Tern Legal

Tern Legal Sydney based law firm. We specialise in migration law, with our own education practice. Reach out for enquiries.

22/05/2026

Bringing your partner to Australia on a subsequent entrant visa? Watch this before you apply.

One of the biggest mistakes temporary visa holders make on student visas, 482 visas, and 485 visas is failing to properly declare their relationship history from the start. That single issue can create serious problems later when applying for a spouse or de facto subsequent entrant visa.

In this video, I explain:
• how Australian immigration assesses de facto relationships
• the “4 pillars” of relationship evidence
• why long-distance relationships are difficult to prove
• FIFO and seafarer relationship issues
• common mistakes causing visa refusals
• how the Department checks previous visa applications

If you’re applying for a subsequent entrant visa for your partner, this is essential information.

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The information shared by Tern Legal on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for obtaining professional legal advice that is specific to your circumstances. Viewing or interacting with this content does not create a solicitor-client relationship. For advice tailored to your situation, please contact Tern Legal directly.

19/05/2026

The 28-Day Race to Stop a Visa Deportation

Most people think immigration law is just filling out paperwork at a desk. The reality? Sometimes it’s a high-stakes logistical battle against a strict, non-extendable legal deadline.

I recently took on a Section 501 mandatory visa cancellation matter. Because of a criminal sentence, the client's visa was automatically cancelled. Under Section 501CA, you have exactly 28 days to request a revocation of that decision. The Department has zero power to extend this timeframe.

Every single transfer meant new security clearances, visitor backlogs, and lost days. If the Department refuses a revocation, the next step is an expedited character review at the new Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which carries an incredibly tight 9-day lodgement deadline.

The Takeaway: Whether you are fighting a character cancellation or you just have a complex visa history that requires a Freedom of Information (FOI) request - DO NOT WAIT. External bureaucracies move at their own pace, not yours. Give your lawyer the time they need to build a bulletproof case.

Facing a character issue or complex history? Let's get ahead of the clock. Link in bio to book a consultation at Tern Legal.



The information shared by Tern Legal on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for obtaining professional legal advice that is specific to your circumstances. Viewing or interacting with this content does not create a solicitor-client relationship. For advice tailored to your situation, please contact Tern Legal directly.

15/05/2026

Commitment is more than just a "feeling."

"How do we prove we are committed when we live apart?" This is the question that keeps LDR couples up at night. The answer isn't in your text messages - it’s in your legal integration.

In 2026, the Commitment Pillar requires proof of a shared future. Here is what we look for:
Superannuation & Insurance: Naming your partner as a beneficiary is a powerful legal statement of commitment.
The "Big" Decisions: Planning for their move to Australia, researching health insurance, or updating your Will.
Future Plans: Where will you be, as a couple, in 5 years?

The Department wants to see a relationship that is exclusive and continuing, backed up by evidence. Don't leave your commitment open to interpretation.

Ready to build a bulletproof Commitment Pillar? Let’s chat. Link in bio.



The information shared by Tern Legal on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for obtaining professional legal advice that is specific to your circumstances. Viewing or interacting with this content does not create a solicitor-client relationship. For advice tailored to your situation, please contact Tern Legal directly.

12/05/2026

Why "Luck" is a Dangerous Visa Strategy

I love a success story, but a visa grant is not a "one-size-fits-all" guarantee. If you're seeing people say they got a grant with no evidence, here is the Legal Reality of 2026:

1. The Timing: COVID concessions ended in late 2023. The Department's "flexible" era is over.
2. The Officer: You don't get to choose your Case Officer. Some are empathetic; others are highly skeptical. We build cases to satisfy the skeptics.
3. The Burden: A 10-year marriage with kids has a much lower evidentiary burden than a new de facto couple. Your friend's "easy" grant might not apply to your situation.

The Bottom Line: You can roll the dice with minimal evidence if you have a high appetite for risk. But as a legal practitioner, our job is to remove the "luck" from the equation and provide a bulletproof legal strategy.

Don't gamble with your future. Let’s build a strategy that works. Link in bio.



The information shared by Tern Legal on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for obtaining professional legal advice that is specific to your circumstances. Viewing or interacting with this content does not create a solicitor-client relationship. For advice tailored to your situation, please contact Tern Legal directly.

08/05/2026

No shared fridge? No problem.

"We live 8,000km apart... how do we prove the Household Pillar?" This is where most long-distance applications get weak. But the law doesn't require you to be under the same roof - it requires you to be intertwined.

In 2026, a "Household" can be digital. Here is how to prove it:
1. Daily Responsibilities: Do you send groceries or pay for their utility bills? That’s household support.
2. Digital Domesticity: Shared accounts for streaming, shopping, or even cloud storage prove you’re a "unit."
3. Future Planning: Are you discussing furniture or looking at school zones together? Save those chats.
4. The Routine: In your statements, describe who makes the big decisions and how you manage the distance.

Remember: 'The absence of evidence is the evidence of absence.' If you don't describe your household routine, the Department will assume you don't have one. Nature of the Household" is about the teamwork, not the postcode. Don't leave this pillar to chance.

Need help proving your "digital" household? Let’s build your case. Link in bio.



The information shared by Tern Legal on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for obtaining professional legal advice that is specific to your circumstances. Viewing or interacting with this content does not create a solicitor-client relationship. For advice tailored to your situation, please contact Tern Legal directly.

05/05/2026

Visa Processing Times: Normal or Nah?

"Is this normal?" "How long will my visa take?" These are the #1 questions in my inbox.
I’ve realised so many people don’t know that the Department actually provides a tool to help you answer that yourself.

How to check:
1. Search for the Global Visa Processing Times tool.
2. Enter your subclass and lodgement date.
3. If you are past the 90% benchmark, something might be holding you up.

If you're stuck in the "Nah" zone, it’s often because your application wasn't "Decision-Ready."
If that’s you, don't just wait - get a strategy.



The information shared by Tern Legal on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for obtaining professional legal advice that is specific to your circumstances. Viewing or interacting with this content does not create a solicitor-client relationship. For advice tailored to your situation, please contact Tern Legal directly.

01/05/2026

Why your money is safer with a Solicitor

"My agent disappeared with my fees - how do I get a refund?" It’s a heartbreaking question I hear too often. But for migration agents, there is often no "safety net" for stolen funds.

As a Principal Solicitor, I operate under a completely different set of rules. Here is why your money is safer with a lawyer:
1. The Fidelity Fund: Only solicitors contribute to this. If a lawyer dishonestly defaults on your money, the Law Society of NSW has a fund to compensate you.
2. Trust Accounts: Your money is held in a strictly audited account. It remains "your" money until the work is completed.
3. Professional Accountability: Mishandling trust money is the fastest way for a lawyer to lose their career. We are held to the highest ethical standards.

The recent wave of OMARA sanctions in March and April 2026 shows that "cheap" representation can be the most expensive mistake you'll ever make.

At the end of the day, whether it is a migration agent or a solicitor, make sure that you engage someone that you can trust.

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The information shared by Tern Legal on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for obtaining professional legal advice that is specific to your circumstances. Viewing or interacting with this content does not create a solicitor-client relationship. For advice tailored to your situation, please contact Tern Legal directly.

28/04/2026

5-Year BVB Grant: From Lodgement to Approval in 2 Business Days

Think all Bridging Visas are the same? Think again.

Most applicants are stuck in a cycle of applying for a new BVB every time they want to leave Australia. But for this client, we secured a 5-year travel facility in record time.

- Thursday: Lodged with a comprehensive legal submission.
- Monday: 5-year grant received.

Why did this work? Because we didn't just lodge a form; we provided a detailed legal narrative that addressed the delegate's discretion directly. In the 2026 migration climate, "Decision-Ready" files are the only way to cut through the noise.

🔗 Want to travel without the stress? Let’s build your strategy. Link in bio.



The information shared by Tern Legal on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for obtaining professional legal advice that is specific to your circumstances. Viewing or interacting with this content does not create a solicitor-client relationship. For advice tailored to your situation, please contact Tern Legal directly.

24/04/2026

"We’re long-distance and don’t post on social media... does it matter?" Yes, it does. If the world doesn't see you as a unit, the Department won't either.
When you live 8,000 kilometres apart, you must prove public recognition across borders.

1️⃣ Witnesses: Move beyond friends. Get Form 888s from family who "know" your partner via video calls.
2️⃣ Joint Invites: Evidence that your social circle sees you as a "package deal," even from afar.
3️⃣Strategic Travel: Photos with each other’s families are worth 10x more than a beach selfie.
4️⃣The 'FaceTime' Proof: Screenshots of group calls with in-laws prove you aren't a secret.

A few photos aren't enough. In the eyes of the law, you need corroboration. You need witnesses to your love story.

🔗 Worried about your Social Pillar? Let’s audit your evidence. Link in bio.

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The information shared by Tern Legal on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for obtaining professional legal advice that is specific to your circumstances. Viewing or interacting with this content does not create a solicitor-client relationship. For advice tailored to your situation, please contact Tern Legal directly.

21/04/2026

Partner Visa & Long Distance Relationship (Finance Edition)

Think being in a long distance relationship means you won’t get a Partner Visa grant? Think again.
Think being married means you don't need to prove your finances? Think again.

If you are long-distance, a "symbolic" joint bank account won't save you. The Department wants to see active financial interdependence.

Here are some long-distance evidence examples:
1. Flow of Money: Use Wise or Western Union to support each other’s daily lives.
2. Joint Travel: Prove that visits are a shared financial commitment.
3. Future Security: Update your Will and Superannuation to name your partner.
4. Daily Pooling: Shared accounts for Netflix or Prime show a combined life.

Do not rely on a marriage certificate while keeping your bank accounts 100% separate. Start building the paper trail now.

🔗 Married or De Facto and living apart? Let’s build your "Decision-Ready" file. Link in bio.



The information shared by Tern Legal on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for obtaining professional legal advice that is specific to your circumstances. Viewing or interacting with this content does not create a solicitor-client relationship. For advice tailored to your situation, please contact Tern Legal directly.

17/04/2026

Partner Visa & the ETA Trap: Why "Living" on Visitor Visas is Riskier in 2026

Is it legal to come to Australia on a visitor visa and lodge a Partner Visa onshore? Yes. But is it safe? That depends on your travel history.

We are seeing a surge in ETA cancellations. The critical issue? Extensive time spent in Australia on ETAs.

If you have been "visa hopping" with limited gaps between your trips, the Department is flagging you. In one recent case, an applicant was warned not to board their flight, and visa was cancelled shortly after.

The Truth: Intending to apply for a further visa onshore doesn't automatically make you a "non-genuine" visitor. It is a legitimate pathway! But the Department’s focus is on whether you will abide by your visa conditions and leave if that next visa is refused.

The Risk: If your bags are packed for a permanent move and your history shows you’ve already been "living" here, you are a prime target for a GTE refusal.

As a solicitor with a background in litigation, I advocate for the safest strategy. Don't let your honesty at the border lead to an "Airport Ambush."

Unsure if your travel history is a red flag? Let’s audit your status before you fly. Link in bio.



The information shared by Tern Legal on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for obtaining professional legal advice that is specific to your circumstances. Viewing or interacting with this content does not create a solicitor-client relationship. For advice tailored to your situation, please contact Tern Legal directly.

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