What Should a Form 888 Statement Say?

What information must a Form 888 statement include?

A Form 888 statement must include the witness's personal details, evidence of their Australian citizenship or permanent residence, and their answers about how they know the applicant and the sponsor. The form asks how long the witness has known each partner, how they came to know them and how often they have contact. Our guide on how to complete Form 888 walks through each part of the form. Every answer should be specific to this couple. A witness who has known the sponsor for many years but met the applicant only twice should say exactly that, because honest limits make the rest of the statement more believable.

What should a witness say about the relationship?

A witness should say what they have personally seen of the relationship and explain why it convinces them the couple are genuine partners. Useful detail includes when the witness first met the couple together, family gatherings or trips they shared, how the couple speak about their future, and how they support each other through difficult times. Our article with Form 888 partner visa examples shows the difference between a general statement and a specific one. A short example of a real moment the witness saw usually persuades more than a list of adjectives.

What should a Form 888 statement not say?

A Form 888 statement should not include anything the witness has not personally seen or does not know to be true. Witnesses should avoid copying wording from the couple or from other witnesses, overstating how often they see the couple, or guessing dates. Identical wording across statements often prompts the Department to question all of them, and inconsistencies can lead to concerns under PIC 4020.

How long should a Form 888 statement be?

A Form 888 statement should be long enough to answer each question with real detail, which is usually more than a sentence but well short of an essay. A few clear paragraphs describing specific observations generally carry more weight than several pages of opinion. Witnesses who have not seen the couple recently should say when they last saw them and how they stay in touch. The answers should fit the space and format the form provides, with an attached page only where the witness needs more room.

Does a Form 888 statement need to match our relationship statement?

A Form 888 statement does not need to repeat the relationship statement, but the facts it gives should be consistent with it. If a witness says the couple met at a different time or lived somewhere else, the Department may treat the difference as a credibility concern. Our articles on Form 888 witness statements and on conflicting statements explain how to avoid inconsistencies. It is good practice for each witness to read the key dates in advance so they can confirm or correct them, while still writing in their own words.

How does My Migration Lawyers help witnesses complete Form 888?

My Migration Lawyers helps witnesses complete Form 888 by giving each one a clear outline of the questions to cover and the facts the firm already holds, so they can check their own memory rather than rely on the couple's wording. The firm reviews completed statements for gaps and inconsistencies before lodgement and confirms each witness is eligible. Couples can ask our partner visa lawyers to review their Form 888 statements alongside the rest of the evidence.