Partner Visa Telephone Interview: How to Prepare

What is a partner visa phone interview?

A partner visa phone interview is a telephone call from a Department of Home Affairs officer who asks the applicant, the sponsor, or both, questions about their relationship so the officer can decide whether it is genuine and continuing. The partner visa phone interview is not a formal hearing and it is not a test with a pass mark. It is one of the ways a case officer gathers evidence before making a decision on a partner visa in Australia.

Most couples never expect the call. They lodge the application, upload documents, and wait. Then a phone rings from a private or unknown number, and an officer asks to speak to the applicant about the relationship. A partner visa phone interview can last a few minutes or much longer. It can happen once, or the officer can call each partner on a different day. The way you handle a partner visa phone interview can strengthen a good application, or it can create doubts that take months to resolve.

This guide focuses on the telephone format itself: why the Department calls, when calls usually happen, what happens during the call, what to do if you miss it, how to prepare honestly, and what follows. It applies to the onshore Subclass 820 visa and Subclass 801 visa, and to the offshore Subclass 309 visa and Subclass 100 visa, because the same relationship test applies to all four.

Why the call is often unannounced

A partner visa phone interview is often made without an appointment. Some officers send an email or letter first to arrange a time. Others call directly. An unannounced call is not a sign that the officer suspects fraud. It is simply a practical way to hear each partner's own account without time to compare notes. Couples should treat any call from the Department as a normal part of processing, stay calm, and answer truthfully.

What a partner visa phone interview is not

A partner visa phone interview is not the same as a home visit, and it is not the same as an in-person interview at a departmental office, although the topics can overlap. It is also not an informal chat. Everything you say can be recorded in the officer's notes and relied on when the decision is made. That is why the call deserves the same care as any form you sign.

Why does the Department call partner visa applicants?

The Department calls partner visa applicants to test the relationship evidence against the people themselves. The documents show what the couple have done. A partner visa phone interview shows whether the couple know each other, whether their accounts match, and whether the story in the application holds together when the partners speak in their own words.

The Department's policy on assessing married and de facto relationships says the mutuality of a couple's commitment may be assessed by the partners' knowledge of each other's personal circumstances, including background and family situation, and that this "could be established at interview". The de facto instruction lists an interview with the applicant and/or sponsor as one of the sources of information a delegate may consider. A partner visa phone interview is the most common way that interview happens.

The legal basis for a partner visa phone interview

The Migration Act 1958 allows the Department to invite an applicant to give additional information. Section 56 allows the officer to invite further information, and section 58 sets out how that invitation is made, including whether the information is to be given in writing, at an interview, or by telephone. Section 59 deals with interviews. In practice, a partner visa phone interview is a way of collecting information under these provisions, so the information you give on the call is part of the material the decision maker must consider.

The relationship test itself is in section 5F of the Migration Act for married couples and section 5CB for de facto couples. Under regulations 1.15A and 1.09A of the Migration Regulations 1994, the decision maker must consider all of the circumstances of the relationship, including the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects and the nature of the commitment. A partner visa phone interview tests every one of these aspects at once, because questions about money, the home, friends and future plans each touch a different part of the assessment. The guide to partner visa relationship evidence explains the full framework.

Common reasons a partner visa phone interview is arranged

There is no published list of triggers, and many partner visa phone interviews are routine. In practice, a call is more likely where the relationship is recent, where the couple have spent long periods apart, where there is a large age gap or cultural difference that the officer wants to understand, where the documents are thin, or where something in the file does not line up. Examples include different addresses in different forms, a relationship start date that differs between the applicant and the sponsor, or an earlier visa application that described a different relationship status.

A call can also follow information the Department has received from someone else. The de facto instruction lists adverse information from third parties as a source the officer may consider. If that happens, the officer may use a partner visa phone interview to hear your side before deciding what weight to give the allegation.

Why consistency is the real focus

The partner visa phone interview is less about whether you know your partner's favourite food and more about whether two honest people describe the same shared life. Officers know that genuine couples forget dates and remember events differently. What concerns them is a pattern: answers that contradict the documents, answers that contradict each other on important facts, or answers that sound memorised. The Department's integrity provisions, including public interest criterion 4020 on false or misleading information, sit in the background of every partner visa phone interview. The guide to why partner visas get refused shows how credibility problems lead to refusals.

When does a partner visa phone interview happen?

A partner visa phone interview can happen at any stage of processing: shortly after lodgement, close to a decision on the temporary visa, during the wait for the permanent stage, or when the permanent visa is assessed. There is no fixed point in the process and no guarantee that a call will happen at all.

At the temporary stage

For onshore couples, the first partner visa phone interview usually happens while the Subclass 820 visa is being assessed. The Subclass 820 visa explained and the Subclass 820 visa requirements and documents guide set out what the officer is assessing at that point. Many onshore applicants are holding a bridging visa while they wait, and the guide to bridging visas in Australia explains that status.

At the permanent stage

The permanent stage is a fresh assessment. The Department's policy for the Subclass 801 visa says the applicant must show they continue to meet the definition of spouse or de facto partner, that this is a fresh assessment based on the evidence at the time of decision, and that it may require further investigation such as interviewing both partners. A partner visa phone interview at the permanent stage is therefore normal, even for couples who were never called at the temporary stage. The guide to Subclass 820 vs Subclass 801 explains the two stages.

For offshore applicants

Offshore applicants for the Subclass 309 visa can also receive a partner visa phone interview, and the sponsor in Australia may be called separately. Because offshore couples are usually living apart, the officer often focuses on how the relationship developed, how often the partners have met, how they communicate and what their plans are. Couples applying for the Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa may face similar questions about their intention to marry and live together.

After a change in circumstances

A partner visa phone interview is also more likely after you report a change in circumstances, such as a new address, a period apart, or the birth of a child. The guide to Form 1022 change of circumstances explains when a change must be reported. An officer may call to understand the change and confirm that the relationship continues.

Are both partners interviewed separately?

Yes. In most partner visa phone interviews the officer speaks to the applicant and the sponsor separately, either one after the other on the same day or on different days. The officer is not trying to trick either of you. Separate calls are the simplest way to hear each partner's own memory of the relationship without one partner answering for the other.

Why separate calls matter

Separate calls mean each partner must answer from their own knowledge. If the applicant says the couple moved into their current home in March and the sponsor says it was the previous winter, the officer will note it. One difference on its own rarely matters. Several differences about central facts, such as when you met, when you started living together, who lives in the home and who pays the bills, can lead the officer to doubt the whole account.

Separate calls also protect vulnerable applicants. The Department's policy on sponsorship assessment says interviews should, where possible, allow the visa applicant to communicate freely and confidentially, and that officers conducting telephone interviews should take care to confirm they are speaking to the visa applicant and that the applicant is not being forced or coerced into giving certain responses. If you are worried about your safety, the family violence provisions may be relevant, and you should get advice before the call if possible.

What the sponsor should expect

Sponsors are sometimes surprised to receive a partner visa phone interview, because the application is in the applicant's name. The sponsor is a central witness to the relationship and is often asked the same questions as the applicant. The sponsor should know the application as well as the applicant does, including the relationship history in the forms and any relationship statement. Sponsors with a previous partner visa sponsorship should also expect questions about that history, which is explained in the guide on when a sponsor cannot sponsor a partner visa.

De facto couples

De facto couples face the same partner visa phone interview process. Because there is no marriage certificate, the officer may spend more time on when the relationship began, when the couple started living together and how they show the relationship to others. The guide to the de facto partner visa and the guide on whether you need 12 months of de facto relationship explain how the de facto requirements work.

Is a partner visa phone interview a sign of a problem?

No. A partner visa phone interview is a normal part of how the Department checks relationships, and many couples who are called are later granted. The call means the officer wants to hear from the partners directly. It does not mean the officer has already decided anything.

That said, a partner visa phone interview is an opportunity for the officer to test any doubt the file has raised. If your application contains something unusual, the officer may use the call to understand it. That is why a call should be taken seriously even when the relationship is strong. A couple who treats the call casually, guesses at dates or contradicts the documents can create a problem that did not exist before.

What officers are allowed to consider

The decision maker must weigh all of the circumstances of the relationship. Policy says the assessment must not be a count of how many matters are satisfied against how many are not. A single uncertain answer in a partner visa phone interview is weighed with everything else in the file: the length of the relationship, the documents, the Form 888 statements, and any explanation the couple gives. A partner visa phone interview is one piece of evidence, not the whole case. The guide to the complete Subclass 820 partner visa explains how the pieces fit together.

When the Department uses a written request instead

Not every concern leads to a partner visa phone interview. Sometimes the officer simply sends a written request for documents or a letter inviting comment. Sometimes the officer does both. Couples should not read meaning into the choice of method. Whatever form the request takes, the response deserves the same care.

What happens during a partner visa phone interview?

During a partner visa phone interview, the officer usually introduces themselves, confirms who they are speaking to, explains the purpose of the call, and then asks a series of questions about the relationship and the information in the application. At the end, the officer may tell you what happens next, or may simply thank you and end the call.

Identity checks at the start of the call

Expect the officer to confirm your identity before discussing the application. This may involve your full name, date of birth, the application details or other personal information. If you are unsure whether the caller is genuinely from the Department, you can ask for the officer's name and position and a way to verify the call, and you can check your ImmiAccount for any messages. Do not give payment details to anyone on a call about your application.

Interpreters

If English is not your strongest language, say so at the start of the call and ask for an interpreter. It is far better to pause the partner visa phone interview and arrange an interpreter than to answer important questions in a language you cannot use precisely. Misunderstandings caused by language are a common source of apparent inconsistencies. If the officer calls when no interpreter is available, politely ask whether the call can be rescheduled with one. Write down the date and time of your request.

Where and how to take the call

If you can, take the call somewhere quiet and private. Do not take a partner visa phone interview while driving, in a noisy workplace or with your partner sitting beside you prompting answers. If the call comes at a bad time, it is reasonable to explain this and ask whether the officer can call back at an agreed time. Most officers will try to accommodate a genuine reason. Do not refuse to speak to the officer, and do not hang up without explanation.

How long a partner visa phone interview lasts

There is no fixed length. Some calls are short checks of a few facts. Others cover the whole relationship. A longer partner visa phone interview does not mean something is wrong, and a short call does not mean the application will be granted. What matters is that your answers are truthful, clear and consistent with the file.

Can you ask questions?

Yes. You can ask the officer to repeat or rephrase a question, and you should do so if you do not understand it. You can also ask what the next step will be and whether the officer needs any documents. It is sensible to take brief notes after the call, recording the date, the officer's name, the main topics and anything the officer asked you to send. Those notes are useful if you later need to respond in writing.

What topics does a partner visa phone interview cover?

A partner visa phone interview usually covers the history of the relationship, the couple's daily life, their finances, their families and friends, and their plans for the future, which are the same matters the decision maker must consider under the Migration Regulations. The questions are not secret. They follow the structure of the relationship test.

This guide keeps the list of questions short on purpose. The aim is to understand why each topic is asked, not to memorise answers. A couple who understands the purpose of each topic can answer honestly and naturally.

How the relationship began and developed

Expect questions about how and where you met, when the relationship became serious, when you first lived together, when you married or registered the relationship if you did, and how families reacted. These questions test the commitment aspect and the timeline in the forms. If you met online, through family or through an introduction service, say so plainly. The Department sees every kind of meeting story.

Your household and daily life

The officer may ask where you live, who else lives there, how the home is arranged, who does which household tasks, and what a normal weekday looks like. These questions test the nature of the household. If you share a house with other people, or live with family, explain the arrangement simply. The household is where a partner visa phone interview most often exposes a mismatch with the forms, so it helps to know exactly what your application says about your addresses and living arrangements. The guide to Form 80 explains why address history must be accurate.

Money and shared responsibilities

Expect questions about how you share costs, whether you have joint accounts, who pays rent or the mortgage, and whether one partner supports the other. These questions test the financial aspects. There is no single correct arrangement. The Department's policy accepts that some couples keep separate accounts, and what matters is that your answers describe your real arrangement and match the documents.

Family, friends and social life

The officer may ask about each other's families, the names of parents and siblings, which friends know you as a couple, and what you do together socially. These questions test the social aspects of the relationship and often connect to the Form 888 statements lodged with the application. If a Form 888 witness says they attended your wedding or visit you often, you should both be able to describe that person.

Plans for the future

Finally, expect questions about where you see yourselves in the future, whether you plan to have children, and how you would handle a period apart. These questions test the nature of the commitment. Answer as you would answer a trusted friend. A plan does not need to be detailed to be genuine.

Past relationships and previous applications

Some partner visa phone interviews include questions about previous marriages or relationships, previous visa applications and earlier statements made to the Department. Answers must be consistent with what was said before. If an earlier form contains an error, do not try to explain it away on the call without advice. The correct way to deal with an incorrect answer is explained later in this guide.

Communication between you and your partner during the process

It is natural for partners to tell each other that a call has happened. There is nothing improper in that. What you should avoid is one partner coaching the other on what to say before the second call, or one partner listening in and prompting. If your partner is called after you, simply tell them the call happened and let them answer from their own memory. An officer who senses that answers have been coordinated after the first call will give them less weight.

Children and other family members

Occasionally, an officer may ask to speak to another person, or may ask about children in the household and their care arrangements. Answer honestly. If a child is included in the application, the officer may also be checking matters such as custody and consent. Those matters are usually dealt with through documents rather than a partner visa phone interview, but you should be ready to describe who cares for the children and where they live.

What if you miss a partner visa phone interview call?

A missed partner visa phone interview call is not a refusal. Officers know people work, sleep and travel. However, a missed call should be followed up promptly, because an officer who cannot reach you may decide to send a written request, may try again, or may eventually decide the application on the information already in the file.

What to do straight away

First, check your phone for a voicemail or text message and your email and ImmiAccount for any message from the Department. Second, if a number or reference was left, contact the officer as soon as possible, explain that you missed the call and offer times when you can be reached. Third, confirm that your phone number and email address in the application are current. If they have changed, update them. Fourth, tell your partner, because the officer may try to call them next.

If you have appointed a representative, tell them immediately. The guide to Form 956 and 956A explains how the Department communicates with a representative once one is appointed.

Keeping your contact details current

The Department contacts you using the details in your application. If you change your phone number or email, you should update the Department promptly. A partner visa phone interview cannot happen if the officer is calling a number you no longer use. The guide on how to create an ImmiAccount explains how the online account works, and the guide to Form 1022 explains when a change of circumstances must be notified.

Repeated missed calls

If you miss several calls, the officer may stop trying and send a written request under section 56, or a letter inviting comment under section 57. Respond to any written request within the time stated. If you cannot meet the time, explain why and ask for more time before it expires. Ignoring the Department is one of the fastest ways to turn a strong application into a refusal.

How to prepare honestly for a partner visa phone interview

The best preparation for a partner visa phone interview is to know your own application well, to talk openly with your partner about your shared history, and to answer from memory rather than from a script. Preparation is about accuracy and calm, not about learning answers by heart.

Read your own application

Many applicants have not read their own application since the day it was lodged. Before any partner visa phone interview, both partners should read the application form, the sponsorship, the relationship statement, the Form 888 statements and any Form 80. Note the key dates and addresses. If something in the file is wrong, get advice about correcting it in writing rather than hoping the officer will not ask. The guide to the partner visa relationship statement explains why that statement must be your own true account.

Talk through your history together, then answer alone

It is natural and honest for couples to talk about their history: when they met, the trips they took, the places they lived. That conversation helps both partners recall events accurately. What you should not do is agree on "answers" to give, or write a script. On the partner visa phone interview, each partner should answer from their own memory, in their own words. If you do not remember something, say so. "I do not remember the exact date, but it was around the middle of that year" is a genuine answer. A confident wrong answer is worse than an honest "I am not sure".

Why rehearsed answers backfire

Officers conduct many partner visa phone interviews and recognise memorised answers. Two partners who give identical wording, identical lists of dates, or answers that sound read from paper raise a different concern: that the couple prepared a story rather than describing a shared life. Rehearsed answers also break down when the officer asks a follow-up question the couple did not expect. Genuine memories are uneven and personal. That is normal, and decision makers know it.

Do not guess, and do not exaggerate

If you are asked something you do not know, such as the exact salary of your partner or the date your partner's sibling married, say you do not know. Guessing creates inconsistencies. Exaggerating, for example by saying you see each other every day when you live in different cities, creates bigger ones. Accuracy protects you.

Prepare practical things

Keep your passport, your application reference and a copy of your application where you can reach them. Have a quiet place you can move to if a call comes. If you need an interpreter, be ready to say so. If you have a representative, keep their details handy. These small steps make a partner visa phone interview far less stressful.

Get advice when the file has known problems

Some couples know before any call that their file has difficulties: a short relationship, long periods apart, a previous refusal, an earlier application with incorrect information, or a sponsor with a sponsorship history. These couples benefit most from advice before a partner visa phone interview, because the problem can often be explained in writing first, on your terms. The guide to preparing evidence of a genuine relationship and the partner visa document checklist are good starting points, and the 820 partner visa evidence checklist explains what is usually lodged.

What happens after a partner visa phone interview?

After a partner visa phone interview, the officer records what was said and considers it with the rest of the file. The next step may be a decision, a written request for more information under section 56, an invitation to comment on adverse information under section 57, or simply further waiting while other checks are completed.

A decision on the existing file

If the partner visa phone interview confirmed the relationship and the file is otherwise complete, the officer may move to a decision. There is no set time between the call and the decision. Some couples receive a grant soon after. Others hear nothing for a long time because other checks, such as health or character, are still under way.

A request for more information

The officer may ask for documents after a partner visa phone interview, for example evidence of a trip you mentioned, a lease, or bank records showing shared expenses. A request of this kind is usually made under section 56. Respond fully and within the time given. The guide to responding to a section 56 request explains how.

An invitation to comment under section 57

If the officer intends to rely on information that would be a reason, or part of a reason, to refuse the visa, section 57 of the Migration Act generally requires the officer to give you particulars of that information, explain why it is relevant, and invite you to comment. After a partner visa phone interview, this information is often a list of inconsistencies between the partners' answers, or between the answers and the documents. The Department cannot refuse the application before you comment, tell it you do not wish to comment, or the time to comment ends.

A section 57 letter after a partner visa phone interview is the single most important opportunity to rescue the application. It is the point at which the couple can explain each inconsistency, provide documents, and correct any misunderstanding, including problems caused by language or a poor phone line. The guide to the s57 natural justice letter for a partner visa explains how to respond. A response should be prepared carefully, with evidence, and should not simply repeat that the relationship is genuine.

Can you get a copy of the interview record?

You can ask the Department for access to information it holds about you, including notes or recordings of a partner visa phone interview, through a request for access to documents. Whether a recording exists, and what is released, depends on the circumstances. If you receive a section 57 letter, the letter itself should set out the information the officer is relying on. If you think the letter misstates what you said, say so clearly in your response.

What if your answers in a partner visa phone interview are inconsistent?

Inconsistent answers in a partner visa phone interview do not automatically lead to a refusal, but they must be explained, and unexplained inconsistencies on central facts are one of the most common reasons decision makers find a relationship is not genuine. The key question is whether there is an honest explanation the decision maker can accept.

Minor and major inconsistencies

A minor inconsistency is a small difference that genuine couples often have: the exact month of a trip, the name of a restaurant, the order of two events. A major inconsistency goes to the core of the relationship: when it began, whether the couple live together, who lives in the home, whether the couple were apart for long periods, or whether there was another relationship at the same time. Major inconsistencies need detailed explanations and supporting evidence. This guide keeps the topic at summary level. The guides to why Subclass 820 partner visas are refused and why partner visas get refused explore the wider pattern.

Explaining an inconsistency honestly

The best explanation is the true one. If you misunderstood the question, say so and explain what you meant. If you were nervous and gave a wrong date, say so and point to a document showing the correct date. If the phone line was poor or you did not have an interpreter, say so. If your partner remembered an event differently, explain why each of you might remember it that way. Never invent an explanation to cover an inconsistency. An invented explanation that is later contradicted is far more damaging than the original mistake.

Incorrect information in the application

Sometimes a partner visa phone interview reveals that the application itself contains an error. Sections 101 to 107 of the Migration Act deal with the accuracy of the information an applicant gives. Applicants must answer questions correctly, must notify the Department of changes in circumstances under section 104, and can correct incorrect information under section 105. Under section 107, the Department may give notice of possible incorrect information and invite a response. Where information is false or misleading in a material particular, public interest criterion 4020 can apply, with serious consequences. If a partner visa phone interview has exposed an error, get advice before you correct it, so the correction is complete, accurate and properly framed.

A partner visa phone interview that went badly

If you finish a partner visa phone interview feeling that it went badly, do not panic and do not send a long unplanned email to the officer. Write down what you were asked and what you said while it is fresh. Then get advice on whether to provide information now, or wait for the officer to raise concerns in writing. In some cases a short, careful written clarification with documents is useful. In others, it is better to prepare a full response once the officer's concerns are known.

Can you have a lawyer during a partner visa phone interview?

You can have a lawyer or registered migration agent represent you in your application, and if one is appointed the Department will generally correspond with them. A partner visa phone interview is usually a direct conversation between the officer and the partner, because the officer wants to hear the partner's own account. If you have a representative, tell the officer, and ask whether a time can be arranged so your representative can be available or so you can speak to them first.

Why a lawyer cannot answer for you

A lawyer cannot answer relationship questions on your behalf, and should not try. The evidence the officer needs is your own memory of your own relationship. What a lawyer can do is review the file before any call, identify likely areas of concern, explain the process, help you request an interpreter if needed, and prepare written responses afterwards. The guide on when you need an immigration lawyer for a partner visa explains the role more broadly, and the guide on whether a partner visa lawyer is worth it compared with doing it yourself sets out the choice honestly.

Appointing a representative after lodging

Many couples lodge their own application and only seek help when a partner visa phone interview happens or a letter arrives. It is possible to appoint a representative at that stage. The guide to hiring an immigration lawyer after lodging your own application explains what happens next, and the guide to urgent immigration lawyer advice explains what to gather if a deadline is close.

Special situations in a partner visa phone interview

Some couples face a partner visa phone interview in circumstances that need extra care, including family violence, a relationship that has ended, an applicant without a substantive visa, or a same-sex relationship that could not be acknowledged openly.

Family violence or fear of the sponsor

If you are afraid of your sponsor, the partner visa phone interview may be a safe moment to tell the officer, because the call is with you alone. The Department's policy recognises that interviews may reveal indicators of family violence that would not appear in written responses. The family violence provisions in Division 1.5 of the Migration Regulations can allow some applicants to continue toward permanent residence even if the relationship has ended. Read about the family violence partner visa provisions and get advice as early as possible.

If the relationship has ended

If the relationship has broken down, you must not pretend otherwise on a partner visa phone interview. You are required to notify the Department of a change in circumstances, and giving false information creates serious risks. The guide on what happens if the relationship breaks down explains the options.

Applicants without a substantive visa

If the applicant did not hold a substantive visa when the application was made, the officer may also be assessing Schedule 3 criteria, and the partner visa phone interview may include questions about how the applicant came to be without a visa. The guides to Schedule 3 criteria for partner visas and the Schedule 3 waiver explain what must be shown.

Same-sex couples

Same-sex couples receive the same partner visa phone interview as any other couple. Where the relationship could not be openly acknowledged in a home country, the Department's policy tells decision makers to take that into account. The LGBTI partner visa page explains how these cases are handled.

What Tribunal decisions show about partner visa interviews

Tribunal decisions show that what is said at interview, and whether it matches the rest of the evidence, is frequently at the centre of partner visa reviews. The decisions below are remittals: in each, the Tribunal sent the matter back to the Department to reconsider. The descriptions are limited to the issues recorded for each decision and do not mean any later outcome was a grant.

Interviews and incorrect information

In Yeung (Migration) [2020] AATA 4137, a Subclass 820 matter that came to the Tribunal after a Federal Circuit Court remittal, the recorded issues included incorrect information in the visa application and in Department interviews, and a meeting through an introduction agency that had not been disclosed. In 1620095 (Migration) [2019] AATA 400, a Subclass 309 matter, the recorded issues included false information and inconsistent information submitted, with the Tribunal recording that it was satisfied of the visa applicant's identity and turning to the genuine and continuing relationship. These decisions show why a partner visa phone interview must be consistent with what was written in the forms.

Inconsistencies between the partners

In Nguyen (Migration) [2018] AATA 5304, a Subclass 820 matter, the recorded issues included a genuine spousal relationship, marital status with Centrelink, inconsistencies between the applicant and sponsor at the hearing, and a large age difference. In 2431123 (MIGRATION) [2026] ARTA 1276, a Subclass 820 matter returned after a Federal Circuit and Family Court remittal, the issues recorded were a genuine and continuing relationship, inconsistent evidence and limited corroborative evidence, and difficulty understanding the requirements. In Ahmed (Migration) [2023] AATA 3761, a Subclass 309 matter, the issues included adverse and inconsistent information about previous relationships.

Knowledge of each other and separate evidence

In Raymont (Migration) [2020] AATA 5584, a Subclass 309 matter, the recorded issues included the applicant's inaccurate knowledge of the sponsor, visits to each other's countries and methods of communication. In KAUR (Migration) [2019] AATA 3936, a Subclass 820 matter, the issues included the benefit of oral evidence from the applicant and sponsor separately, and anonymous allegations. Together, these decisions show that inconsistencies and gaps in knowledge are examined in context, and that separate evidence from each partner can work in a couple's favour when it is honest and consistent. The guide to what to expect at an ART review explains the review process. The Administrative Review Tribunal replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on 14 October 2024, and review deadlines are short and strictly applied, so any refusal should be assessed immediately by a visa appeal lawyer. The guide to partner visa refused appeal options explains the next steps, and the firm's partner visa refusals page explains how a refusal is assessed.

How My Migration Lawyers helps with a partner visa phone interview

My Migration Lawyers helps couples before and after a partner visa phone interview by reviewing the whole file for the issues an officer is likely to explore, explaining the process so both partners know what to expect, and preparing the written response if the officer raises concerns. The firm acts in many partner visa matters involving interviews, inconsistencies and section 57 letters, and it regularly handles complex cases involving recent relationships, long periods apart, earlier applications with incorrect information and prior refusals.

Before a partner visa phone interview

Before any call, the firm reads the application as an officer would: the forms, the sponsorship, the relationship statement, the Form 888 statements, Form 80 and every document lodged. It identifies dates, addresses and events that do not line up, and explains which of them an officer is likely to ask about. Where the file contains an error, the firm advises on correcting it properly under the Migration Act. Where the relationship has features an officer may question, such as a short courtship, an age gap or time apart, the firm advises on whether further evidence or a written explanation should be lodged before any partner visa phone interview takes place. It does not script answers. The couple's account is their own, and the firm's role is to make sure the written file presents that account accurately and in the form the law requires.

After a partner visa phone interview

After a partner visa phone interview, the firm takes detailed instructions from each partner about what was asked and answered, obtains the Department's record where appropriate, and prepares the response to any section 56 request or section 57 letter. Each inconsistency is addressed with the couple's own explanation and with documents that show the true position. Where a partner visa has already been refused after an interview, the firm reviews the decision record to see how the interview evidence was used and whether review is available, and acts quickly because the review deadline is short.

Who acts for you

Partner visa work at My Migration Lawyers is led by Weiwei Zhang, Principal Lawyer. The firm is an Australian immigration law firm with an office in Sydney, and more about its approach is on the About My Migration Lawyers page and the main partner visa lawyers page. The firm acts for couples Australia-wide with consultations by video, including partner visa clients in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Hobart and Parramatta. Couples who already have a representative can ask for a second opinion from an immigration lawyer, and the guide to booking an immigration lawyer consultation explains what happens at the first meeting. Couples comparing firms can read about choosing the best partner visa lawyer in Australia and what a partner visa lawyer does.

Book a consultation about your partner visa phone interview

If you have been called, expect to be called, or have received a letter after a partner visa phone interview, the right time to get advice is now, before you respond. Book a Consultation with My Migration Lawyers to have your file reviewed and your next step planned. You can also call 1300 040 300.