Is There a Partner Visa Lawyer in Launceston?

Can a Launceston couple engage a partner visa lawyer in Sydney?

A Launceston couple can engage a partner visa lawyer in Sydney, because My Migration Lawyers carries out partner visa work by video consultation and email for clients across Tasmania. The application is lodged online and the Department writes to the authorised representative, so both partners can take part from home. Documents are shared electronically, and the firm explains each step in plain English so that both partners understand what is being lodged in their names. Our partner visa lawyers page explains each stage of the firm's work.

Can same-sex couples in Launceston apply for a partner visa?

Same-sex couples in Launceston can apply for a partner visa as married spouses or as de facto partners, and the same legal tests apply to them as to any other couple. The Department assesses whether the relationship is genuine and continuing, whether the couple lives together or is not living apart permanently, and whether they are committed to a shared life to the exclusion of all others. Our LGBTI partner visa page explains the specific issues these couples can face.

Does registering in Tasmania help a partner visa?

Registering a relationship in Tasmania helps a partner visa where the couple has not yet lived together for 12 months, because a registered relationship is treated as meeting that requirement under regulation 2.03A. A Launceston couple who registers must still prove that the relationship is genuine. Registration can also give clear proof of the date the couple formally recognised their relationship. Our article on de facto partner visa Australia explains how registration and other evidence work together.

What if we have kept our relationship private from family?

Couples who have kept their relationship private from family can still apply for a partner visa, but the evidence of social recognition needs careful planning. Friends, colleagues and community members who know the couple can give Form 888 statements, and the relationship statement can explain honestly why some family members have not been told. The Department does not require every relative to know. Our article on the partner visa secret relationship covers how privacy affects the evidence. The explanation should be consistent across the relationship statement, the Form 888 statements and any earlier visa applications, because differences between them can raise doubts.

What happens if the applicant's home country does not recognise same-sex relationships?

An applicant from a country that does not recognise same-sex relationships can still rely on the relationship for an Australian partner visa, because the Department applies Australian law to the relationship. Practical problems can arise with documents, travel history and the couple's ability to live openly together overseas. Some couples have spent long periods apart, or have few photographs together, because of safety concerns. These reasons should be explained, as our article on partner visa limited evidence describes.

How does My Migration Lawyers help Launceston couples present their relationship?

My Migration Lawyers helps Launceston couples present their relationship by listening to how the couple actually lives, including what they have kept private and why, and then deciding which evidence to use and which matters to explain in writing. The firm advises on whether Tasmanian registration suits the couple's timing, prepares the relationship statement with both partners and treats sensitive information with care. Couples who want more background can read our article on preparing evidence of a genuine relationship.