Study abroad in Australia
Study abroad in China
Investment immigration
Skilled migration
Family sponsored immigrants
Tourist and other visas
Waiver of appeal against refusal of visa
Additional service
Accompanied by spouse
The visa for the spouse of an international student is set up for the spouse or de facto partner of an international student. We usually call it a Student Dependent Visa. This visa belongs to the 500-class visa (subclass 590) just like the student visa.
Spouse accompanying student visa can be submitted together with the main applicant’s student visa. After the visa is approved, the spouse accompanying student visa holder can legally live, work and study in Australia.
But note that
There is a limit on working hours of 20 hours per week. Unlike the student visa, the accompanying visa always has a limit on working hours, whether it is a holiday or not.
However, if the main applicant is studying master by coursework, master by research and doctorate degree, the spouse is not subject to working time restrictions.
PS: Although this is what is written on the official website of the Immigration Bureau, you should still refer to the conditions on your signature letter, because the editor has encountered a case where the main applicant was studying for a master’s degree in New South Wales, but he However, the spouse’s signature letter still states that he can only work 20 hours a week.
2. Your spouse can study with a companion visa, but the study time cannot exceed 3 months. If the course you apply for exceeds 3 months, you need to reapply for your own student visa.
Prerequisites for applying for spouse accompanying visa
1. The spouse needs to have a formal husband-and-wife relationship with the main applicant, that is to say, it must be legal and a married couple (those who registered marriage in Australia or overseas are counted); or the spouse needs to have sufficient evidence and possess De facto partners who have been living together for at least one year are what we call de factos. 2. The main applicant needs to have a visa in Australia for at least one year.
[Here are three more points to note:]If your spouse is already in Australia before applying for a companion visa, you need to provide more proof of the relationship, such as rental contracts, joint accounts, social relations, mutual commitments, etc.
The main applicant’s visa duration here refers to the total course duration of the study permit. That is to say, if the main applicant has a two-year study permit, but the remaining courses when applying for a spouse visa are less than one year, he can still apply. The validity period of the study permit will be the same as that of the study permit.
If the main applicant did not fill in the spouse in the family member form when applying for a student visa before, or the marital status when applying for a study permit was single, is it necessary to submit Form 1022 when applying for a spouse visa?
There are two situations here. If the main applicant submits an application for an accompanying student visa before the student visa is signed, then a 1022 form needs to be provided to the Immigration Bureau; if the main applicant has already issued a student visa and before applying for the accompanying student visa, If there is a change in marital status or family members, there is no need to fill in Form 1022.
How to apply for spouse visa
1. When applying for a visa for the first time, the principal and secondary applicants should submit it together, that is to say, the principal applicant will bring the spouse with him when applying for the study permit, plus the spouse’s materials and additional expenses (living expenses and travel expenses, health insurance premiums) )can;
2. If one party already has a student visa and the other party joins as a spouse, it is necessary to apply for a companion visa separately, and provide materials proving the relationship between the spouse and the main applicant and relevant financial certificates.
3. If the main applicant is already in Australia and the spouse is still in China, they may receive a telephone survey from the Immigration Bureau when applying for a companion visa. It should be remembered that the main purpose of the spouse is to accompany the student, not to come to Australia to work or study Therefore, you must remember the basic knowledge of the university, course, and your marriage time of the main applicant in Australia. Otherwise, it is likely to be rejected on the grounds of “not the real purpose of student spouse”.
Basic application materials for accompanying student visa
Material list (non-complete version, reference):
● COE of the main applicant
● Grant Letter of the main applicant
● Proof of overseas student insurance for both parties
● Both passports and ID cards
● Personal GTE from both parties (letter of true statement of intention to study abroad)
● Proof of funds of both parties (certificate of deposit)
● Documents proving the relationship (shared rental contract, bank account number, social aspects, group photos, marriage certificate, etc.)