HelpMePlease

Hi...could anyone tell me if this is possible?

I'm an Australian citizen and I'd like to marry my American girlfriend.
After much deliberation, we've decided that probably it's best to follow
the proper procedures and apply for a fiance visa.

She is reluctant to go back to America in the meantime though. and I'm
reluctant to be separated from her.

So could she apply for her fiance visa at the Australian Embassy in New
Zealand, and then come to Australia on a visitors visa while the fiance
visa is being processed? Would the authorities mind her coming here?
Could it interfere with her chances of being granted the fiance visa?

If it is possible to do this, is it then just a simple matter of flying
to NZ to pick up the visa, and then flying back to Australia?

Our problem is the same as with lots of other couples on this site. We
don't want to be separated for 7 months or more while our fiance visa is
being processed.

Thanks for your help guys :)

HelpMePlease

    > Hi...could anyone tell me if this is possible?
    > I'm an Australian citizen and I'd like to marry my American
    > girlfriend. After much deliberation, we've decided that probably it's
    > best to follow the proper procedures and apply for a fiance visa.
    > She is reluctant to go back to America in the meantime though. and I'm
    > reluctant to be separated from her.
    > So could she apply for her fiance visa at the Australian Embassy in
    > New Zealand, and then come to Australia on a visitors visa while the
    > fiance visa is being processed? Would the authorities mind her
    > coming here? Could it interfere with her chances of being granted
    > the fiance visa?
    > If it is possible to do this, is it then just a simple matter of
    > flying to NZ to pick up the visa, and then flying back to Australia?
    > Our problem is the same as with lots of other couples on this site. We
    > don't want to be separated for 7 months or more while our fiance visa
    > is being processed.
    > Thanks for your help guys :)

Hi again...I've examined the department of immigration website carefully
and it seems that you can apply for the Prospective Marriage Visa at the
Australian Embassy in New Zealand, and then holiday in Australia on a
Visitors Visa while it's being processed.

There's nothing that says that this can't be done!

-->http://www.immi.gov.au/migration/fam...ers/fiance.htm

Jaj

    > Hi again...I've examined the department of immigration website
    > carefully and it seems that you can apply for the Prospective Marriage
    > Visa at the Australian Embassy in New Zealand, and then holiday in
    > Australia on a Visitors Visa while it's being processed.
    > There's nothing that says that this can't be done!
    > -->http://www.immi.gov.au/migration/fam...ers/fiance.htm

It might not be such a good idea for a non-NZ citizen or resident to
lodge a spouse/fiance visa in Auckland. Why not lodge it at the
Australian Embassy in Washington DC?

And while it is possible to travel to Australia subsequently as a
tourist, if the application is not finished before the tourist visa
expires one would likely have to leave. There is no bridging visa for
offshore applicants. And tourist status conditions (eg no work) must be
followed to the letter.

Why don't you do yourself a favour and go to see IARC for some specific
advice? - http://www.iarc.asn.au

Jeremy

Laurie1st

    > Hi...could anyone tell me if this is possible?
    > I'm an Australian citizen and I'd like to marry my American
    > girlfriend. After much deliberation, we've decided that probably it's
    > best to follow the proper procedures and apply for a fiance visa.
    > She is reluctant to go back to America in the meantime though. and I'm
    > reluctant to be separated from her.
    > So could she apply for her fiance visa at the Australian Embassy in
    > New Zealand, and then come to Australia on a visitors visa while the
    > fiance visa is being processed? Would the authorities mind her
    > coming here? Could it interfere with her chances of being granted
    > the fiance visa?
    > If it is possible to do this, is it then just a simple matter of
    > flying to NZ to pick up the visa, and then flying back to Australia?
    > Our problem is the same as with lots of other couples on this site. We
    > don't want to be separated for 7 months or more while our fiance visa
    > is being processed.
    > Thanks for your help guys :)

I am an American marrying an Australian.

It is my understanding that the visa will not be granted while she is in
Australia. So, if she lodged the application and then travelled back to
Australia to be with you she would then have to leave again before the
visa grant cold go through.

Also, you mentioned that it takes 7 months to process visa applications.
I don't think that is entirely accurate. If you check
www.austimeline.com , it appears that most are taking around 3 months.

I know that it's hard to be apart. Believe me, I am living it right
now! There are several of us on this board who are. I am just
concerned that you will make more problems for yourselves, and drag out
the process longer than it needs to go by doing things in a half-assed
way. I am betting that the fastest way to get the visa through is to
use the system the way that it is intended to be used.

Pollyana

    > I am an American marrying an Australian.
    > It is my understanding that the visa will not be granted while she is
    > in Australia. So, if she lodged the application and then travelled
    > back to Australia to be with you she would then have to leave again
    > before the visa grant cold go through.
    > Also, you mentioned that it takes 7 months to process visa
    > applications. I don't think that is entirely accurate. If you check
    > www.austimeline.com , it appears that most are taking around 3 months.
    > I know that it's hard to be apart. Believe me, I am living it right
    > now! There are several of us on this board who are. I am just
    > concerned that you will make more problems for yourselves, and drag
    > out the process longer than it needs to go by doing things in a half-
    > assed way. I am betting that the fastest way to get the visa through
    > is to use the system the way that it is intended to be used.

Yep, You have to be offshore to be granted a Pros Spouse Visa.



I lived it too. Its tough. But lets be honest - if your relationship
cannot stand the test of a few months apart in order to spend the rest
of your lives together........how strong is it?
And after 16 very tough months here I will also say - it may be tougher
when you get here - the way we deal with the really bad days is to
remind ourselves what we went though to be together. A new marriage, new
family, new country, all at once, thats a real challenge. Those days
apart give you a chance to think, to plan what you both want, and to
realise what you are doing.

Laurie1st

    > Yep, You have to be offshore to be granted a Pros Spouse Visa.
    > I lived it too. Its tough. But lets be honest - if your relationship
    > cannot stand the test of a few months apart in order to spend the rest
    > of your lives together........how strong is it?
    > And after 16 very tough months here I will also say - it may be
    > tougher when you get here - the way we deal with the really bad days
    > is to remind ourselves what we went though to be together. A new
    > marriage, new family, new country, all at once, thats a real
    > challenge. Those days apart give you a chance to think, to plan what
    > you both want, and to realise what you are doing.

I was thinking that as well.


My fiance said to me this week, during a comiseration session on the
phone, "It will all be better when you're here." I told him that I
don't really think so. At least not at first. Like you said Polly,
I think in a lot of ways it will be harder for me, and for us, once
I am there.


Exactly. Plus, I would imagine that she has some loose ends to tie up
at home. Packing/selling/storing/shipping her belongings will take
several weeks. Plus, saying goodbyes to family and friends. Three or
four months isn't really that long when you're preparing to be half the
globe away.

Pollyana

    > I was thinking that as well.
    > My fiance said to me this week, during a comiseration session on the
    > phone, "It will all be better when you're here." I told him that I
    > don't really think so. At least not at first. Like you said Polly,
    > I think in a lot of ways it will be harder for me, and for us, once I
    > am there.
    > Exactly. Plus, I would imagine that she has some loose ends to tie up
    > at home. Packing/selling/storing/shipping her belongings will take
    > several weeks. Plus, saying goodbyes to family and friends. Three or
    > four months isn't really that long when you're preparing to be half
    > the globe away.

Well said Laurie; It is tough when you get here for the simple reason
that the Australian partner has a life, a home, a family, friends, job,
networks etc etc etc.
The non-Australian partner doesn;'t even know where to buy beer from.
Supermarket? Brisbane? Forget it!!

You have to be tough, you have to be able to make your own way, and
forge your own life. I remember the Bloke saying to me after about 6
months "For gods sake forget the UK and get on with your life!"
My reply " I don't HAVE a life - I left it in the UK"
His family don't understand, and I have had comments like "why are you
sending your niece a Christmas present when shes so far away,she'll
forget you soon so why bother" (the niece in question is 9)

I would advise anyone in our situation, that they need that time apart
from their future partner, just to think about the rest of their lives,
and just to realise that they are not just marrying a person, they are
marrying a family and a lifestyle in a new country.

HelpMePlease

    > Well said Laurie; It is tough when you get here for the simple reason
    > that the Australian partner has a life, a home, a family, friends,
    > job, networks etc etc etc.
    > The non-Australian partner doesn;'t even know where to buy beer from.
    > Supermarket? Brisbane? Forget it!!
    > You have to be tough, you have to be able to make your own way, and
    > forge your own life. I remember the Bloke saying to me after about 6
    > months "For gods sake forget the UK and get on with your life!"
    > My reply " I don't HAVE a life - I left it in the UK"
    > His family don't understand, and I have had comments like "why are you
    > sending your niece a Christmas present when shes so far away,she'll
    > forget you soon so why bother" (the niece in question is 9)
    > I would advise anyone in our situation, that they need that time apart
    > from their future partner, just to think about the rest of their
    > lives, and just to realise that they are not just marrying a person,
    > they are marrying a family and a lifestyle in a new country.

Thanks all :)

I checked that link. Yes, it appears that spouse visa processing times
in the states are generally no more than four months. There was one
exception...a visa that took 4 and a half months to process.

I don't know why I thought they took so long. I must have looked at
processing times for another visa type.

Thanks again :)