. The firm is capable of handling these matters from the first advice through to the permanent stage. Its approach to partner visa lawyer fees is simple: a fixed fee per matter, divided into phases, with the scope of each phase set out in the costs agreement before the client commits.

In practice, the work covered by the firm's partner visa lawyer fees follows a clear sequence.

• Advice first. The firm reviews the applicant's visa history and identifies issues such as Schedule 3, condition 8503 or a prior refusal before any fee for the application is agreed, so the scope reflects the real facts.
• A written scope. The costs agreement states what each phase includes and what is excluded, including government charges, health examinations, police certificates and translations.
• Evidence review. The firm reviews the couple's evidence against the four aspects of the relationship and advises on gaps.
• The couple's own account. The relationship statement is the couple's own evidence. The firm reviews it, raises questions and asks the couple to correct and confirm it, so the account presented is accurate and complete.
• Form 888 guidance. The firm explains the requirements to the people giving supporting statements and checks the completed forms.
• Lodgement and requests. The firm lodges the application, monitors the file and responds to Department requests within the time allowed.
• Updated disclosure. If a new issue changes the scope, the firm tells the client in writing before further work is done, as the disclosure rules require.

The firm's partner visa work is described on its partner visa lawyers page, with further guides on the partner visa lawyer in Australia and partner visa lawyers. The firm's partner visa practice is led by its Principal Lawyer, Weiwei Zhang, and more about the firm is on the about page.

My Migration Lawyers acts for couples across Australia by video. Clients come to the firm through its pages for partner visa lawyers in Sydney, Parramatta, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and the Gold Coast.

If you want to know what partner visa lawyer fees would cover in your own matter, and what the work involves at each stage, book a consultation with My Migration Lawyers, or call 1300 040 300.