This week the AustraliaBuyingGuide.com speaks to Samantha who is on the eve of departing England for a new life in Darwin with her Australian partner.

 

Samantha tells us about the visa application procedure, the problems that she faced and her advice for ensuring things go smoothly and successfully…

 

Can you tell us a little about your plans and why you have decided to emigrate to Australia?

I met my partner, an Australian, while I was backpacking round Australia in 2009/10. When my visa expired he came to the UK with me but was unable to find full time work here. After five months we made the decision that he would return to Australia and I would apply for a partner visa to join him.

What costs have been involved?

The visa fee which you have to pay at the time of application is £1355. The medical fee is £270 and the UK police check costs £35. You also require an Australian police check at a later stage in the application process which is AUD $40 (£26).

Can you talk us through the application process?

We decided to do everything ourselves rather than go through a migration agent. We got the ball rolling by submitting application forms, supporting documentation and application fee at the Australian High Commission in London. Receipt of the application by our assigned Case Officer was acknowledged within ten days. This email notification informed us that the application process would take five-six months and advised us of the further evidence that we would need to provide. Over the next three months there was a lot of back and forth on email as we were required to provide additional evidence. For us, this involved proving that our relationship was ongoing despite the fact that we were living in different countries. After these three months I had a short telephone interview with the Case Officer where we chatted about our relationship. The next stage came at five months when I had to get health and police checks. Then, nearly six months to the day after I submitted my application, my visa was granted!

What did you have to provide to be granted the visa?

At the time of application I had to submit the following:

• SP40 Application form SP40 – providing all personal information, details on how we met, dates I was in every country that I have visited in the last 10 years and how much money I will be bringing with me to Australia.
• SP47 Sponsorship form which was completed by my partner.
• Copy of my birth certificate and passport and a certified copy of my partners passport.
• Statements from myself and my partner detailing where and when we met, how our relationship developed, how we combined our finances and our lives, our shared values and plans for the future.
• Evidence to prove we had been living together for at least 12 months i.e. bank statements, rental agreements, bills.
• Statements from two Australian citizens who can confirm we are a couple.
• Proof that we were in constant contact whilst living apart i.e. phone bills, Skype call records.
• My partners tax returns over the last two years to prove he can support me whilst I search for work.

What are your plans once you get over to Australia?</b

Spend some quality time with my partner who I have not seen for a year now, find work and enjoy a long and happy life together.

To guarantee you follow the correct application procedures and increase your chances of being granted a visa for Australia it’s advisable to seek advice from a certified migration agent, such as Taylor Hampton Solicitors. Remember to make sure that any agent you use is registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) and a Member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA).

For details of property for sale in Australia, visit the Australia listings on Rightmove Overseas. One way to save money when emigrating to Australia, or buying property there, is to use a currency specialist when transferring your pounds into dollars. For more information on this, contact Smart Currency Exchange.

To understand the full step-by-step process to buying a property in Australia, collect The Overseas Guides Company’s ‘Australia Property Buying Guide’