After You Lodge Your Application

Interview requirements

If you are requested to attend an interview you must bring your passport or other personal identification and all outstanding documentation with you.

Invitation to comment

If another person gives the department information that could result in you being refused a visa, the department will give you an opportunity to comment on the information. You will need to comment by a set date.

Change in circumstances

If you change residential address for longer than 14 days you must inform the department in writing or by telephoning the general enquiries line.
See:
Form 929 Change of address and/or Passport Details ( 87KB PDF file)
National Telephone Numbers

The department must be informed if:

• you wish to add or to change the person authorised to act on your behalf in connection with your visa application
• the composition of your family changes as a result of birth, death or change in relationship status married, divorced, entered a de facto relationship, separated
• you or your family members intend to travel to or from Australia while your visa application is being processed
• the circumstances of the applicant's sponsor or assurer change
• your relationship with your partner ends.

See:
Form 1022 Notification of Changes in Circumstances ( 77KB PDF file)
Immigration Offices outside Australia

Visa decision

If the visa is approved, you will receive a letter from the department providing:

• your Visa Grant Number
• the validity date of the visa
• the visa conditions (including a specified initial entry date)
• full details of what you must do next.

If the visa is not approved, you will receive a letter advising:

• the reasons for the refusal decision
• if eligible, your review rights
• the time limit for lodging an appeal.

Initial entry date to Australia

The department will advise you of the date you are required to enter Australia (your initial entry date) at the time of visa grant. Your initial entry date is usually the same as the expiry date for the validity of either your health or character checks, whichever is the earlier.

If you do not enter Australia by the initial entry date, your Partner visa may be cancelled.

If before your Partner visa is granted, you advise the department that you will not have sufficient time to reasonably finalise your affairs and make the necessary travel arrangements, the department may consider changing your initial entry date to a later date.
Note: In these circumstances, you may need to undergo new health and / or character checks before you can be granted your Partner visa.

Processing your Partner (permanent) visa (subclass 100)

You applied for both a temporary and a permanent visa when you lodged your application.

Shortly before you are eligible to be assessed for the Partner (permanent) visa (subclass 100) visa (usually two years after application lodgement), you will receive a letter from the department asking you to provide information relating to your application.

If you believe you are eligible for assessment for a Partner (permanent) visa (subclass 100) visa and you have not received a letter from the department, you should contact your nearest Australian immigration office overseas if you are outside Australia or the relevant processing centre if you are in Australia.
See:
Immigration Offices Outside Australia
Partner Processing Centres
Note: You paid a visa application charge when you lodged your application. Therefore, you do not need to pay a further visa application charge for the permanent visa to be processed.

More information about partner visa processing is available.
See: More Information