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Schedule 3 Waiver and Subclass 820 Partner Visa Approved for Applicant Unlawful for 9 Years

Visa TypeSubclass 820
CategoryPartner Visa

Case Summary

An applicant who had overstayed his student visa and remained unlawful for approximately nine years, during which time he and his Australian citizen partner had a child together, was granted a Subclass 820 Onshore Partner Visa after successful Schedule 3 submissions.

Background

Our client had initially arrived in Australia on a Subclass 572 Student Visa nine years before seeking our assistance. His student visa had expired and he had remained in Australia without a valid visa throughout that period. He and his sponsor, an Australian citizen, met, entered into a relationship, commenced cohabitation and had their first child together. By the time the matter came to us, his last substantive visa had been cancelled prior to lodgement, and he had exceeded the 28-day period after its expiry — meaning a Schedule 3 waiver submission was required alongside the standard partner visa application.

Challenges

  • Applicant had been unlawful in Australia for approximately nine years
  • Last substantive visa had been cancelled and the 28-day period exceeded, requiring a Schedule 3 argument
  • Long period of unlawfulness required compelling grounds to justify the Schedule 3 waiver
  • Demonstrating the couple's genuine relationship and commitment to their Australian-born child

How We Helped

We prepared extensive submissions and supporting evidence addressing the Schedule 3 criteria. Our argument focused on the genuineness and depth of the couple's relationship, their Australian-born child, and the significant hardship that would result from separating the family. We provided a detailed argument establishing compelling reasons to waive the Schedule 3 requirements, drawing on the family unit and the child's best interests.

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Key Success Factors

  • Compelling Schedule 3 waiver argument grounded in the couple's genuine relationship and shared parenting
  • Evidence of the hardship to the Australian-born child if the family were separated
  • Thorough documentation of the couple's committed relationship over an extended period
  • Contextual evidence addressing the circumstances that contributed to the unlawful period
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Outcome

The Department accepted the Schedule 3 waiver submissions and granted the Subclass 820 Onshore Partner Visa to the applicant.

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