Implications of a relationship ending on a Partner visa in Australia

Navigating the complexities of partner visas in Australia can be daunting, especially when faced with the uncertainty of a relationship ending unexpectedly. Partner visas are exclusively granted to genuine and committed relationships. However, we recognise that not all relationships unfold as anticipated, for various reasons. If you find yourself on a partner visa and your relationship comes to an end, it's crucial to understand your rights and options. Our Australian Migration Lawyers understand the stress and confusion this situation can bring. That's why we're here to guide you through the implications and potential pathways forward.

Akibat penamatan hubungan semasa memegang visa rakan kongsi bergantung kepada sama ada visa itu sementara atau kekal, serta sebab-sebab di sebalik perpisahan, seperti yang diiktiraf oleh Jabatan Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri. Sekiranya pecahan hubungan sejajar dengan salah satu sebab yang diterima oleh Jabatan, implikasinya mungkin berbeza.

For temporary partner visas, if the relationship breakdown doesn't fall within the Department's accepted reasons, the visa holder may be required to leave Australia unless an alternative visa is secured. Conversely, holders of permanent partner visas generally have the right to remain in Australia, irrespective of their relationship status.

It's essential to recognise your obligations regarding notifying the Department of Home Affairs of any changes to your relationship status. Failure to do so can have serious implications for your immigration status. Our team is here to provide clarity and support during this challenging time. We can help you understand your options for alternative visas and assist you in navigating the Department of Home Affairs process.

Impact of Visa Type on Relationship Breakdown

Implikasi penamatan hubungan anda bergantung kepada visa yang dipegang:

Visa Rakan Kongsi Tetap (Subkelas 801/100)

If you are the holder of a permanent partner visa, either subclass 309 or 100, then your right to stay in Australia is permanent. This means that it is not dependent upon your relationship continuing. Therefore, if your relationship does end, you are not required to notify the Department and you can continue living in Australia.

Visa sementara (Subkelas 820/309)

Sekiranya hubungan anda berakhir semasa memegang visa rakan kongsi sementara, ada kemungkinan visa anda boleh dibatalkan. Tanggungjawab utama anda adalah untuk memaklumkan kepada Jabatan Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri mengenai perubahan status hubungan anda. Di bawah ini, kami menggariskan langkah-langkah yang perlu diikuti untuk memaklumkan kepada Jabatan.

Once you've informed the Department, they will provide an opportunity for you to explain your circumstances. They will then assess whether the cause of your relationship breakdown aligns with their accepted reasons. You'll need to substantiate your claim with evidence, which will undergo a thorough evaluation.

Sekiranya Jabatan mendapati penjelasan dan bukti anda memuaskan, anda mungkin layak mendapat visa tetap. Walau bagaimanapun, jika penjelasan atau bukti anda kurang daripada kriteria mereka, Jabatan boleh meneruskan prosiding pembatalan visa, yang berpotensi menyebabkan anda berlepas dari Australia. Adalah penting untuk mengendalikan proses ini dengan tekun dan mendapatkan bimbingan profesional jika diperlukan.

Pemakluman kepada Jabatan Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri

Partner visas require proof that a relationship is ‘genuine and continuing. If this changes, and your relationship is no longer genuine or continuing, then you are required to notify the Department of Home Affairs immediately. This is because, without this criterion being met, you are no longer eligible for the visa that you hold.

Terdapat pelbagai cara yang anda boleh memberitahu Jabatan tentang perubahan situasi anda:

• Cara paling mudah ialah melengkapkan borang Pemberitahuan Pemberhentian Perhubungan dalam tab 'Kemas Kini Butiran' dalam ImmiAccount anda.
• Sebagai alternatif, anda boleh memberitahu mereka melalui e-mel dengan menyerahkan borang Perubahan Keadaan (Borang 1022).

Adalah penting untuk memberitahu Jabatan perubahan dengan segera. Jika hubungan anda terbukti tidak lagi tulen dan anda tidak memberitahu Jabatan, maka visa anda boleh dibatalkan tanpa memberi anda peluang untuk menjelaskan keadaan anda.

Options to remain in Australia: The step-by-step process

Selepas anda memberitahu Jabatan perubahan situasi anda, ada kemungkinan anda akan dapat tinggal di Australia dengan visa tetap, bergantung kepada keadaan peribadi anda. Keadaan berikut boleh diterima:

1. You are experiencing domestic and family violence.
2. You have a child with your sponsor.
3. Your partner dies.

Jika salah satu daripada keadaan ini terpakai kepada anda, maka anda dikehendaki memberikan penjelasan dan bukti kepada Jabatan. Selepas anda memberitahu Jabatan perubahan anda dalam keadaan, anda akan diberi jemputan untuk menjawab - biasanya dalam tempoh 28 hari. Keperluan berasingan dikenakan untuk setiap kategori yang disenaraikan:

Keganasan rumah tangga dan keluarga

If you are in danger, please call the Police on 000. They can help you in an emergency if your life is in danger. You can also call 1800RESPECT for free, over-the-phone counselling services. Domestic and family violence is a matter that is taken very seriously and ensuring your safety is a matter of first priority. It is important to clarify that your partner can not cancel your visa, even if they threaten it.

If you are safe and under no immediate risk of harm, but you have been the victim of domestic or family violence, then you may notify the Department of the change in your relationship status. You will be asked to provide evidence of your circumstances. Domestic and family violence does not have to be physical violence, but includes any behaviour that places you in fear of you or your family’s safety. The following list provides some examples of family violence:

Penyalahgunaan kewangan:

Financial abuse is a behaviour limiting your access to money.

Ia boleh termasuk:

• Mengawal wang supaya anda bergantung kepada mereka
• memaksa anda menandatangani pinjaman atau kontrak
• Mempersoalkan anda tentang pembelian yang anda buat atau di mana anda membelanjakan wang anda
• only giving you money for purchases they agree to, or requiring receipts or proof of purchase for items
• Menggunakan kewangan bersama untuk kegunaan peribadi terhadap kehendak anda atau tanpa pengetahuan anda
• menanggung hutang yang anda juga bertanggungjawab
• dikenakan denda atas nama anda – termasuk memandu laju, jalan tol, denda tempat letak kereta dan sebagainya
• not allowing you to work, so you are unable to have an income of your own
• Penyalahgunaan berkaitan mas kahwin - termasuk menuntut mas kahwin tidak dibayar dan tuntutan paksaan untuk wang atau hadiah selanjutnya.

After submitting the change in circumstances form online for your Partner visa and sponsorship application, your partner will be automatically disconnected from all of your ImmiAccounts. This includes:

• Detachment from both your former partner's and migration agent's accounts
• Prioritising your safety and privacy

The form will prompt you to indicate the cessation date of your relationship with your partner. Additionally, it will inquire whether you have encountered family violence or have children with your sponsor. If both circumstances are applicable to your situation, it is crucial to select both the family violence and children of the relationship options on the form. This step ensures that your application is promptly removed, as selection of the family violence option alone triggers the automatic removal.

It is advisable to create a new ImmiAccount, using an email address inaccessible to your former partner. Subsequently, we will reach out to facilitate the transfer of your application to your new ImmiAccount. For this, we will require your:

• New ImmiAccount username
• Email address for this purpose

When asked to provide an explanation of your reason for separation, you will then be required to submit evidence of the violence, such as:

• medical reports
• police records that support claims of family violence

Professionals like social workers and psychologists may also provide evidence, assessing the consistency of claims and identifying perpetrators. Education professionals can offer observations aligned with the victim's claims, highlighting details and identifying alleged perpetrators to strengthen the case.

Jika Jabatan berpuas hati dengan maklumat yang telah anda berikan, maka anda mungkin masih layak untuk visa tetap.

For onshore Subclass 820 Visa applicants or holders, establishing a claim of domestic violence may lead to the grant of a Permanent Partner Subclass 801 visa. However, for offshore Subclass 309 applicants awaiting visa approval, even with a domestic violence claim, the visa won't be granted until the Subclass 309 is approved. Similarly, holders of Subclass 309 visas in Australia awaiting the Permanent Partner Visa – Subclass 100 may be granted the visa upon establishing a domestic violence claim.

Anda mempunyai anak dengan penaja anda

If you have had a child with your sponsor, but your relationship is no longer continuing, you may still be eligible for Permanent residence in Australia. To qualify under this category, you must have parental responsibility for at least one child under 18 years of age. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that the applicant is the parent of the child. This may be in the form of a birth certificate or any family court orders that concern the child. If the Department accepts your evidence, you may be granted permanent residence.

Pasangan anda mati

Jika rakan kongsi yang menaja visa anda telah meninggal dunia, anda mungkin masih layak untuk kediaman tetap. Walau bagaimanapun, anda perlu menunjukkan bahawa hubungan anda akan berterusan jika mereka masih hidup. Anda juga perlu memberikan bukti kematian melalui sijil kematian. Adalah penting untuk memberitahu Jabatan kematian secepat mungkin.

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Kemungkinan pembatalan visa

If your relationship is no longer ‘genuine and continuing’, then there is a possibility that your visa may be cancelled. As explained above, there are a number of reasons that permit temporary visa holders to continue on their path to attain permanent residence, even after their relationship has broken down. However, whilst these circumstances can be common, they do not apply to everyone. If your circumstances do not meet the exempt criteria, then it is unlikely that you will be able to retain your temporary visa, and you may be asked to:

• Memohon visa baru
• Atau buat rancangan perjalanan untuk meninggalkan Australia.

If you believe that your application was incorrectly decided, you might be able to seek review of the decision at Australia’s administrative review tribunal or, further, at the Federal Court. It is imperative to engage an Australian Migration Lawyer through this process.

Memohon visa yang berbeza

In the event that your partner visa is cancelled, and you are not eligible for a permanent partner visa under one of the categories listed above, you may seek to apply for a different visa. It is not uncommon for applicants to do this, as many have established a meaningful life in Australia and do not seek to return to their home country. Some of the visa options you may consider applying for include:

• Visa pelajar
• Visa migran mahir
• Visa percutian bekerja
• Visa perlindungan

Sebaik sahaja anda telah memohon visa yang berbeza, anda akan diberikan visa penyambung yang akan membolehkan anda tinggal di Australia sehingga permohonan anda telah dipertimbangkan.

Dapatkan nasihat undang-undang jika hubungan anda telah berakhir dan anda menggunakan visa rakan kongsi

If your relationship has ended and you hold a partner visa, it is important to seek legal advice. It is not uncommon for people to notify the Department that their relationship has ended without their knowledge. Resultantly, you may be caught unaware when the Department may then issue you a letter asking you to explain your circumstances. There are tight time frames in which you are required to respond to these requests, and failure to comply may result in visa cancellation. Engaging a lawyer will ensure that the information you provide is satisfactory to meet the Department’s standards and give you the best chance possible of retaining your visa.

Melibatkan Peguam Migrasi Australia adalah tidak ternilai apabila hubungan anda berakhir semasa memegang visa rakan kongsi. Pasukan kami akan menyediakan kepakaran dalam undang-undang imigresen, menawarkan nasihat yang disesuaikan, membantu penyediaan dokumentasi, dan mewakili anda dalam komunikasi dengan pihak berkuasa imigresen. Dengan sokongan kami, anda boleh menavigasi keperluan visa dengan berkesan, meningkatkan peluang anda untuk mengekalkan visa anda dan mengurangkan tekanan sepanjang proses.

Soalan Lazim

What happens if my partner’s relationship ends while on a temporary visa?

If your relationship ends while on a temporary partner visa (subclass 820 or 309), you must notify the Department of Home Affairs. Unless you qualify for permanent residency under special circumstances (such as family violence, having a child with your sponsor, or the death of the sponsor), the Department may cancel your visa and you may need to leave Australia or apply for another visa immediately.

Can I stay in Australia if my relationship ends, but I have a child?

Yes, if you and your sponsoring partner have a child together and you have ongoing parental responsibility or involvement, you may still be eligible for a permanent partner visa even if the relationship ends.

What evidence is needed to prove domestic violence to the Department?

The Department of Home Affairs accepts both judicial and non-judicial evidence, such as:

• Court orders (intervention or protection orders) under the state or territory law
• Police reports corroborating the domestic violence
• Assessments from qualified professionals (for example, doctors, psychologists, or social workers)

Do I need to inform the Department if my partner dies?

Yes. You must notify the Department of Home Affairs immediately if your sponsoring partner passes away. In many cases, you may still be eligible for the permanent partner visa, provided the relationship was genuine and continuing at the time of your partner’s death.

Why should I contact a migration lawyer after a breakup?

A relationship breakdown can place your visa status at risk, particularly if you are on a temporary visa. A migration lawyer can:

• Assess whether an exception applies to your case
• Advise you on alternative visa options
• Help you notify the Department correctly
• Reduce the risk of your becoming unlawful

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Rundingan buku

Jika anda berminat untuk mendapatkan lebih banyak maklumat mengenai visa, hubungi Peguam Migrasi Australia untuk berunding.

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