Pinoy unmarried couple (9 yrs) seeking visa (work/ maybe migration) to Australia

saintmichehl13 · April 2016

Hi guys,

need your advice. Here is the situation:

we're a couple (9 years, both pinoy aged 30) would like to get visa to work in Australia, possibly migrate in the future.

Here are the facts:
HIM
- IT background but currently working in Data and Analytics field
- mas MBA

Her
-Veterinarian (small animal practice)

What is your advise in how to approach the visa application? Initially I was thinking of going both independent skilled route but recently I've read about the de-facto relationship (she will be secondary), would that save us money? would it be faster or more efficient?. For those wondering why we're not yet married, that's in the plan we're just really career oriented at the moment.

We have a friend who was able to complete the whole migration from the point of application to receiving her first pay in Australia in around 6 months. So we'd like to try to target that as well.

Appreciate any inputs on whoever has done this as well as other advise you could give from planning to settling there as well as work (we're willing to take on any work until we can stabilize ourselves, but ideally we get to work on the same jobs). Thanks!

sunflower · April 2016

Hello, @saintmichehl13 and welcome to PinoyAU!

Q: Would that save us money?
A: An individual Visa 189 application costs AUD 3,600. So if you have two individual applications, then that would be AUD 7,200. But according to the estimation found on https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/189-, having one application with one dependent would cost you AUD 5,400. So yes, it would save you money.

Q: Would it be faster or more efficient?
A: As long as you already have all of the documents ready, then it wouldn't really take long. It's just that if you are doing the de facto route, there would be additional requirements. I have seen cases where both de facto applicants are required to have an interview at the embassy, although that is not always the case.

Anyway, before we consider the de facto option, we need to know more details:

1. Have you been in the de facto relationship for at least 12 months?
2. Will you be able to provide proof of your de facto relationship? (e.g. bill statements with your names on it)

The couple must demonstrate that they have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months before the visa application is made. For migration purposes, a person is in a de facto relationship with another person if they:

are not married to each other
have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others
are in a genuine and continuing relationship
live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis
are not related by family

Source: http://www.border.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/35relationship

tiggeroo · April 2016

Hi, yup it will save you money around 25% of the fee. You will go through the same process so it won't necessarily be faster and easier, unless you compare it to getting a partner visa once one of you becomes a citizen then yes, applying together under GSM will indeed be faster. Plus, if both of your occupations are under the same SOL/CSOL list, this will give you 5 extra points which can help you get invited faster! This 5 partner points applies even to defacto

There are also other threads here in the forum if you have some questions about the evidences forumers have submitted as proof of relationship. Goodluck!

KarlaD · April 2016

Hello, I have the same situation with @saintmichehl13. Valid po ba talaga ideclare si boyfriend as dependent then claim the partner points? Or required kami na magDe Facto para maclaim namin yun?

tooties · April 2016

@KarlaD If want to claim points from your partner. dapat nasa SOL din yung skills nya, may skills assessment at if applicable registration to the relevant authority for the profession

KarlaD · April 2016

yes po @tooties, same kami IT

Thank you!

KarlaD · April 2016

Pero wala naman po bang ibang requirements para ideclare ko sya as dependent?

saintmichehl13 · April 2016

wow thank you guys sa mga inputs nyo! ano po advise nyo na next step? gusto ko sana ma detail yung mga steps na gagawin namin tapos estimate ng mga gastusin

tooties · May 2016

@KarlaD I think similar sa mga requirements m..need din like English exam, TOR, employment certs plus proof of relationship..ang diff lng is that as one ang application nyo.

tooties · May 2016

@KarlaD Bale defacto ang application nyo not dependent...di naman keo kasal p...

KarlaD · May 2016

thanks again @tooties

sunflower · May 2016

wow thank you guys sa mga inputs nyo! ano po advise nyo na next step? gusto ko sana ma detail yung mga steps na gagawin namin tapos estimate ng mga gastusin

1. Check points against the points test system (minimum of 60 points).
2. Book and take the IELTS/PTE.
3. Lodge documents for skills assessment (ACS, in your case).
4. Submit EOI through SkillSelect.
5. After receiving the invitation to apply, lodge documents for Visa 189.

Kung gusto mo ng mas detailed pa, do read the content found in the following links (if you're planning to lodge the documents by yourself, you really need to do a lot of research):

http://pinoyau.info/discussion/101/general-skilled-immigration-visa-step-by-step-process/p1

https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/189-

saintmichehl13 · May 2016

Thanks Maam Sunflower!

I'll read thru the links you provided. actually similar yung na gather ko na set of activities based sa research ko. eto actually yung parang projected ko na timeline based sa experience rin ng friend ko (plus costs). I'm hoping more or less realistic. just gathering nalang ano pa mga requirements na I'll need to plot in like birth cert, COE. etc.

tama ba na i'll apply for the 189 and then my partner, I'll apply her as de facto? sensya medyo slow ako sa ganito ang detailed kasi haha.

days Activity Cost
ASC Skill Assessment Lodged ₱20,000.00
60 ASC Skill Assessment Result Received
11 IELTS Exam Taken ₱10,000.00
69 IELTS Resut received
63 EOI Completed and Submitted for ACT State Sponsorship ₱12,000.00
56 ACT SS Invitation Received
5 Lodged Visa subclass 190 ₱150,000.00
37 Medicals done ₱5,000.00
25 CO assigned (Adelaide GSM Team)
2 Submitted additional requirements.
0 VISA GRANTED!!!!
203 First Entry in Australia
72 Got JO in Sydney
2 Requested for ACT release from SS
1 Request granted from the case officer
6 First day at work.

sunflower · May 2016

@saintmichehl13
Wow, maganda yan, meron talagang target timeline hehehe. Siguro mag-iiba lang ng onti dun sa CO assignment, kasi minsan pwedeng direct grant (yung first contact sayo ay visa grant na agad), pero minsan naman, ilang beses ka pa cocontactin ng CO bago mabigay yung grant.

tama ba na i'll apply for the 189 and then my partner, I'll apply her as de facto?

Yes, ganun na nga. So ang mangyayari, ikaw yung main applicant and then "dependent" yung partner mo. In that case, kung ano man ang maging result ng application mo, ganun rin sa kanya, kung maging positive ang result ng de facto relationship niyo. (e.g. If your application is approved, automatically approved rin ang kanya.) So, do provide lots of proof of your relationship.

Good luck!

Noodles12 · May 2016

Hi Good day!

tanong ko lang if its possible na for example Im approved for a skilled independent visa then I decided to marry my partner, automatic ba yun na magkakaron na din siya ng visa? or do I have to apply for her? or the best option talaga is yung de facto relationship?

Or what if in the process of my application I decided to marry her but hindi siya nakasama sa initial application ng visa ko? what would be the best option for us.

thanks!

guenb · June 2016

@Noodles12 mas cheap kasi if kasama na siya sa application mo now, kaya lang if de facto at least 1year of living together yun, and you have to have evidence for that.

Noodles12 · June 2016

@guenb what if I applied for a defacto partner, then in the middle of processing ng visa eh we became married?

qualified naman kami for defacto eh. ang concern ko lang since Im planning to marry her soon, Im not sure kung ano yung magandang timing? is it before ma approve ang visa or after na? and ano yung mga kelangan gawin? like for example na approve visa namin then kinasal kami dito sa PH ng nde pa kami nakakapag initial entry, what would be the next step?

BTW my partner has a daughter which is not biologically mine. but the child considered me as her father since I was around since she was less than a yr old. Now she is 4yrs old. I am also planning to legally adopt the child after our marriage. So I'm really not sure ano bang magandang plan for our situation.

guenb · June 2016

@Noodles12 meron naman option to bring both with you, together with your visa application, mas less hassle. It's not really complicated since you're planning to marry her, actually will give a good evidence. You can declare something like you've been in a relationship since xxxx then planning to get married on xxxx. Yung partner in AU is equivalent to both defacto relationship & married (at least in immigration). Check this in https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/189-
Including family in your application
You can include the following people in your visa application at the time of lodgement:

your partner (married or de facto)
your or your partner’s dependent children
other dependent relatives.

*So automatic her kid will also qualify as your partner's dependent child.

In case naman your circumstances change, like getting married nga, and visa is already in-process, and no final grant pa, you can always submit a notification of changes in circumstances, see:

https://www.border.gov.au/Forms/Documents/1022.pdf

Noodles12 · June 2016

@guenb Thanks for your response! very informative. sana maging maayos lahat ng processing ko.

saintmichehl13 · May 2017

Hi everyone,

to clarify, if I apply for the indepndent visa and include her as dependent, does that mean all the requirements from a skill assessment and english perspective would be for me only? what possible requirements would be for her as part of the defacto ?

yung dependent, since may skill rin naman syya when we get to aus, can she still find work even if dependent lang visa nya?

also, I reviewed the skill occupation availability list and it looks like those related to IT has no more slots, is that a negative indication already? or are there still chance for me to get approved?

last one, i read about the state sponsored that will give additional 5 points. whats the pros and cons for that vs independent that should make me use it instead? looks like the cost are the same. and if i'll go this route, what's a good state for an IT and VET person?

appreciate your inputs!

saintmichehl13 · May 2017

up!

jiomariano · May 2017

@saintmichehl13

If you don't plan on claiming partner points, proof of functional English would be the only requirement - IELTS or certificate of English as medium of instruction during college. Of course you'll have to upload other trivial documents such as passport, birth certificate and the like, she'd have to do medicals and NBI din pala.

Come July, occupation ceilings will reset and invites will be sent out again, provided your nominated skill remains in the MLTSSL (previously SOL).

The main difference would be a moral obligation to stay in the nominating state for at least 2 years. A little additional cost might be incurred, something around 300$, but varies from state to state. No idea on a good state for your professions, nangangarap pa lang din ako ng visa

Hope this helps! All the best!

saintmichehl13 · May 2017

Sorry what's partner points? thank you very much for your reply very informative. Para sa taong nangangarap very versed ka sa process ha haha! mag consultant ka na!

I don't think in the near term mawawala kami dun sa list kasi VETs and IT are still very much in demand, mas marami nga lang ang IT na supply and VET skills are very hard to come by that are willing to try outside PH (apparently not recognized yung educ natin)