Partner Visa Processing Times: How Long Will You Wait?

Partner visa processing times are one of the first things couples ask about once they decide to apply. The honest answer is that partner visa processing times are measured in months and often in years, and the length of the wait depends heavily on how complete and consistent the application is when it is lodged.

The Department of Home Affairs publishes partner visa processing times in its processing time guide tool. These figures describe how long past applications took. They are not a promise about your application. This article explains what the published partner visa processing times mean, how the two-stage assessment works across every stream, what slows a file down, what you can do while you wait, and how a properly prepared application reduces the risk of avoidable delay. If you want an overview of the whole partner visa framework first, start with our complete partner visa guide.

This article covers every partner visa stream: the onshore Subclass 820 and Subclass 801, the offshore Subclass 309 and Subclass 100, and the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa. The focus is on what you can control.

What are the current partner visa processing times?

As at October 2026, the Department's processing time guide tool shows that 50% of Partner visa (Subclass 820) applications are processed in 22 months, and 90% are processed in 30 months. These figures were checked on 5 October 2026. The Department updates its published partner visa processing times regularly, so these numbers will change.

The same tool states that a visa may take longer to process if information required for the visa is incomplete or missing. That sentence matters more than the headline numbers. It is the Department telling applicants, in plain terms, that the quality of the application affects partner visa processing times.

The Department also publishes processing times for the Subclass 801, Subclass 309, Subclass 100 and Subclass 300 visas in the same tool. Those figures change over time and differ between streams. This article does not state them, because a figure that was accurate when written may be wrong when you read it. Check the Department's tool directly for the stream that applies to you, and read the figures with the cautions set out below.

For a narrower look at the onshore temporary stage alone, see our articles on how long a Subclass 820 partner visa takes and how long the onshore 820 takes in practice. This article looks at partner visa processing times across all streams and concentrates on the factors that slow a file down.

What the 50% and 90% figures mean, and what they do not mean

The 50% and 90% figures describe a distribution of past decisions. They tell you how long it took the Department to finalise half of the applications it decided in a recent period, and how long it took to finalise nine in every ten of them. They are a description of the past, not a queue position.

What the figures do mean

The published partner visa processing times tell you the general range in which most decisions have recently been made. If 50% of Subclass 820 applications were processed in 22 months, then half of the recently finalised applications took 22 months or less. If 90% were processed in 30 months, then nine in every ten took 30 months or less, and one in ten took longer.

The figures are useful for planning. They help a couple think realistically about work, study, travel, housing and family decisions over the coming years. They also give a reasonable benchmark for when it may be appropriate to look more closely at why a file has not been decided.

What the figures do not mean

The published partner visa processing times do not mean that your application will be decided within 22 months, or within 30 months. They do not create a right to a decision by any date. They do not mean that an application older than 30 months has a problem, and they do not mean that a newer application will be decided later than an older one.

The figures also do not tell you how long a well-prepared application takes compared with an incomplete one. The Department's statistics combine every type of file: simple and complex, complete and incomplete, applications with character or health issues and applications with none. An application that triggers several requests for further information is likely to sit at the slower end of published partner visa processing times. An application that is complete at lodgement removes many of the common reasons for delay, although no preparation can guarantee a faster decision.

Why the figures move

Partner visa processing times move because the Department's workload, staffing, priorities and the number of applications lodged all change. Government planning levels for the family stream of the migration program also affect how many partner visas can be granted in a program year. When the Department changes its settings, published partner visa processing times can shorten or lengthen within months. That is why this article dates its figures and why we review them regularly.

Partner visa processing times by stream: Subclass 820, 801, 309, 100 and 300

Partner visa processing times differ between the onshore and offshore streams and between the temporary and permanent stages. Understanding which visa you are applying for is the first step to understanding which published figure applies to you. Our guide to the differences between Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 explains the two onshore stages in more detail.

Onshore: Subclass 820 and Subclass 801

The onshore partner visa is lodged as one combined application for the temporary Subclass 820 visa and the permanent Subclass 801 visa, with one application charge. The applicant must be in Australia when the application is lodged, along with any family members who apply with them. The applicant may be in or outside Australia when the temporary visa is decided.

The published Subclass 820 figure is the one most couples look at, because it reflects the wait for the first decision. While the Subclass 820 application is being processed, an applicant who held a substantive visa at the time of lodgement generally holds a Bridging Visa A. Once the Subclass 820 is granted, the holder can stay in Australia until the permanent Subclass 801 is finalised, live, work and study in Australia, travel in and out of Australia as many times as they want, and apply for Medicare. Our Subclass 820 visa guide and 820 requirements and documents guide cover the criteria.

Offshore: Subclass 309 and Subclass 100

The offshore partner visa is lodged as one combined application for the provisional Subclass 309 visa and the permanent Subclass 100 visa. The applicant must be outside Australia when the application is lodged and when the Subclass 309 is granted. That timing rule shapes how couples plan around partner visa processing times for the offshore stream, because the applicant generally waits outside Australia for the first decision.

The Department publishes separate Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 processing times in its tool. Those offshore partner visa processing times can differ substantially from the onshore figures, and they can vary depending on where the applicant lives and what checks are needed. The Subclass 309 service page explains how the offshore stream works for Australian sponsors.

Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa

The Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa is lodged outside Australia by a person who intends to marry their Australian partner. If the visa is granted, the couple must marry within the visa period. After the marriage, the applicant applies in Australia for the Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 visas.

This means a couple using the Subclass 300 pathway experiences partner visa processing times twice: once for the Subclass 300 and again for the onshore combined application. The Department publishes the Subclass 300 processing time in the same tool. It is important to plan the wedding and the onshore application with both waits in mind, and to keep evidence of the relationship current throughout.

When does the clock start? Partner visa processing times run from lodgement

Partner visa processing times run from the date the valid application is lodged in ImmiAccount. They do not run from the date of the relationship, the date of the marriage, or the date the sponsor completed their part of the application. If you have not yet set up an account, our guide to creating an ImmiAccount walks through the steps.

The word "valid" matters. An application that does not meet the validity requirements in the Migration Regulations 1994 is not a valid application at all. It does not join the processing queue. For onshore applicants, a validity problem can also affect the bridging visa and, in some cases, whether the person remains lawful in Australia. Validity issues commonly arise where the applicant's current visa carries a No Further Stay condition 8503, or where the sponsor faces sponsorship limitations.

The clock also does not pause for the applicant's convenience. If the Department requests further information, the time spent waiting for the response adds to the total time the application has been open. That is one reason a slow or incomplete response to a request can stretch partner visa processing times well beyond the published median.

What "processed" means

In the Department's published partner visa processing times, an application is processed when it is finalised, which means a decision to grant or refuse has been made, or the application has been withdrawn. The figure does not measure the time to the first contact from a case officer. Many applicants hear nothing for long periods, then receive a request, then wait again. Silence is normal and is not, by itself, a sign of a problem.

The two-stage assessment: why partner visa processing times cover two decisions

Every partner visa involves two decisions. The temporary or provisional visa is decided first. The permanent visa is decided later. This two-stage structure is central to understanding partner visa processing times, because many couples assume the published figure covers the whole journey to permanent residence. It does not.

Stage one: the temporary or provisional visa

At the first stage, the Department decides the Subclass 820 or the Subclass 309. It assesses whether the couple are married or in a de facto relationship, whether the relationship is genuine and continuing, whether the sponsor is eligible, and whether the applicant meets health, character and public interest criteria, including the Australian Values Statement.

For de facto couples, the relationship generally must have existed for 12 months before the application is lodged, unless the relationship is registered in an Australian state or territory or compelling and compassionate circumstances apply. Our article on the de facto partner visa and the 12-month rule explains the exceptions, and our post on whether you really need 12 months of de facto relationship addresses the common misunderstanding. The Tribunal decision in Perez (Migration) [2021] AATA 2564 is one example where the review turned on whether the 12-month requirement was met.

Stage two: the permanent visa

Eligibility for the permanent Subclass 801 or Subclass 100 is generally assessed about two years after the combined application was lodged. At that point the Department asks for updated information and evidence that the relationship is still genuine and continuing. New police certificates or other checks may also be requested.

This means the overall partner visa processing times to permanent residence are longer than the published Subclass 820 figure. The permanent stage cannot generally begin until the eligibility point is reached, and then the Department must assess the updated material. Couples who keep their evidence organised throughout the waiting period are in a much stronger position to respond quickly when the permanent stage begins.

Exceptions at the permanent stage

There are exceptions. In some cases involving a long-term relationship, the temporary and permanent visas may be considered together. Where the relationship ends because of family violence by the sponsor, or because the sponsor has died, the applicant may still be able to obtain the permanent visa. Our family violence partner visa page explains those provisions. If the relationship ends for other reasons, our article on what happens if the relationship breaks down during a Subclass 820 application sets out the consequences.

What slows a partner visa application down?

The most common causes of delay are incomplete information, requests for further information, outstanding checks and inconsistencies in the evidence. Most of these are within the applicant's control, at least in part. Understanding them is the most practical way to avoid ending up at the slow end of published partner visa processing times.

The Department's own processing time guide tool says that a visa may take longer to process if required information is incomplete or missing. In practice, each gap in an application is a potential request. Each request adds a period for the applicant to respond and a further period for the case officer to return to the file. Several requests across the life of an application can add many months to partner visa processing times.

Incomplete information at lodgement

An application lodged without key documents is the single most avoidable cause of delay. The online form allows an applicant to lodge before every document has been attached. Some applicants do this deliberately, intending to upload documents later. Others simply do not know what is required.

When a case officer opens an incomplete file, they cannot make a decision. They must request the missing material, and the file waits. Our partner visa document checklist and the 820 partner visa evidence checklist set out what a complete application generally contains. Identity documents, relationship evidence, sponsor documents, documents for any included family members, and evidence of any name change should all be in the file at lodgement wherever they can be obtained.

Section 56 requests for more information

Section 56 of the Migration Act 1958 allows the Department to request further information from an applicant before deciding an application. A section 56 request sets a deadline. If the information is not provided by the deadline, the Department may decide the application on the material it already has, which can lead to refusal.

Section 56 requests are one of the main reasons partner visa processing times stretch. The request itself means the file has been paused. A late, partial or confused response can lead to a further request, or to a decision made without the missing information. Our guide to responding to a section 56 request for more information explains how to respond properly and on time.

Form 80 and Form 1221 requests

Form 80, Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment, is a detailed form covering the applicant's personal history, addresses, employment, travel, military service and family. The Department may request a Form 80 from the applicant and from family members aged 16 or over who are included in the application, and it commonly does so for partner visas. Form 1221, Additional personal particulars information, may also be requested.

These forms are usually requested through a section 56 request. They require precise dates and addresses over many years, and they must match what the applicant has told the Department in earlier applications. Errors and gaps in a Form 80 can generate further questions and extend partner visa processing times. Our article on completing Form 80 without errors explains the common traps. Preparing the Form 80 and Form 1221 before they are requested means a response can be given quickly if the request arrives.

Police certificates

Partner visa applicants must meet character requirements. Police certificates are generally required from each country where the applicant has lived for a significant period as an adult. Some countries issue police certificates quickly. Others take months, require the applicant to attend in person, or require fingerprints taken in a particular way.

A missing or expired police certificate is a common reason a file cannot be decided. Police certificates have a limited period of validity for the Department's purposes, so a certificate obtained too early may need to be replaced. Planning the timing of police certificates around likely partner visa processing times avoids having to obtain them twice. The Tribunal decision in Takemanu (Migration) [2023] AATA 936 is one example where the Tribunal received a national police clearance certificate from Papua New Guinea during the review, which illustrates how a single outstanding certificate can remain an issue well into the life of a matter.

Health examinations

Partner visa applicants, and generally any family members included in the application, must meet health requirements. The Department will usually direct the applicant to complete health examinations with an approved panel physician, often through its eMedical system. Results have a limited period of validity.

If a health examination is not completed when requested, or if the results are referred for further assessment, partner visa processing times will lengthen. In Housayri (Migration) [2023] AATA 1011, a Subclass 309 matter, the Tribunal's consideration included notification that the applicants' eMedical cases had been submitted to the Department. Where an applicant has a known medical history, it is sensible to obtain advice before the examination about what the health assessment involves, so that any further information can be provided promptly.

Biometrics

The Department may request biometrics, meaning a facial photograph and fingerprints, from applicants outside Australia and in some cases from applicants in Australia. Biometrics are usually collected at an Australian Visa Application Centre or other designated location. Appointments may not be immediately available in every country.

A biometrics request has a deadline. Missing it delays the file and can lead to a decision without the required information. Offshore applicants in particular should be ready to travel to a collection point when asked, because offshore partner visa processing times can lengthen considerably if biometrics are delayed.

Relationship evidence gaps

The Department must be satisfied that the relationship is genuine and continuing. For both married and de facto couples, it considers four aspects of the relationship: the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects, and the nature of the commitment. These aspects are set out in the Migration Regulations 1994 and are applied in every partner visa assessment.

Where the evidence on one or more of these aspects is thin, unexplained or inconsistent, the case officer may request more evidence, interview the couple or issue a natural justice letter. Each step adds to partner visa processing times. Our articles on how to prove your relationship is genuine and preparing evidence of a genuine relationship explain what the Department looks for.

The applicant and the sponsor each provide a relationship statement, which is their own account of how the relationship developed, how they live together, and their future plans. Our guide to the partner visa relationship statement explains how it should be written. Supporting statements from Australian citizens or permanent residents who know the couple are made on Form 888. A Form 888 is not a statutory declaration. Our guides to who can make a Form 888 and what it should say and Form 888 example answers and common mistakes cover the detail.

Couples who live apart for periods, whether for work, study, family obligations or visa reasons, need to explain the separation clearly and show how the relationship continued. A file that leaves those periods unexplained invites questions, and questions extend partner visa processing times.

Character issues

A criminal conviction, a pending charge, a previous visa cancellation or a significant immigration history does not automatically prevent the grant of a partner visa. It does mean the Department will look more closely, and closer scrutiny takes time. Character matters can involve the character test in section 501 of the Migration Act 1958 and the public interest criteria in Schedule 4 of the Migration Regulations 1994.

The Tribunal decision in Lee (Migration) [2022] AATA 4648 concerned the character test and a certificate of good conduct issued by the High Commission of Malaysia. Where a character issue exists, the application should address it openly and with supporting evidence from the start. Disclosing a matter fully at lodgement generally leads to a cleaner assessment than having the Department discover it through its own checks. If a previous visa has been cancelled, our visa cancellations page explains the issues that can carry into a later application.

Inconsistencies with earlier applications

The Department keeps every visa application a person has ever lodged. Case officers compare what the applicant says in the partner visa application with what they said in earlier visitor, student, work or partner visa applications. Differences in marital status, addresses, employment, travel history, relationship history or the date the relationship began are common triggers for further enquiry.

In Yeung (Migration) [2020] AATA 4137, a Federal Circuit Court remittal, the issues included incorrect information in the visa application and in Department interviews, and that the parties' meeting through an introduction agency had not been disclosed. In TRUONG (Migration) [2024] AATA 680, the issues included false or misleading information in a material particular in a previous visitor visa application concerning marital status. These examples show why consistency across the applicant's entire immigration history matters.

An inconsistency does not always mean anyone has been dishonest. People make mistakes on forms, use different date formats, or describe relationships differently at different stages. The difficulty is that every unexplained inconsistency must be resolved before a decision is made, and resolving it extends partner visa processing times. Applicants who previously applied for a tourist visa before applying for a partner visa should check carefully what they told the Department at that time.

Changes in circumstances and Form 1022

Applicants must tell the Department about changes in their circumstances while the application is being processed. Changes include a new address, a new passport, a birth, a change in the relationship, or a new criminal charge. The notification is generally made using Form 1022, Notification of changes in circumstances.

Failing to notify a change can create an inconsistency that later delays the file or leads to more serious consequences. Notifying a change accurately and promptly keeps the record current. Our guide to when to lodge Form 1022 explains what must be reported. Some changes, such as a new child, may also mean the child should be added to the application, which involves its own documents and checks that can affect partner visa processing times.

Section 57 natural justice letters

Section 57 of the Migration Act 1958 requires the Department, in certain circumstances, to give the applicant particulars of adverse information that would be the reason, or part of the reason, for refusing the application, and to invite the applicant to comment. These letters are commonly called natural justice letters.

A section 57 letter is a serious stage in a partner visa application. It usually means the case officer is considering refusal. The response must deal directly with the adverse information, with evidence. The time to respond is short. Our article on responding to an s57 natural justice letter for a partner visa explains how the response should be structured. A natural justice process adds to partner visa processing times, but a strong response can be the difference between grant and refusal.

Sponsorship, Schedule 3 and validity issues that affect partner visa processing times

Some issues affect not only partner visa processing times but whether the application can proceed at all. These issues should be identified and dealt with before lodgement.

Sponsorship limitations

The Australian partner sponsors the applicant, and the sponsorship is completed online in ImmiAccount as part of the process. Sponsorship limitations apply. Generally, a person cannot sponsor more than two partners in their lifetime, or sponsor a partner within five years of a previous partner sponsorship, unless compelling circumstances exist. Our sponsorship limitations page and article on when a sponsor cannot sponsor a partner visa explain how these rules work. Where a limitation applies, the Department must decide whether compelling circumstances exist, which adds time to the assessment.

Schedule 3 criteria for applicants without a substantive visa

Onshore applicants who do not hold a substantive visa when they apply, for example because they hold a bridging visa that is not a substantive visa or because they are unlawful, must generally meet the Schedule 3 criteria 3001, 3003 and 3004, unless those criteria are waived for compelling reasons. Our articles on Schedule 3 criteria when you are unlawful and the Schedule 3 partner visa waiver explain the requirements, and our Schedule 3 waivers page describes how My Migration Lawyers prepares these cases.

Schedule 3 cases require the Department to assess additional criteria and, where a waiver is sought, to weigh the compelling reasons put forward. Partner visa processing times in these cases are often longer, and the quality of the submissions and evidence is critical.

Applying after a previous refusal

An applicant who has had a visa refused in Australia may face a bar on further applications. Partner visas are treated differently from many other visas in this respect, but the applicant's history must be checked carefully. Our article on applying for a partner visa after a visa refusal explains the position. A validity problem discovered after lodgement does not merely affect partner visa processing times. It can mean the application was never valid at all.

What can you do while waiting for a partner visa decision?

While the application is processed, an onshore applicant who held a substantive visa at lodgement generally holds a Bridging Visa A, which allows them to remain lawfully in Australia. Long partner visa processing times make the conditions of that bridging visa important for work, travel and everyday life.

Bridging Visa A

A Bridging Visa A is generally granted with a valid onshore Subclass 820 application when the applicant holds a substantive visa at the time of lodgement. It usually comes into effect when the applicant's substantive visa ends. Our guide to Bridging Visa A work rights, conditions and travel and our overview of bridging visas A, B, C and E explain how these visas operate.

Working while you wait

Applicants for an onshore partner visa can generally work while their application is processed, subject to the conditions on their bridging visa. The bridging visa grant notice sets out the conditions that apply. Our article on working while waiting for a Subclass 820 visa explains the position in detail. Once the Subclass 820 is granted, the holder can work and study in Australia.

Travelling overseas

A Bridging Visa A does not allow the holder to return to Australia after leaving. An applicant who wants to travel overseas and come back while the Subclass 820 application is being processed generally needs to apply for and be granted a Bridging Visa B before departing. Leaving Australia without a Bridging Visa B can have serious consequences for the applicant's ability to return. Our guide to applying for a Bridging Visa B explains the process.

Travel during partner visa processing times needs planning. The applicant should keep the Department informed of any change of address, should be able to respond to requests while overseas, and should make sure travel does not interfere with health examinations, biometrics or interviews. Once the Subclass 820 is granted, the holder can travel in and out of Australia as many times as they want while the Subclass 801 is processed.

Medicare

Subclass 820 holders can apply for Medicare. Applicants who have lodged an application for a permanent partner visa may also be able to enrol in Medicare while they hold a bridging visa, subject to Services Australia's requirements. Eligibility is decided by Services Australia, not the Department of Home Affairs, so applicants should check the current requirements directly.

Offshore applicants

Offshore applicants for the Subclass 309 wait outside Australia for the first decision, because they must be outside Australia when the Subclass 309 is granted. Some offshore applicants visit Australia on a visitor visa during the waiting period. Any visit should be planned carefully so that the applicant is outside Australia at the time of grant, and so that what is said in the visitor visa application is consistent with the partner visa application.

Keeping the relationship evidence current

The waiting period is not dead time. The permanent stage will require updated evidence that the relationship remains genuine and continuing. Couples who keep joint financial records, household documents, evidence of social recognition and correspondence in an organised way throughout partner visa processing times are well placed to respond when the Department asks for updated information.

How to check your partner visa application status in ImmiAccount

You can check the status of your partner visa application by logging in to the ImmiAccount through which it was lodged. The application status is displayed on the account, along with any correspondence the Department has sent, any requests for information and any requests for health examinations or biometrics.

Applicants should log in regularly. Requests are often sent electronically, and the time to respond can begin running from the date the request is sent. Missing a request because the account was not checked is an avoidable cause of delay and, in the worst case, a refusal. If the application was lodged by a lawyer or registered migration agent, the Department will generally send correspondence to the representative. Appointing a representative is done through Form 956 and Form 956A.

The application status shown in ImmiAccount changes as the file moves through the Department's process. A status that does not change for many months is normal given current partner visa processing times. It does not mean the application has been forgotten.

Why you may hear nothing for months

Partner visa applications are allocated to case officers as the Department's workload allows. Before allocation, very little visibly happens. After allocation, the case officer will review the file and either decide it, request further information, or issue a natural justice letter. Long silences are part of ordinary partner visa processing times.

When it may be appropriate to follow up

If an application has been open for longer than the published 90% figure for its stream, it may be reasonable to make an enquiry with the Department through its official channels. An enquiry does not create a right to a decision, and it will not move an application ahead of others. It can, however, confirm whether anything is outstanding. If you lodged your own application and now want a lawyer to review it, our article on hiring an immigration lawyer after lodgement explains how that works, and our article on getting a second opinion explains what a review involves.

Can you ask the Department to prioritise your partner visa?

Generally, no. The Department decides the order in which it considers visa applications. Section 51 of the Migration Act 1958 allows applications to be considered in such order as the Minister considers appropriate, and the Department sets processing priorities accordingly.

There is no general right to priority processing for a partner visa. The Department may consider a request for priority in limited compassionate circumstances, for example where there are serious and urgent circumstances affecting the applicant or the sponsor. Any request should be supported by evidence and made through the Department's official channels. A request without genuine compelling circumstances is unlikely to change partner visa processing times, and repeated requests do not help.

The most reliable way to influence partner visa processing times is not a request for priority. It is lodging an application that can be decided without further requests, and responding promptly and completely to anything the Department asks for.

What is a decision-ready partner visa application?

A decision-ready partner visa application is one that a case officer could decide on the day it is opened, without needing to request anything further. It is complete, consistent and organised. It addresses every criterion, anticipates the questions the Department is likely to ask, and contains the evidence needed to answer them.

What a decision-ready application contains

A decision-ready application generally contains identity documents for every applicant, the sponsor's documents, evidence of the marriage or de facto relationship, evidence across all four aspects of the relationship, both partners' relationship statements, Form 888 supporting statements, police certificates where they can be obtained, and documents for any family members included in the application. Where character, health, Schedule 3, sponsorship limitation or previous refusal issues exist, it also contains a clear submission and supporting evidence on those issues.

Why consistency matters as much as completeness

A decision-ready application is internally consistent and consistent with the applicant's immigration history. The dates in the relationship statements match the dates in the form. The addresses match the lease and the bank statements. The relationship history matches what was said in earlier visa applications. Where something has changed or an earlier record was wrong, the application explains it.

Why it matters for partner visa processing times

No preparation can guarantee a faster decision. The Department controls allocation and priorities. A decision-ready application does, however, remove many of the reasons a file is paused. It reduces the likelihood of section 56 requests, reduces the risk of a natural justice letter, and means that when the case officer opens the file, they have what they need. In a system where published partner visa processing times are measured in years, avoiding even one request can make a meaningful difference.

What happens if a partner visa is refused after a long wait?

If a partner visa is refused, the applicant may be able to seek merits review at the Administrative Review Tribunal. Review deadlines are short and strictly applied, so the refusal notice should be read immediately and advice obtained without delay. Our partner visa refusals page, our article on partner visa refusal appeal options, and our guide to what to expect at an ART review explain the process.

Refusal after years of waiting is distressing, and it is often avoidable. Our articles on why partner visas get refused and the most common reasons Subclass 820 visas are refused set out the patterns. Many of the same weaknesses that lead to refusal are the weaknesses that extend partner visa processing times. Our general visa refusals page and article on when you need a visa appeal lawyer explain the wider options.

Getting advice on partner visa processing times wherever you live in Australia

My Migration Lawyers acts for couples across Australia. Consultations are held by video, so the location of the applicant or sponsor does not limit who we can assist. Clients contact us from Sydney and Parramatta, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart, as well as regional areas and overseas.

Local information is available on our pages for partner visa lawyers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Hobart and Parramatta. For other visa matters, see our pages for immigration lawyers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

If you are comparing advisers, our guides to choosing a partner visa lawyer in Sydney, in Melbourne, in Brisbane and in Perth, and our national guide to choosing a partner visa lawyer in Australia, set out what to look for. Our articles on whether a partner visa lawyer is worth it compared with doing it yourself, the difference between a migration agent and a lawyer for a partner visa and when you need an immigration lawyer for a partner visa explain the options factually. For same-sex couples, our LGBTI partner visa page addresses specific issues.

How My Migration Lawyers prepares partner visa files to avoid the requests that extend partner visa processing times

My Migration Lawyers acts in many partner visa matters across the onshore, offshore and Prospective Marriage streams, including complex cases involving Schedule 3, sponsorship limitations, character issues, previous refusals and inconsistent immigration histories. We are capable of handling these matters, and our work on partner visa processing times is practical: we prepare each file so that a case officer has what they need when the file is opened.

Before lodgement

Before an application is lodged, we review the couple's immigration history, including earlier visa applications, to identify any inconsistencies that must be explained. We check validity issues such as condition 8503, Schedule 3 and sponsorship limitations. We identify the evidence available on each of the four aspects of the relationship and tell the couple where the gaps are. We plan the timing of police certificates and health examinations so that they are current when they are likely to be needed.

Preparing the application

We prepare the application so that it is complete and consistent at lodgement. The relationship statements are the couple's own accounts, which they review and correct, and we present them in the form the law requires. We organise the evidence so that each criterion is addressed clearly. Where Form 80 or Form 1221 is likely to be requested, we prepare the information in advance so that a response can be given promptly. Where a legal issue exists, we prepare a submission addressing it with evidence. The legal strategy, including which issues are addressed and how, is decided by the lawyer.

While the application is processed

During partner visa processing times, we monitor correspondence, respond to section 56 requests and natural justice letters within the deadline, lodge Form 1022 notifications when circumstances change, and advise on bridging visa travel. When the permanent stage begins, we prepare the updated evidence the Department requires.

The work is led by Weiwei Zhang, Principal Lawyer. Our partner visa lawyers page explains the services we provide. You can also learn more about My Migration Lawyers, or read more on our partner visa lawyer and immigration lawyers Australia pages.

We cannot change the Department's published partner visa processing times, and we do not promise any outcome or timeframe. What we can do is reduce the avoidable causes of delay. To discuss your application, book a consultation online or call 1300 040 300.