Applying for a Partner Visa is a challenging process and the fact that the partner visa has the highest refusal rate (37%) of all Australian visas doesn’t make it less stressful. For the Partner Visa the applicant needs to collect what feels like hundreds of documents to upload to prove that he/she is in a genuine relationship with his/her Australian partner. One of those documents is very crucial: the relationship statement. Before being able to start uploading all your evidence (photos, bills, etc.), you will have to write your relationship statement for the partner visa – a process that clients often struggle with as they are never quite sure how to write a relationship statement to support their partner visa application.
The relationship statement is needed for all visa types (subclass 820, subclass 801, subclass 309 and subclass 100)
What needs to be included?
What language is used ?
How long does it need to be ?
Can we have an example of a successful relationship statement ?
These are some of the most frequently asked questions in our office when it comes to partner visa applications.
In this blog, we will go through the most important points you need to have in your partner visa relationship statements and give you tips on what information you will have to include.
Your relationship statement can be a simple word document explaining how your relationship developed. It will have to cover all 4 pillars:
- shared financial responsibilities
- nature of the household
- social activities
- future commitment.
Before you start writing!
Partner Visa changes are coming in the next few months. Make sure you apply sooner rather than later!
Before you start writing remember: Dates are a crucial part of your statement. The Department wants to when you’ve first met, what date you considered your relationship to be official, when did you move in together, when did you get your relationship registered (if applicable), when did you get married (if applicable).
Honesty, accuracy, structure and detail are the key factors to the perfect statement and though it sounds cliché reading those key points, it will ultimately decide on whether you will be able to live with your partner or not…..so no laughing matter, being genuine and honest is absolutely mandatory.
When it comes to the length of your statement, there really is no set limit. You just need to make sure to have covered all important aspects of your relationship. The average is usually between 2-4 pages but can be shorter or longer in another cases. Again, the partner visa is a visa that highly depends on your situation and circumstances.
Writing relationship statement
If you follow our structure below and provide detailed answers to the questions and give relevant examples, you will be well on your way to writing a good relationship statement for your partner visa.
Beware: All relationships and people are different and the case officers know that. If they feel you are using someone’s statement or are making up stories, they will investigate further. Be honest and state your stories and its facts. Try and provide as much evidence to support your story. (e.g. phone logs, screenshots, social media messages, etc.). Write in your own words. Your English does not need to be perfect. Case Officers know that not everyone speaks English as their first language. Just write the truth, give details and provide documents to support your statement.
You want peace of mind?
Having to prove to a stranger (in this case the visa officer) that you are in a genuine relationship, can be harder than it sounds. Our partner visa service includes proofreading your statement to make sure it fullfils the visa requirements and represents your genuine relationship in the best way possible.
