RPM Immigration Lawyers

RPM Immigration Lawyers We specialise in Australian partner visas & appeals of visa refusals. Applying for a Partner visa is a big step. Many of our clients are overseas or interstate.

We Specialise in Partner Visa Applications and Appeals

If you need an Australian Partner visa or a Prospective Marriage visa to be with your Australian partner, we can help. It's complicated, time consuming, and needs to be done absolutely correctly. It's an exciting and hopeful time, but often stressful. We understand this, and we smooth the process for you.

Our years of experience and exc

eptionally high success rate with Partner visa and Prospective Marriage visa applications will give you peace of mind. You deserve honest advice and skilled representation at this critical time. Many of our clients have written Google reviews of our services.

We can have a consultation with you via Zoom videoconferencing or telephone. Wherever you are, we can help.
The Expert Services we Provide:

Advice on Australian partner visas and prospective marriage visas - best option, strategies, costs, timeframes, how to succeed.

Professional preparation, lodgement and management of married, de facto, same-sex & fiancée visa applications for partners of Australians.

Representing you in dealing with the Australian Immigration Department.

Appealing visa refusals to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. If your visa application has been refused, an appeal is a second chance of success. Do you just need advice?

Immigration lawyer Ross McDougall will consult with you for one hour to get full details about your situation and what you need. He will then advise you on your options and the best solution for you, answering all your questions. Your consultation can either be by telephone or by Zoom video conferencing - one or both partners are welcome to attend. Our fee for this consultation is $195.

Contact us to book - either telephone us on : 08 8528 9187 or send an email to : [email protected]

How not to run out of space when uploading evidence to a partner visa application. After a partner visa application is l...
08/04/2026

How not to run out of space when uploading evidence to a partner visa application.



After a partner visa application is lodged, a range of evidence that the relationship is genuine and ongoing needs to be uploaded to the application.

Whilst the application is being processed, new relationship evidence documents should also be uploaded periodically.

Evidence can include financial documents, social activity documents, household documents, Form 888s, photographs, etc. etc.



The maximum number of documents that can be uploaded to a partner visa application is one hundred.

It is easy to reach this limit of one hundred documents unless similar documents are combined before they are uploaded.



For instance, rather than uploading individual photographs to an application, combine multiple photgraphs into one document and then upload that one document that contains multiple photographs.



The same applies with evidence such as electricity/gas bills and bank account statements – combine similar documents (e.g. a few years of bank statements) into one document and then upload that one document.



By doing this, it is highly unlikely that the one hundred document maximum will be reached – and a lot of evidence will still be able to be uploaded.



Feel free to contact me if you would like to book a consultation for more information about anything mentioned here.



Regards.

Ross McDougall.

Immigration Lawyer & Solicitor.

www.rpmlawyers.com.au

[email protected]

This information is correct on April 9th, 2026. But keep in mind that immigration law changes from time to time.

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Should new relationship evidence be added to a lodged partner visa application? - Yes.As partner visa processing times h...
03/03/2026

Should new relationship evidence be added to a lodged partner visa application? - Yes.

As partner visa processing times have significantly increased in the last year, the question can arise as to how to keep a lodged partner visa application 'fresh' and current.

The answer to that question is to continue to add evidence of your genuine and ongoing relationship to the partner visa application after it is lodged.

Evidence could include, new joint bank account statments, household bills, evidence of travel together, photographs, etc.

Best practice is to upload new evidence to your partner visa application regularly during the visa processing period - to maximise the chances of success for the application.

Feel free to contact me if you would like to book a consultation for more information about anything mentioned here.

Regards.

Ross McDougall.

Immigration Lawyer & Solicitor.

www.rpmlawyers.com.au

[email protected]

This information is correct on March 4th, 2026. But keep in mind that immigration law changes from time to time.

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The number of unprocessed visa applications from the partners of Australians has ballooned to almost 100,000.Luke Kinsel...
30/01/2026

The number of unprocessed visa applications from the partners of Australians has ballooned to almost 100,000.

Luke Kinsella writing in the Australian Financial Review on January 6th, 2026, reported that:

'The number of unprocessed applications from the spouses of Australian citizens has ballooned to almost 100,000, as pressure from record-high net overseas migration creates unprecedented backlogs in the visa system.

The pile of unprocessed applications has grown by 72 per cent under Labor, due to limits maintained by the Albanese government that were described as “cruel” and “illegal” by Labor’s assistant minister for multicultural affairs, Julian Hill, when the Coalition was in power.'

You can read the full article by clicking here:

https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/labor-accused-of-breaking-the-law-on-migration-rules-20251211-p5nmyi

Feel free to contact me if you would like to book a consultation for more information about anything mentioned here.

Regards.

Ross McDougall.

Immigration Lawyer & Solicitor.

www.rpmlawyers.com.au

[email protected]

This information is correct on January 30th, 2026. But keep in mind that immigration law changes from time to time.

Labor’s Julian Hill said the rules were “cruel” and “illegal” in opposition, but the Albanese government has continued the Coalition’s policy.

Hold a Bridging Visa A and travelling outside Australia this Christmas? Don't get stuck.A person who holds a temporary p...
23/12/2025

Hold a Bridging Visa A and travelling outside Australia this Christmas? Don't get stuck.

A person who holds a temporary partner visa - such as subclass 820 or subclass 309 visa - is free to leave and to re-enter Australia whilst they hold that visa.

However, partner visa applicants who currently hold a Bridging Visa A will need to apply for and to be granted a Bridging Visa B before travelling outside Australia - so that they can re-enter Australia.

A Bridging Visa A allows a person to leave Australia - but not to re-enter. Don't get caught out!

Feel free to contact me if you would like to book a consultation for more information about anything mentioned here.

Regards.

Ross McDougall.

Immigration Lawyer & Solicitor.

www.rpmlawyers.com.au

[email protected]

This information is correct on December 24th, 2025. But keep in mind that immigration law changes from time to time.

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Can a partner visa application be prioritised for processing due to a pregnancy? - not usually unfortunately. The Immigr...
25/11/2025

Can a partner visa application be prioritised for processing due to a pregnancy? - not usually unfortunately.

The Immigration Department's publication 'Guidelines for prioritising partner visa applications on compassionate and compelling grounds' lists 'Pregnancy' as a circumstance that - on it's own - would generally not be regarded as adequate to be granted priority processing of a partner visa application.

This is an extract from the Guidelines:

Circumstances which are neither compelling nor compassionate

While circumstances should be assessed on a case by case basis, under policy, the following circumstances alone would not be considered compelling or compassionate, unless other factors exist to support them:

• Financial hardship;
• Intending to start a family;
• Pregnancy;
• Access to English language classes and/or Commonwealth funded study
programs;
• Pain and suffering of separation;
• Employment;
• Travel;
• Pre-arranged wedding plans;
• Passport due to expire.

Feel free to contact me if you would like to book a consultation for more information about anything mentioned here.

Regards.

Ross McDougall.

Immigration Lawyer & Solicitor.

www.rpmlawyers.com.au

[email protected]

This information is correct on November 25th, 2025. But keep in mind that immigration law changes from time to time.

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Do Partner Visa Sponsors Need to Be Employed? Not necessarily.There is actually no requirement that a sponsor for a part...
23/10/2025

Do Partner Visa Sponsors Need to Be Employed? Not necessarily.

There is actually no requirement that a sponsor for a partner visa application be employed.

Sponsors who are unemployed, retired, or receiving social security benefits can all potentially be approved as a partner visa sponsor - providing they meet the other usual criteria.

However, within the online sponsorship application, the sponsor must declare that they will ensure adequate accommodation is available for the visa applicant upon their arrival in Australia.

And, the sponsor agrees in the application to provide accommodation for up to two years from the applicant’s arrival in Australia, or for a period of two years following the granting of the partner's visa if the partner is applying while in Australia.

The Immigration Department looks primarily at whether or not the relationship is genuine and relativey long-standing. The sponsor's financial situation is less important.

Feel free to contact me if you would like to book a consultation for more information about anything mentioned here.

Regards.

Ross McDougall.

Immigration Lawyer & Solicitor.

www.rpmlawyers.com.au

[email protected]

This information is correct on October 24th, 2025. But keep in mind that immigration law changes from time to time.

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The total number of partner visa allocations for the 2025-2026 year has been announced.In September 2025, the Department...
19/09/2025

The total number of partner visa allocations for the 2025-2026 year has been announced.

In September 2025, the Department of Home Affairs announced that the 2025–26 Permanent Migration Program will have the same number of places as the 2024-205 program – 185,000 places.

Of these 185,000 migration places, 40,500 places have been allocated to the partner visa program.

This is the same number of partner visa places as the 2024-2025 year.

So, no increase in partner visa places this year, but no decrease either.

Feel free to contact me if you would like to book a consultation for more information about anything mentioned here.

Regards.

Ross McDougall.

Immigration Lawyer & Solicitor.

www.rpmlawyers.com.au

[email protected]

This information is correct on September 19th, 2025. But keep in mind that immigration law changes from time to time.

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Onshore and Offshore Partner Visa Processing Times - An UpdateDepartment of Home Affairs (DOHA) staff met recently with ...
07/08/2025

Onshore and Offshore Partner Visa Processing Times - An Update

Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) staff met recently with the Migration Institute of Australia and gave an update on current partner visa processing times.

DOHA staff advised that older partner visa applications are being processed and cleared, which has affected current processing times.

Average partner visa processing times as at 1st July 2025 are:

Subclass 309 (Offshore) Partner Visa: 50% processed in 17 months and 90% processed in 25 months.
Subclass 820 (Onshore) Partner Visa: 50% processed in 14 months and 90% processed in 27 months.

DOHA also plans to allocate more resources to ease processing delays for Bridging Visas tied to Partner visa applications.

Feel free to contact me if you would like to book a consultation for more information about anything mentioned here.

Regards.

Ross McDougall.

Immigration Lawyer & Solicitor.

www.rpmlawyers.com.au

[email protected]

This information is correct on August 8th, 2025. But keep in mind that immigration law changes from time to time.

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The Government's Partner Visa Application Charges increased on July 1st 2025.As it does most years, the government has i...
09/07/2025

The Government's Partner Visa Application Charges increased on July 1st 2025.

As it does most years, the government has increased from July 1st, 2025, its visa application charges for partner and prospective marriage visa applications.

The increase in visa application charges for partner visa and prospective marriage visa applications is reasonably modest this year - thankfully, as the charges are already very high!

The new visa application charges that apply from July 1st, 2025, are

Partner Visa (lodged onshore or offshore) $9,365

+ Any Dependent Child aged under 18 $2,345

+ Any Dependent Child aged 18 or over $4,685

Prospective Marriage Visa $9,365

+ Any Dependent Child aged under 18 $2,345

+ Any Dependent Child aged 18 or over $4,685

A Credit card payment fee of 1.4% needs to be added to the above charges if paying by Credit Card - which I recommend as it avoids delay in lodging the application and receipt of the lodged application is immediately confirmed.

These new visa application charges only apply to visa applications lodged after July 1st, 2025. Applications lodged before then won't be affected.

Feel free to contact me if you would like to book a consultation for more information about anything mentioned here.

Regards.

Ross McDougall.

Immigration Lawyer & Solicitor.

www.rpmlawyers.com.au

[email protected]

This information is correct on July 9th, 2025. But keep in mind that immigration law changes from time to time.

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How Partner Visa applicants can get their results when they complete their medical examinations in Australia.After partn...
14/05/2025

How Partner Visa applicants can get their results when they complete their medical examinations in Australia.

After partner visa applicants have completed the medical examinations required to process their visa application, the results of their medical examinations can be obtained via the following avenues:


To obtain a copy of your chest x-ray:

If your appointment was at a medical centre in Albany, Alice Springs, Bundaberg, Cairns, Darwin, Geraldton, Hobart,
Launceston, Mildura, Mount Isa, Port Augusta, Rockhampton, Wagga Wagga or Whyalla, contact IMED Radiology for
a copy of your x-ray.

For all other locations, contact Lumus Imaging.

To obtain your pathology results:

If you attended your appointment at a medical centre in Albany, Booragoon, Bunbury, Carnarvon, Geraldton,
Kalgoorlie, Mildura, Norfolk Island, Port Augusta or Whyalla, you'll need to contact the centre directly to request your
pathology results.

For all other locations, complete BUPA's Pathology Request Form. If you're intending to work or study as a doctor,
dentist, nurse or paramedic during your stay in Australia, you can also request a copy of your TST or IGRA results.

BUPA will send your results via secure email within 7-10 business days.

Go to this link for more information and for access to hyperlinks: https://www.bupa.com.au/bupamvs/more-information/frequent-questions/results-and-follow-up

Feel free to contact me if you would like to book a consultation for more information about anything mentioned here.

Regards.

Ross McDougall.

Immigration Lawyer & Solicitor.

www.rpmlawyers.com.au

[email protected]

This information is correct on May 14th, 2025. But keep in mind that immigration law changes from time to time.

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Is an Australian Partner Visa Sponsor required to financially support their Partner?In their partner visa sponsorship ap...
08/04/2025

Is an Australian Partner Visa Sponsor required to financially support their Partner?

In their partner visa sponsorship application, the Australian Sponsor agrees to provide this support to their partner:

The sponsor agrees:

- To provide information and advice to help the person(s) being sponsored settle in Australia.

- To ensure that adequate accommodation is available to them on arrival in Australia or, if necessary, to provide accommodation for up to 2 years from arrival in Australia, or the 2 years following grant of partner's visa if partner is applying in Australia.

- To provide support as required enabling them to attend appropriate English language courses.


So, apart from ensuring that adequate accommodation is available for their partner for up to two years after the grant of the partner visa, there is no specific requirement that a sponsor financially support their partner.

As there is no specific requirement for financial support of the partner, sponsors on low incomes and/or with modest savings can potentially sponsor their partner to Australia - providing they (or their partner) have the funds for the Government's expensive visa application charge.

Of course sponsored partners may, and aften do, have their own income and/or savings and not need to be financially supported by their sponsoring partner after their arrival in Australia.

Additionally, partners holding temporary partner visas have full work rights in Australia.

Notwithstanding the above, the Immigration department does consider whether or not partners have 'combined' their finances - as part of the processing of their permanent visa application.

Feel free to contact me if you would like to book a consultation for more information about anything mentioned here.

Regards.

Ross McDougall.

Immigration Lawyer & Solicitor.

www.rpmlawyers.com.au

[email protected]

This information is correct on April 9th, 2025. But keep in mind that immigration law changes from time to time.

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