Is There a Partner Visa Lawyer in Chatswood?

Is there a Mandarin-speaking partner visa lawyer for Chatswood couples?

A Mandarin-speaking partner visa lawyer is available to Chatswood couples through My Migration Lawyers, because Principal Lawyer Weiwei Zhang speaks Mandarin and leads the firm's partner visa work. Couples can explain their history in the language they are most comfortable with, which reduces the risk that dates, family details or the story of the relationship are misunderstood. Our partner visa lawyers Sydney page describes the service for clients across Sydney.

Do Chinese-language documents need translating for a partner visa?

Chinese-language documents need an English translation when they are given to the Department for a partner visa, including marriage certificates, household registration records and key messages. The couple does not need to translate every message. A careful selection, translated accurately, is more useful than hundreds of untranslated screenshots. Names should be written the same way in every translation, and the spelling should match the passport, because small differences between documents often lead to questions from the Department. Our article on partner visa evidence translation explains which documents Chatswood couples should have translated and how.

Will the Department accept our marriage registered in China?

The Department will generally accept a marriage validly registered in China for an Australian partner visa, provided it was valid where it took place and is not a type of marriage that Australian law refuses to recognise. The marriage certificate and its translation must match the names and dates in the application. Problems arise where a ceremony took place without registration, or where earlier marriages were not formally ended. Our article on an overseas marriage not recognised covers those cases.

What if our families do not speak English?

Families who do not speak English can still give Form 888 statements for a partner visa, but each statement must be translated and the witness must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen for it to be accepted as a Form 888. Relatives overseas can support the relationship in other ways, such as letters, photographs at family events and records of visits. Our guide to Form 888 for a partner visa explains who can sign.

How do Chatswood couples prepare the relationship statement?

Chatswood couples prepare one relationship statement that tells the history of the relationship in their own words and covers the four aspects the Department assesses. Some couples write in Chinese first and then have the statement translated, which can help them give a full and accurate account. The English version must say exactly what the original says, and both partners should read it before it is signed. Dates, places and the names of family members should match the other documents in the application. Our article on the partner visa relationship statement sets out what it should include.

How does My Migration Lawyers help Chatswood couples with Chinese-language evidence?

My Migration Lawyers helps Chatswood couples with Chinese-language evidence by reading the original documents, choosing which ones carry real weight and arranging for those to be translated before lodgement. Because the consultation can take place in Mandarin, the firm hears the full story directly from the couple and checks it against civil records, earlier visa applications and travel history. The firm then prepares the Subclass 820 visa or offshore application on a fixed fee agreed before work starts.