Spousal visas – get them right the first time and avoid going to the Migration Review Tribunal!

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A recent decision by the Migration Review Tribunal (“MRT”) outlines the importance of lodging a complete application in the first instance.

The review applicant was an Australian citizen who found her future husband over the internet. After a very short relationship (a period of less than three months) the couple was married in Egypt. The couple lodged a spouse visa in Cairo with photographs of their wedding, invitations, copies of e-mails between each other and general photographs of the couple being a couple. Even with this evidence the department of Immigration rejected the application on the basis the department was not satisfied the couple had a mutual commitment to a shared life as husband and wife or that the relationship between them was genuine and continuing.

The review applicant appealed to the MRT seeking an expedited hearing due to medical and family reasons. Only after both parties submitted significant further information to the MRT did the MRT decide the couple did have a mutual commitment to a shared life as husband and wife in addition to their relationship being genuine and continuing. Accordingly, the MRT remitted the matter back to the department for reconsideration.

It is very much important to study beforehand the requirements prior applying for Visa. Some visas are free but some require fee along with your application, this is not usually refunded incase your application Visa gets rejected. The information you provide should be correct, as complete as possible, include all supporting documents from the start, If it doesnt then your application would be delayed, or refused costing you time and money as well as disappointment. Most application are rejected due to improper/incorrect  information submitted and we know that folks waste lots of money this way which otherwise could have been saved through proper advice and guidance.