Does the Department Visit Your Home for a Partner Visa?

Does the Department visit your home for a partner visa?

The Department does not usually visit homes for a partner visa, although it has the ability to do so as part of checking an application. A home visit is generally reserved for cases where the documents raise doubts about living arrangements or where there is information suggesting the relationship may not be genuine. Our article on what case officers look for explains how most applications are assessed.

Why would the Department visit a partner visa applicant's home?

The Department would visit a partner visa applicant's home to check whether the couple actually lives there together, which goes to the nature of the household. Concerns can arise from different addresses on records, a tip-off, a sponsor with previous partner sponsorships, or answers that do not match during an interview. Our article on partner visa household evidence explains what shared living normally looks like on paper.

What happens during a home visit?

During a home visit, officers usually look at the living arrangements and may ask questions about daily routines, the household and the relationship. They may speak to either partner, and may notice whether both partners' belongings are present. The answers can be compared with the application and with each other, much as in an interview. Our article on partner visa interview questions describes the kinds of questions commonly asked.

What if we live apart or with family?

Couples who live apart for work, or who live with parents or other relatives, should explain this in the application before any concern arises. Living separately for a period does not mean the couple lives apart on a permanent basis, and living with family is common. Our articles on living apart for work and living with parents explain how these arrangements are presented.

What should we do after a home visit?

After a home visit, the couple should write down what was asked and what was said while it is fresh, and keep any documents the officers left. If the visit raises concerns, the Department may issue a section 57 natural justice letter inviting comment on adverse information before deciding, and the deadline for a response is short and strictly applied.

Can a home visit lead to a partner visa refusal?

A home visit can contribute to a partner visa refusal if it suggests the couple does not live together and no satisfactory explanation is given. A refusal for a non-genuine relationship can generally be reviewed at the Administrative Review Tribunal within a strict time limit. Our page on partner visa refusals explains how such a review is run.

How does My Migration Lawyers prepare couples for possible Department checks?

My Migration Lawyers prepares couples for possible Department checks by making sure the household evidence and the relationship statement already explain the living arrangements fully, so a visit or interview confirms what was lodged rather than revealing something new. Where a visit or interview has already happened, the firm reviews what occurred and prepares a response to any concerns the Department raises. Couples who are worried about a visit or have already had one can contact our partner visa lawyers.