How Do I Check the Status of My Partner Visa Application?

What do the partner visa statuses in ImmiAccount mean?

The partner visa statuses in ImmiAccount show broadly where the application sits. Received means the application has been lodged and the charge paid. Initial assessment means the Department has started looking at the application. Further assessment usually means the Department has asked for, or is waiting on, more information or checks. Finalised means a decision has been made, and the decision letter will be in the account. Our guide to the partner visa online application explains how the account is organised.

Why has my partner visa status not changed for months?

A partner visa status that has not changed for months is common, because the status often stays the same while the Department carries out checks in the background. A long period without change does not mean the application has been forgotten or will be refused. Equally, a change to Further assessment is not a warning sign on its own, because many complete applications pass through that status on the way to grant. The applicant should check that all requested documents were provided and compare the time elapsed with the Department's published processing times. Our article on partner visa processing times explains how those figures are published.

How do I check my partner visa status if my lawyer lodged the application?

An applicant whose lawyer lodged the partner visa can check the status by importing the application into their own ImmiAccount, using the application reference and their personal details exactly as given in the application. The lawyer remains the authorised recipient for correspondence, so the applicant should also ask the lawyer to share every request and update. Our article on creating an ImmiAccount explains how to set up an account.

How do I check my bridging visa while the partner visa is processed?

An onshore applicant checks their bridging visa through VEVO, the Department's Visa Entitlement Verification Online service, which shows the visa held, its conditions and whether it is in effect. Employers and others can also use VEVO with the applicant's consent. The bridging visa grant notice in ImmiAccount sets out the same information. Our article on the partner visa bridging visa explains how the bridging visa works.

What should I do if my partner visa seems delayed?

An applicant whose partner visa seems delayed should first confirm that no request from the Department has gone unanswered, then update the relationship evidence and check the published processing times. Where something is wrong, a written enquiry or a request for the Department's file may help. Our articles on partner visa processing delays and the partner visa FOI request explain the options.

How does My Migration Lawyers keep clients informed about their partner visa status?

My Migration Lawyers monitors the application as authorised recipient and passes on every request and change of status, so clients do not have to guess what a status in ImmiAccount means. Where the application has been processing for a long time, the firm checks whether anything is outstanding, adds updated evidence and decides whether an enquiry to the Department is worthwhile. Applicants can speak with our partner visa lawyers about an application that has stalled.