Australian Immigration Daily News

Article by RMA Michael Jeremy

Partner visas make up approximately 25% of the permanent visas granted in Australia, each year. In the last migration program year this was about 48,000 places.

For Australia, that would be a sizeable inland town.

Over the past few years there has been stronger focus on, and investigation into partner visas. This is a result in an increase in fraud, the ease of being in a relationship and the ability to lodge an application for a partner visa irrespective of prior immigration history.

Increased activity in human trafficking, forced marriage and awareness of unlawful child marriage has highlighted criminal activities in partner visa brackets, and led to the need for greater investigations.

Since 2008 pathways to skilled migration and employer sponsored migration have become tighter,  coupled with higher standards of eligibility. Temporary residents or persons on bridging visas who may be locked out of skilled migration have turned their attention to entering into a relationship with an Australian permanent resident or citizen.

Over the past seven years there have been numerous exposures of the facilitation of non-genuine relationships to secure a migration outcome.

In all honesty it is easier to enter into a relationship given that de facto relationships can be registered in some states and territories of Australia which thus becomes an exemption from the “the twelve-month rule” that would normally apply to persons who are unmarried.

The above issues have been demonstrated in most host migrant countries. Some countries such as England and Denmark have attempted to “channel” partner migration through requiring income, English and education minimum standards.

In Australia cohorts of humanitarian entrants who arrived by boat (unlawful/irregular Maritime Arrivals) may be restricted from sponsoring a partner from overseas. 

It is likely that the Australian and overseas governments would prefer to see partner visa programs ending up as “skilled migration – lite” as opposed to “humanitarian entry – heavy”.

So, expect to see increased interest in the partner visa program from DIBP and law enforcement and investigative agencies.

These concepts will be discussed as part of a panel, this Friday 26 February at the Migration Conference 2016 in Sydney. 

Michael Jeremy will be speaking at the Migration Conference 2016 on Friday this week in Sydney, alongside the AFP and other panellists.  Book now as there are only 20 seats left for this event.  Over 130 Registered Migration Agents are already confirmed as attending.