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Subclass 309 Offshore Partner Visa Granted After Addressing Prior Unlawfulness and Character Issues

Visa TypeSubclass 309
CategoryPartner Visa

Case Summary

A married couple needed a Subclass 309 Offshore Partner Visa after the Australian citizen sponsor's husband — who had previously overstayed a tourist visa — was forced to return overseas. We prepared a comprehensive application addressing both the period of unlawfulness and a character issue concurrently, and secured the visa.

Background

The sponsor sought our assistance after her husband, a foreign national who had previously arrived in Australia on a Subclass 600 Tourist Visa, overstayed and lived unlawfully before eventually being forced to return to his home country for family reasons. During his time in Australia, the couple had met, married, and had their first child together. They were expecting their second child when the application was lodged. Given the history of unlawfulness, we decided to address this directly in a character submission lodged alongside the Subclass 309 application.

Challenges

  • The applicant had a period of unlawfulness from overstaying a tourist visa
  • Family separation from the sponsor and Australian-born child created urgency
  • Character submission needed to address the unlawful period proactively
  • Evidence of genuine relationship needed despite the couple's enforced separation

How We Helped

We prepared and lodged a comprehensive Subclass 309 offshore partner visa application, including thorough documentation of the couple's genuine and committed relationship and their commitment to their children. We simultaneously lodged a character submission proactively addressing the applicant's period of unlawfulness, providing context and explaining the circumstances that had led to his overstay and forced departure.

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Key Success Factors

  • Proactive lodgement of a character submission alongside the visa application rather than waiting for a request
  • Comprehensive evidence of the couple's genuine relationship, marriage and shared family life
  • Documentation of the couple's commitment to their children and their growing family
  • Thorough and transparent approach to the prior unlawfulness
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Outcome

The Subclass 309 offshore partner visa was granted.

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