Relationship Age Gap - Too old to sponsor a Partner Visa?
Relationship Age Gap - Are you too old and is she too young for a Partner Visa?
Will the Department refuse a Partner Visa application because she is 26 and you are 59?
Short answer? NO!
The Department makes its decisions around a set of laws known as the Migration Regulations (Cth) 1994. LAW! That means they cannot make up their own criteria! And guess what? NO Regulation in that Act of Federal Parliament says “No more than 10 years age gap between applicant and sponsor”! Nothing!
Watch: https://youtube.com/shorts/GEXeajNW7YU
But what will the Case Officer think?
As above? It doesn’t matter what they think! They have a set of rules, and the decisions they make are not something they can hide away in their own private files. They have supervisors, and they value their jobs.
But the fact is, significant age-gaps are amazingly common in partner visa applications. Most Australian men seeking a second chance and happiness (ie divorcees) are at least 40+, and most ladies in the Philippines and other Asian countries who want a stable and happy future in a safe and healthy country like Australia are in their 20’s. So what do you think is going to happen much of the time?
But will they REALLY treat all relationships the same?
There are some immigration lawyers out there who will say things like "significant age gap may attract additional scrutiny", but I disagree. And note that Down Under Visa has had a number of lawyers as visa clients over the years!
I could safely say that 20 years would not even raise an eyebrow. And I would also safely say that a strong and convicing application with a 40 year age gap would barely raise an eyebrow, but would not be any more likely to be refused as the 20 year gap relationship. If it was an issue, every 25 year + gap relationship would receive a flood of Requests for Information (RFI). For Down Under Visa? Thousands of applications lodged over the years? Definitely not! Weakly-prepared and careless applications, yes! So do it right!
Relationship Age Gaps - Very Normal
Yes, we get our adorable young couples. I still remember a 19 year old who married a 22 year old from Central QLD. They did a great testimonial video for us, and it was a pleasure helping them. And we get men in their 70’s finding the love of their life with a 65 year old widow and we would see photos of their gardens and of them taking walks together. Very sweet. But age gaps of 20 years are probably the most common. 40+ years and even 50+ years we find regularly.
Do we at Down Under Visa care about age gaps?
Not in the slightest! Right at the beginning of our practice I had a client who was having serious headaches with his fiancee (nothing to do with age) and I suggested he move on to greener pastures. Well, they ended up together in Australia and they turned out to be the happiest and most stable couple you could imagine. Since then I focus on helping whoever comes to us, which is what my job is all about.
Large Age Gap - So what DOES matter?
The Number One issue which decides whether a Partner Visa will be granted or not is evidence that the relationship is genuine! Do you actually love each other? Are you committed to leading a shared-life forever-and-a-day? Whether it’s an Onshore Partner Visa, Offshore Partner Visa, Prospective Marriage Visa or NZ Relationship Visa, they care that you are a real and committed couple who plan to spend the rest of your lives together, and want your lives to be intertwined and can’t stand being apart.
Is that you? If so, stop worrying! And Down Under Visa will focus our energy and knowledge and experience into helping you to show the Department who you are as a couple. We will help them see the real people and not just a pile of papers.
So relax! Trust the Partner Visa experts!
Further Reading
What visa do you need? CLICK
No Further Stay concerns? CLICK
Who are Down Under Visa? Who is Jeff Harvie?
Jeff Harvie and the Down Under Visa team have been doing this for a lot of years! Down Under Visa have brought thousands of couples to Australia from South East Asia over the years. Mostly from the Philippines, but we help increasing numbers of couples where the visa applicant is from China, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia. And what this means is we see a lot of success....and we also see failures when people go it alone after talking to their mate, or their relative, or that minimal-care-no-responsibility Facebook group run by Steve and Maribeth based on their own visa application! One application, and they feel qualified to advise others! It's not even LEGAL to do that!
Want to bring your sweetheart to Australia from The Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia or Southeast Asia? Get a FREE VISA ASSESSMENT today! It won't take you long, and you will be rewarded with a clear and detailed assessment that will tell you everything you need. One assessment only!
