The Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Act 2018 commenced on 17 April 2019.
This Act amends the Migration Act to, among other things, insert new subsections relating to sponsored family visas. Most importantly, this Act has changed the law such that sponsors must now be pre-approved before any relevant visa applications are made.
The rationale underpinning this change is to prevent anyone with a history of domestic violence sponsoring an individual, as part of the Australian Government’s push to try and protect vulnerable individuals from exposure to violence.
However, if you have had issues with domestic violence in the past and you are looking to sponsor a partner, all is not lost.
So, what should you do if you have a foreign partner or family, and have not yet applied for this visa?
Firstly, you need to lodge as soon as possible, because the rules are getting increasingly strict.
Secondly, you need to ensure you engage a lawyer experienced in domestic violence matters and character submissions in the Tribunals and Courts.
Here at The Migration Place, we are experienced in family law matters, domestic violence matters and character submissions for visa purposes, and have enjoyed success in all three areas in the Courts, so we know what to do and the best way to navigate any issues.
If you have any issues regarding the new laws, or require any other immigration assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at mail@themigrationplace.com or by phone on +61 7 3229 4025.
We look forward to hearing from you.