Partner visa processing

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection is toughening its processing of partner visa applications with increased scrutiny of second stage processing (ie for permanent visas) and, in some cases, the use of Public Interest Criteria 4020 to refuse applications where the relationship is found to be non-genuine. This leads the DIBP to find that bogus documents have been provided to evidence a genuine relationship.

This has important implications for applicants who are subsequently subject to a three year ban for further visa applications. This is particularly problematic if the applicant does not have review rights in relation to the decision (eg they were offshore at the time of decision for an offshore application).