Hello everyone! Today, I'd like to share two real-life cases of New Zealand citizens sponsoring their partners for residency in Australia.

If you or someone you know is a New Zealand citizen, listening to this could save you a lot of detours!

First, a bit of background:

Currently, there are approximately 1.6 to 1.7 million New Zealanders living in Australia. Many have started families here and wish to "formalize" their partner's status to stay long-term. So, what's the fastest and most straightforward way to do it?

The first case involves our client, Ella. She was on a 485 visa with one year left when she met Jack, a New Zealand citizen who had been studying, working, and living in Australia for many years.

The most suitable path for them was very direct: first, help the boyfriend obtain citizenship, then sponsor the partner!

After July 1, 2023, New Zealand citizens who have lived in Australia for 4 years can apply directly for Australian citizenship.

Jack had already lived here for 7 years, so we immediately started his citizenship application process → test → pledge → obtaining an Australian passport.

Once he became an Australian citizen, he could sponsor Ella for an 820 Partner visa, allowing her to stay legally in Australia without worrying about a visa gap.

This pathway is fast, precise, and stable!

The second case involves a New Zealand citizen who hasn't lived in Australia long enough (less than 4 years). What should they do about their partner and children?

This situation involves more strategic application planning.

Our client is a New Zealand citizen. His wife holds New Zealand PR. Unfortunately, New Zealand PR doesn't grant extra rights in Australia; without a visa, she cannot stay. The whole family wanted to move to Melbourne.

However! The client hadn't lived in Australia for 4 years yet, so he couldn't apply for citizenship and wasn't eligible to directly sponsor his spouse for an Australian Partner visa.

The strategy we provided for him was:

Step 1: First, apply for a 461 visa for his wife and child, so the family can reunite in Australia.
Step 2: Once the client has lived in Australia for 4 years → apply for citizenship → then sponsor the spouse and child to transition to the 820/801 Partner visa.

Crucial Note:

Once the sponsor successfully becomes an Australian citizen, their spouse and child cannot apply for a new 461 visa. Therefore, it's essential to calculate the remaining validity of the existing visa carefully.

Currently, the official processing time for citizenship applications is around 14 months. If the remaining validity of the 461 visa is short, it might be wise to first renew the 461 visa for the family members before the sponsor applies for citizenship. This ensures sufficient visa coverage during the process.

NEWPOINT
Conclusion

These two cases fully illustrate the various pathways and strategies for New Zealand citizens to help their partners obtain Australian permanent residency. The key to a successful application lies in meticulous planning of timing, preparing ample and consistent supporting evidence, and choosing the most suitable visa transition path.