The Australian Government has just announced that the Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Act 2018 will commence on 17 April 2019. New legislation has recently been introduced that will cause a significant impact whether an Australian Partner visa application can be lodged while the applicant (partner or spouse) is in Australia.

As of 17/04/2019 spouse/partner visa applicants in Australia will not be not be able to lodge an application and secure a bridging visa while they waiting for the approval of sponsorship. Currently, an applicant applies for the visa and secures BVA as a valid visa holder makes a valid visa application. An applicant can remain in Australia until the decision is made on the partner visa application with conditions that allows an applicant to work unlimited , access to medicare. But with an amendment, a partner visa applicant with limited time remaining on their visa will have to apply for another substantive visa or they will have to apply offshore and wait for the decision for sponsorship or the both sponsorship and visa application.

Writer is a registered migration agent:
Ramesh Raj Sharma
MARN 1796989