This is a very helpful tip @arsky! 🙂
My hubby and I planned to do this one! It didn't work out for us though. 🙁
After we got married in the Phils, we immediately applied for a 3-month tourist Visa. Unfortunately, my tourist VISA has the NFS condition. When I was already in Aus we had to make a request to waive the NFS condition - which was refused. So, I had to go back to the Phils after my 3-month stay in Aus.
When I got back to the Phils., I did my Offshore Visa application and applied for another tourist Visa. So, I am still staying in Aus while waiting for the resolution of my partner visa application. Yes, I am with my husband but I could not work. If we were able to do the onshore one, the bridging Visa would have given me permit to work and it wouldn't really matter how long the processing would take.
We didn't mention our plan of applying for an onshore visa on my first tourist visa application. Maybe if we did it would make any difference. Only God knows. 🙂
I agree that this is the best path. It would help a lot if someone has already done and has been successful at this before.