Sponsoring a Partner on a Subclass 485 Visa

To sponsor partner on 485 visa grounds is to sponsor a person who holds a Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa for an onshore partner visa while they are in Australia. The Australian sponsor must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen. The partner applies for the combined Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 partner visa.

The single most important decision in a sponsor partner on 485 visa case is the lodgement date. If the application is lodged while the Subclass 485 is still in effect, the partner holds a substantive visa at the time of application. Schedule 3 of the Migration Regulations 1994 then does not apply, and the partner is granted a Bridging visa A. If the Subclass 485 expires first, the position changes significantly.

This guide is written for the Australian sponsor. It explains who can sponsor, why the timing matters, what happens if the Subclass 485 runs out, whether any no further stay condition applies, what work rights the partner has on the bridging visa, how secondary Subclass 485 holders are treated, and how to build relationship evidence when one partner first came to Australia as a student. The wider pathway for graduates is covered in the firm's guide to a partner visa on a graduate visa. This article focuses on the sponsor's side and the timing.

The commercial page for this pathway is the firm's Subclass 820 visa page, and the full framework is set out in the complete guide to partner visas in Australia.

Sponsor partner on 485 visa: the short answer

Yes. An eligible Australian sponsor can sponsor a partner who holds a Subclass 485 visa, and the partner can apply for the Subclass 820 visa in Australia without leaving.

The Subclass 485 is a temporary visa granted to international students after they finish their studies. It does not stop the holder from applying for another visa in Australia unless a no further stay condition has been imposed, which is unusual for this subclass. That makes the sponsor partner on 485 visa pathway one of the more straightforward onshore partner visa situations, provided the application is lodged at the right time.

In practical terms, a sponsor partner on 485 visa application has five moving parts:

• The sponsor's eligibility. The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen, and must not be caught by the partner visa sponsorship limitations.
• The relationship. The couple must be married or in a de facto relationship that meets the legal definition, and the relationship must be genuine and continuing.
• The partner's visa status on the day of lodgement. This decides whether Schedule 3 applies.
• The bridging visa. This decides what the partner can do while the application is processed.
• The evidence. This decides whether the Department of Home Affairs is satisfied the relationship is genuine.

The onshore partner visa guide explains the two-stage structure in detail. For a sponsor partner on 485 visa couple, the first stage is the temporary Subclass 820 and the second stage is the permanent Subclass 801. Both are applied for together, in one application, with one application charge paid at lodgement. The firm's article on the partner visa two-stage process explains how the second stage is assessed.

Who can sponsor a partner who holds a Subclass 485 visa?

An Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen can sponsor a partner who holds a Subclass 485 visa. A person who holds a temporary visa cannot be the sponsor.

This point matters more than many couples realise. Where both people came to Australia as international students, it is common for both of them to hold, or to have held, a Subclass 485. Neither of them can sponsor the other for a partner visa while they hold temporary visas. The firm's article on whether a temporary visa holder can sponsor a partner visa explains that rule. The sponsor partner on 485 visa pathway only exists where one person is already an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

The sponsor types are each covered in a dedicated guide:

• An Australian citizen sponsor, explained in the guide for an Australian citizen partner visa sponsor.
• A permanent resident sponsor, explained in the guide for a permanent resident partner visa sponsor.
• An eligible New Zealand citizen sponsor, explained in the guide for a New Zealand citizen partner visa sponsor.
• A sponsor who has only just become a permanent resident, explained in the guide for a new permanent resident sponsor.

The sponsor must also be approved as a sponsor. The general partner visa sponsor requirements include the sponsorship limitations in regulation 1.20J, the criminal history limits in regulation 1.20KC, and the undertaking to support the partner. A sponsor who has previously sponsored another partner, or who was themselves sponsored as a partner, should have those limits checked before anything else is planned. The sponsor's obligations continue after the visa is granted.

What the sponsor provides

In a sponsor partner on 485 visa application, the sponsor provides identity documents, evidence of citizenship or permanent residence, police checks where required, a relationship statement, and their share of the relationship evidence. The partner visa sponsor documents guide lists them. The sponsorship itself is lodged online, and the partner visa sponsorship lodgement article explains how it links to the visa application.

Why the lodgement date decides a sponsor partner on 485 visa case

The lodgement date decides whether Schedule 3 applies, which bridging visa the partner receives, and whether the partner remains lawful throughout processing. Lodging while the Subclass 485 is still in effect is the cleanest outcome.

Paragraph 820.211(2)(d) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 deals with an applicant who is not the holder of a substantive visa at the time of application. A substantive visa is defined in section 5(1) of the Migration Act 1958 as a visa other than a bridging visa, a criminal justice visa or an enforcement visa. A Subclass 485 is a substantive visa. A bridging visa is not.

That gives two very different outcomes in a sponsor partner on 485 visa matter:

• Lodged while the Subclass 485 is in effect. The partner holds a substantive visa at the time of application. Paragraph 820.211(2)(d) is not engaged and no Schedule 3 criteria apply. The partner is granted a Bridging visa A in association with the Subclass 820 application.
• Lodged after the Subclass 485 has ended. The partner no longer holds a substantive visa. Under subparagraph 820.211(2)(d)(ii), the partner must satisfy Schedule 3 criteria 3001, 3003 and 3004, unless the Department is satisfied there are compelling reasons for not applying those criteria.

This is why the firm's article on lodging a partner visa application before your visa expires is the most important companion piece to this one. For most couples, a sponsor partner on 485 visa plan is really a plan to lodge a complete, valid application before a fixed date.

What "in effect" means for the Subclass 485

The Subclass 485 is in effect until the date shown on the grant notice and on VEVO, unless it is cancelled earlier or another substantive visa comes into effect. The sponsor should not rely on memory or on the date the graduate expects the visa to end. The expiry date must be confirmed from the official record.

Once a valid Subclass 820 application is lodged, the Bridging visa A that is granted does not come into effect straight away. Department policy for the Subclass 010 visa states that the Bridging visa A will be held but will not come into effect until the substantive visa already held ceases. For a sponsor partner on 485 visa couple, that means the partner continues on the Subclass 485, with its existing conditions, until the Subclass 485 ends. Only then does the Bridging visa A take over. The Bridging visa A guide and the article on partner visa bridging visa activation explain how this works.

Lodging with a buffer, not on the last day

A sponsor partner on 485 visa application should be lodged with a buffer of time before the Subclass 485 ends. An application lodged on the last day carries avoidable risk.

The risks are practical. A payment can fail. A form can be incomplete in a way that makes the application invalid. The sponsor may discover that a document is missing. A technical problem in ImmiAccount can delay the submission past midnight. The firm's article on an invalid partner visa application explains what happens if the Department decides the application was never validly made. If that discovery is made after the Subclass 485 has expired, the couple is in the Schedule 3 position, even though they tried to lodge in time.

Where time is already short, the firm offers an urgent partner visa lodgement service. The FAQ on the best time to lodge a partner visa gives the short answer, and the Subclass 485 to partner visa FAQ confirms the same timing principle from the graduate's side.

Does the Subclass 485 carry a no further stay condition?

No, not usually. The Subclass 485 is not ordinarily granted with condition 8503, which is the no further stay condition that would prevent a valid onshore Subclass 820 application. However, every grant must be checked.

Condition 8503 provides that the holder will not, after entering Australia, be entitled to be granted a substantive visa, other than a protection visa, while remaining in Australia. A visa holder subject to that condition generally cannot make a valid application for a Subclass 820 unless the condition is first waived under section 41(2A) of the Migration Act 1958. The firm's guides to the partner visa no further stay condition and to Subclass 820 and condition 8503 explain that process in full.

For a sponsor partner on 485 visa couple, the practical steps are simple:

• Read the Subclass 485 grant notice and list every condition shown on it.
• Check the partner's current VEVO record, which shows the conditions on the visa the partner holds today.
• Confirm that no other visa the partner holds, including a bridging visa, carries a no further stay condition.

If an unexpected condition appears, the condition 8503 waiver guide and the 8503 partner visa FAQ set out the next steps.

What about conditions on the earlier student visa?

Some student visas carry their own restrictions on further applications. In a typical sponsor partner on 485 visa case, the partner has already moved from the student visa to the Subclass 485. A condition attaches to the visa on which it was imposed. Once the student visa has been replaced by a Subclass 485 that does not carry a no further stay condition, the earlier student visa condition is generally no longer the relevant question. The partner's current visa is. Where a partner is still on a student visa, the separate guide to a partner visa on a student visa applies instead.

Conditions that continue on the Subclass 485

The conditions on the Subclass 485 continue to apply until it ends. Lodging a Subclass 820 does not remove them. Subclass 485 grants commonly include a condition to maintain adequate health insurance. If the partner stops complying with a condition because they assume the partner visa application has replaced it, the Subclass 485 may become liable to cancellation, which can then affect the partner's bridging visa position. The firm's visa cancellations page covers that risk.

What happens if the Subclass 485 expires before the partner visa is lodged?

If the Subclass 485 expires before the Subclass 820 is lodged, the partner is no longer a substantive visa holder, and the application must satisfy Schedule 3 criteria 3001, 3003 and 3004 unless the Department is satisfied there are compelling reasons for not applying them.

Schedule 3 is a set of additional criteria for applicants in Australia who do not hold a substantive visa. The criteria do not stop a valid application from being made. Instead, if a required Schedule 3 criterion is not satisfied, the Schedule 2 criteria cannot be met and the visa cannot be granted. The Schedule 3 criteria for partner visas article explains each criterion, and the firm's Schedule 3 waivers page explains how the firm prepares these cases.

For a sponsor partner on 485 visa couple who has missed the expiry date, the three criteria work like this:

• Criterion 3001 is a time limit. The application must be made within 28 days after the day the applicant last held a substantive visa.
• Criterion 3003 deals with people who were unlawful on 31 August 1994 and have not held a substantive visa since. It rarely applies to a former Subclass 485 holder.
• Criterion 3004 applies to a person who ceased to hold a substantive visa on or after 1 September 1994 and has not since been granted one. A former Subclass 485 holder falls within it and must satisfy its requirements in paragraphs 3004(c) to (h).

The firm's guide to Schedule 3 when the visa has expired explains how those requirements are assessed.

Lodging within 28 days of the Subclass 485 ending

Lodging within 28 days of the Subclass 485 ending satisfies criterion 3001, but it does not by itself satisfy criteria 3003 and 3004. Each criterion is assessed separately in a sponsor partner on 485 visa application.

Department policy on Schedule 3 explains how the 28 days are counted. The first of the 28 days is the day after the last day the applicant held the substantive visa. The application must be lodged on or before midnight on the 28th day. If the 28th day falls on a weekend, or on a public holiday or bank holiday in a place in Australia where the application could have been made, the application can be lodged on the next day that is not a weekend, public holiday or bank holiday.

A sponsor partner on 485 visa couple should not treat the 28 days as a grace period. During that time the partner is an unlawful non-citizen unless they hold another visa. The firm's FAQ on what happens if a partner has been unlawful for more than 28 days explains the further difficulty created once the 28 days have passed, and the FAQ on a partner visa after the visa has expired gives the short answer.

Compelling reasons: what the Department looks at

Where Schedule 3 is not satisfied in a sponsor partner on 485 visa case, the Department can still grant the Subclass 820 if it is satisfied that there are compelling reasons for not applying criteria 3001, 3003 and 3004. The Regulations do not define compelling reasons, so each case is assessed on its own facts.

Department policy for the Subclass 820 visa refers to the Full Federal Court decision in Waensila v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2016] FCAFC 32. The Court held that the decision maker must consider all of the applicant's circumstances known up to the time of decision, not only the circumstances at the time of application. Circumstances that arise after lodgement can be relied on.

The same policy lists matters the decision maker should take into account, including:

• any history of non-compliance with visa conditions;
• the length of time the applicant has been unlawful;
• the reasons why the applicant became unlawful;
• the reasons why the applicant did not seek to become lawful sooner;
• current family composition, including any dependent children; and
• any steps the applicant has taken to become lawful, other than applying for the partner visa.

The most important policy statement is this. Policy states that, as a general rule, a genuine relationship and the hardship of separation are not compelling reasons on their own, because every partner visa application involves a relationship. Policy does say that where there is an Australian citizen child with a demonstrable link to the applicant, the Schedule 3 criteria may be waived in the best interests of the child.

For a sponsor partner on 485 visa couple, this means the waiver submission has to explain why the Subclass 485 was allowed to expire and what happened afterwards. The firm's articles on partner visa compelling reasons, on compelling reasons that are not accepted, on compelling reasons involving children and on preparing a Schedule 3 waiver submission cover each part. The commercial guide to a Schedule 3 partner visa waiver explains how the argument is structured.

Which bridging visa follows an application lodged after expiry?

An application lodged after the Subclass 485 has ended does not attract a Bridging visa A in the usual way, because a Bridging visa A in association with an onshore application is generally granted to a person who holds a substantive visa when they apply. Depending on the circumstances of the sponsor partner on 485 visa couple, a Bridging visa C or a Bridging visa E may be relevant instead, and the conditions on those visas can be more restrictive. The firm's articles on the partner visa Bridging visa C and on lodging a partner visa on a Bridging visa E explain those outcomes, and the general partner visa bridging visa guide compares them.

Sponsor partner on 485 visa when the partner is on a bridging visa

A partner who holds only a bridging visa is not a substantive visa holder, even if they are lawful. Schedule 3 can therefore apply to a sponsor partner on 485 visa application even where the partner has never been unlawful.

This is the trap that catches many graduates, and it is the reason a sponsor partner on 485 visa plan must start with the partner's exact visa status. A common example is a partner who applied for the Subclass 485 while their student visa was still in effect. The student visa then ended and a Bridging visa A came into effect while the Subclass 485 application was being processed. If the couple lodges the Subclass 820 during that period, the partner is lawful but does not hold a substantive visa. Subparagraph 820.211(2)(d)(ii) applies, and criterion 3001 asks whether the application was made within 28 days after the partner last held a substantive visa, which was the student visa.

The same issue can arise where a former Subclass 485 holder has applied for another visa, such as a skilled visa, and is waiting on a bridging visa. The firm's article on Schedule 3 and the partner visa bridging visa explains the legal position, and the guide on a partner visa without a substantive visa explains the options.

For a sponsor, the lesson is that the sponsor partner on 485 visa timing question is not simply whether the partner is lawful. The question is what visa the partner holds on the day the application is lodged. Where the answer is a bridging visa, the strategy needs to be planned before lodgement, not after. Where the partner has another application pending, the FAQ on lodging a partner visa while another application is pending is a useful starting point.

Work rights for a sponsor partner on 485 visa applicant

A partner who lodges a Subclass 820 while holding a Subclass 485 keeps the Subclass 485 work rights until it ends, and then moves to a Bridging visa A that carries no conditions. In practice, that means unrestricted work rights throughout.

Paragraph 010.611(1)(c) of Schedule 2 provides that a Bridging visa A is granted with no conditions to a person in a class specified by the Minister in a legislative instrument. Department policy for the Subclass 010 visa states that the classes in that instrument include onshore applicants for the Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 partner visas whose substantive application has not been finally determined. Policy records that the instrument commenced on 24 November 2012 and applies to initial and replacement Bridging visas A granted on or after that date. Policy also states that applicants for the Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 visas must be granted an associated Bridging visa A or Bridging visa B with no conditions attached.

For a sponsor partner on 485 visa couple, this is often the most reassuring part of the process. The graduate does not lose the ability to work when the Subclass 485 ends, provided the Subclass 820 was lodged in time. The firm's articles on partner visa bridging visa work rights, Subclass 820 work rights on a bridging visa and partner visa work rights explain the detail, and the partner visa study rights article covers further study.

Changing jobs during processing

The partner can change jobs during processing. Nothing in a sponsor partner on 485 visa application ties the partner to one employer. A change of employer is not usually a change of circumstances that must be reported, but changes affecting the relationship, address or household often are. The FAQ on whether you can change jobs on a partner visa and the article on Form 1022 change of circumstances explain what must be notified.

Travel, Medicare and being in Australia at grant

While the Subclass 485 is still in effect, the partner's travel is governed by the Subclass 485. Once the Bridging visa A is in effect, the partner needs a Bridging visa B before leaving Australia, or the Bridging visa A will cease when they depart.

Department policy states that a Bridging visa A that is in effect ceases when the holder leaves Australia, and that it cannot then be reactivated. A sponsor partner on 485 visa couple planning overseas travel should therefore check which visa will be in effect on the departure date and on the return date. If the Subclass 485 is due to end while the partner is overseas, the partner may not be able to return on the Bridging visa A. This needs advice before travel is booked. The articles on the partner visa Bridging visa B and on partner visa overseas travel explain the steps, and the FAQ on what happens if you leave Australia without a Bridging visa B sets out the risk.

The partner must be in Australia when the Subclass 820 is granted, which is another reason travel needs care in a sponsor partner on 485 visa case. The FAQ on whether you must be in Australia when the 820 is granted confirms this. Partner visa applicants may also be able to enrol in Medicare after lodging, and the partner visa Medicare article explains when.

Sponsor partner on 485 visa when the partner is a secondary Subclass 485 holder

A person who holds a Subclass 485 as a secondary applicant, because they were included as a family member of the main graduate, still holds a substantive visa. They can be sponsored for a Subclass 820 by an eligible Australian partner on the same timing principles.

This situation usually arises where the secondary holder's relationship with the main Subclass 485 holder has ended and they are now in a relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. The secondary Subclass 485 does not automatically end when that earlier relationship ends. However, the change in circumstances can be relevant to whether the visa remains liable to cancellation, and that question should be assessed before the new partner visa is lodged. The firm's article on partner visa previous relationships explains how earlier relationships are dealt with in the evidence.

There are three timing points for a sponsor partner on 485 visa case of this kind:

• The secondary Subclass 485 usually has the same end date as the main holder's visa. The sponsor needs the secondary holder's own grant notice and VEVO record, not the main holder's.
• The earlier relationship must be genuinely over. A married person can still be in a de facto relationship with someone else in some circumstances, as the guide to a partner visa while still married explains, but the evidence must be clear.
• The new relationship must meet the de facto or spouse definition on the day of lodgement. If it is new, the 12-month de facto requirement may not yet be met.

The reverse situation also arises. Where the partner is the main Subclass 485 holder and has children who hold secondary Subclass 485 visas, those children can generally be included in the Subclass 820 application as dependent children if they meet the definition. The guides on adding children to a partner visa and on how to include children in a partner visa explain the requirements.

Relationship evidence when one partner arrived as a student

Relationship evidence for a couple where one partner first arrived as a student is assessed under the same four aspects as any partner visa: the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects and the nature of the commitment. What differs is the history the Department already holds about the student.

In every sponsor partner on 485 visa matter, the Department will usually have the partner's earlier student visa applications and their Subclass 485 application. Those forms asked about relationship status, addresses and family members. In a sponsor partner on 485 visa application, the answers in the new application should be consistent with those earlier declarations, or the difference should be explained. A partner who declared they were single in a Subclass 485 application lodged at a time the couple now says they were in a de facto relationship has a problem that must be addressed directly. The firm's articles on partner visa incorrect answers and on PIC 4020 in partner visas explain the risk.

Students often live in ways that look different on paper from couples who have been working for years. A sponsor partner on 485 visa couple may have:

• shared rental housing with other students, where only one name is on the lease;
• separate finances because the student was supported by family overseas or by part-time work;
• families overseas who learned of the relationship late, for cultural or religious reasons; and
• a short period of living together before the Subclass 485 expiry date forced a decision.

None of these is fatal to a sponsor partner on 485 visa application, but each must be explained with evidence rather than assertion. The firm's guides to the partner visa four pillars, the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects and the nature of the commitment explain what is weighed. The articles on partner visas with separate finances and on informal living arrangements deal with the common student patterns, and the FAQ on whether families need to know about the relationship addresses the cultural point.

Relationship statements and Form 888 statements

Each partner provides one relationship statement covering how they met, how the relationship developed and their plans. In a sponsor partner on 485 visa case, the statements should explain how the relationship developed alongside the partner's studies and graduation, without repeating each other word for word. Supporting statements from friends or family who know the couple are made on Form 888, which is a supporting statement by a witness. The guides to the partner visa relationship statement and to Form 888 for partner visas explain both, and the partner visa relationship evidence guide shows how they fit with the documents.

De facto couples, the 12-month rule and the Subclass 485 expiry date

A de facto couple must generally have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months immediately before the application is lodged. In a sponsor partner on 485 visa case, that requirement can collide with the Subclass 485 expiry date.

Regulation 2.03A sets out the 12-month requirement for de facto partners. It does not apply where the relationship has been registered under a law of an Australian State or Territory, and there are other limited exceptions, including compelling and compassionate circumstances. The firm's articles on the de facto partner visa and the 12-month rule and on the Subclass 820 de facto 12 months requirement explain the detail, and the FAQ on whether you can apply before 12 months as a de facto couple gives the short answer.

For a sponsor partner on 485 visa couple whose Subclass 485 will end before they reach 12 months together, the options usually include:

• Marriage. A married couple does not need to meet the 12-month de facto requirement, although the marriage must be genuine and valid.
• Relationship registration. Where the couple lives in a State or Territory with a relationship register, registration can remove the 12-month requirement. Registration takes time and should be started early.
• Another visa to bridge the gap. In some cases the partner may be eligible for another substantive visa that keeps them lawful until the relationship reaches 12 months.

Each option has consequences for a sponsor partner on 485 visa couple, and none should be chosen only to meet a deadline. The FAQ on how long a relationship must be for a partner visa and the article on a short relationship partner visa explain the evidence issues for newer relationships.

Common mistakes sponsors make with a Subclass 485 partner

The most common mistakes are lodging too late, assuming a bridging visa is the same as a substantive visa, and lodging with evidence that contradicts the partner's earlier visa applications.

The mistakes the firm sees most often in sponsor partner on 485 visa matters are:

• Treating the expiry date as a target rather than a deadline. Lodging in the final days leaves no room to fix a problem.
• Assuming lawful status is enough. A partner on a bridging visa is not a substantive visa holder, and Schedule 3 can apply.
• Not checking the grant notice and VEVO. An unexpected condition can make the application invalid.
• Stopping Subclass 485 obligations early. The Subclass 485 conditions continue until it ends.
• Ignoring earlier declarations. Inconsistent relationship histories across student, graduate and partner applications invite questions.
• Booking travel without checking which visa will be in effect. A Bridging visa A in effect ceases on departure.

Each of these mistakes can be avoided when a sponsor partner on 485 visa application is planned early. The firm's articles on partner visa application mistakes and the partner visa checklist cover the wider list. The FAQ on having a lawyer check a partner visa before lodging explains what a pre-lodgement review involves.

What if the Subclass 820 is refused?

If the Subclass 820 is refused, the applicant can usually apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal for review. For a person in Australia who is not in immigration detention, the application must be made within 28 days after being notified of the decision.

In a sponsor partner on 485 visa refusal, timing again matters. Section 347(3) of the Migration Act 1958 sets the time limit at 28 days after notification, or 7 days for a person in immigration detention, and the time cannot be extended. The review of an onshore Subclass 820 refusal is applied for by the visa applicant, not the sponsor. As at October 2026, the Tribunal's fee for review of a Part 5 migration decision is $3,580, with a 50% reduction available where paying the full fee would cause financial hardship. The firm's partner visa refusals page, the articles on onshore partner visa refusals, the partner visa appeal deadline and partner visa ART fees, and the urgent visa refusal review service explain the next steps for a sponsor partner on 485 visa couple facing a refusal.

How My Migration Lawyers plans a sponsor partner on 485 visa lodgement

My Migration Lawyers plans a sponsor partner on 485 visa lodgement backwards from the Subclass 485 expiry date. The first task is to confirm, from the official record, exactly what visa the partner holds today and when it ends.

From there, the firm works through the matter in a set order. It checks the sponsor's eligibility, including the sponsorship limitations and any criminal history issues. It reviews the partner's grant notice and VEVO record for conditions. It compares the partner's earlier student and Subclass 485 declarations with the relationship history the couple wants to present. It confirms whether the relationship meets the spouse or de facto definition on the planned lodgement date, and whether registration or marriage changes that. It then sets a lodgement date with a buffer before the Subclass 485 ends, and prepares the application, relationship statements, Form 888 statements and evidence to that date.

Where the partner is already on a bridging visa, or the Subclass 485 has already expired, the sponsor partner on 485 visa work changes. The firm assesses Schedule 3, gathers the facts that may support compelling reasons, and prepares a written submission with the application. Where the Department later issues a request for further information or a natural justice letter, the firm prepares the response. If the application is refused, the firm advises on Tribunal review within the deadline.

My Migration Lawyers acts in many onshore partner visa matters involving former international students and graduates, including complex cases where Schedule 3, prior visa declarations or sponsorship limitations are in issue. Each matter is assessed on its own facts, and no outcome can be promised. The firm's principal, Weiwei Zhang, oversees the firm's partner visa practice. Consultations are held by video Australia-wide, and the firm's office is at Level 1, 60 Martin Place, Sydney. The firm's partner visa lawyers page explains the service, and the Sydney partner visa lawyers page covers clients in New South Wales. The FAQ on getting help as a Subclass 485 holder answers the most common first questions.

If you plan to sponsor partner on 485 visa grounds, the expiry date is the deadline that matters most. Book a Consultation with My Migration Lawyers before that date, or call 1300 040 300.