How Do I Contact the Department About My Partner Visa?

What is the best way to contact the Department about a partner visa?

The best way to contact the Department about a partner visa is usually through ImmiAccount, where the applicant can attach documents, update personal details and see all correspondence in one place. A written record is created every time, which helps if there is a later dispute about what was provided. Our guide to the partner visa online application explains how ImmiAccount works after lodgement.

Can I email the case officer directly?

An applicant can reply to a case officer directly when the case officer has written with contact details and asked for a response, and the reply should follow the instructions in the letter. Applicants without an allocated case officer should not search for staff email addresses, because messages sent outside the proper channel may not reach the file. Where the letter is a request for information, our article on the section 56 request explains how to respond.

How do I tell the Department about a change in circumstances?

An applicant tells the Department about a change in circumstances by giving Form 1022 through ImmiAccount, with supporting documents. Changes that must be notified include a new child, a separation, a change in family members and any other change that affects the answers in the application. An incorrect answer discovered after lodgement is corrected separately through Form 1023. Our article on the partner visa change of circumstances explains what to report and when.

What if my lawyer is the authorised recipient?

If a lawyer is the authorised recipient, the Department sends correspondence about the partner visa to the lawyer rather than to the applicant. The applicant can still update their own details, but requests and deadlines are managed through the lawyer, so the two must stay in contact. The appointment is made through Form 956 and can be ended at any time. Our article on Form 956 and 956A explains the difference between the two forms.

What should I do if I cannot get a response from the Department?

An applicant who cannot get a response from the Department should first check that the enquiry went through the correct channel and that nothing is outstanding on the application. Where the application is well outside published processing times, a short written enquiry setting out the facts may be appropriate, and in some cases a request for the file under freedom of information is useful. Our article on partner visa processing delays explains how to approach a long delay.

How does My Migration Lawyers deal with the Department for partner visa clients?

My Migration Lawyers acts as the authorised recipient for its partner visa clients, so every communication with the Department runs through one channel with a clear written record. The firm decides what should be sent, in what form and with which evidence, and reads each letter from the Department for its deadline and its real concern before replying. Clients who took over their own application, or whose previous representative stopped responding, can read about hiring a lawyer after lodgement or speak with our partner visa lawyers.