Interview Process for Couples?

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Interview Process for Couples?; Types of questions?
Topic Started: Mar 13 2008, 04:03:05 PM (648 Views)
mily1383	Mar 13 2008, 04:03:05 PM Post #1
True Blue Mate Posts: 152 Group: Members** Member #2,008 Joined: Mar 12, 2008	My partner and I will be applying for Interdependency next month, and while the application process seems fairly straight forward we can't find any specific information as to what to expect in the interview process. What types of questions were asked in your interviews? I'm assuming we'll be asked the same types of questions as those applying for Spouse and De Facto.
	-Emily/Yank/PERMANENT RESIDENT!. -Melyssa/Aussie/Partner/Fiance/Gay lover type person. From San Diego to the Gong. Gay Specific Visa Questions? Email me! I'd love to share! LipstickLesbianSeeksPerfectColor@Hotmail.com


JenbeTas	Mar 13 2008, 04:21:11 PM Post #2
Hippie Wannabe sailing the deep blue sea Posts: 1,197 Group: Members** Member #31 Joined: Feb 18, 2007 I come from... Rushville, Illinois......unfortunately I now live in... Kuala Lumpur till we suffer thru my partner's visa I'm planning to move to... Home to Australia ASAP!!!!!!!	Hi mily, Welcome to YDU! :welcome: No questions were asked because there was no interview (PR Spouse here) but I applied offshore. I don't know if they do interviews for onshore applications (or offshore for that matter) but regardless, I had no interview.



TerritorianTori	Mar 13 2008, 04:26:00 PM Post #3
It couldn't happen here Posts: 4,856 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: Feb 14, 2007 I come from... Rio Grande Valley, Texas I now live in... Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia	You may or may not have an interview... some people do and some people don't. I think they like to keep everyone guessing. :mrgreen: But we did, and this is what happened: The interview lasted three hours. First, we submitted the application and paid the money, and I got my bridging visa granted. Next, our case worker took us and all of our paperwork to one of the side rooms, and went over it all... asking questions here and there like "what's this?", "what did you mean by that?". After that, he gave us each a questionnaire and told us to go into separate rooms. Among the questions were, "When did you meet?", "When is your partner's birthday?", "What is your partner's mother's name?", "What did you do last night?", and the best one of all: "What will you do if your visa is denied?" :mrgreen: When we were finished, he brought us back together to compare answers. Finally he said, "I am satisfied that you are in a genuine relationship." At this point we probably would've been approved right away if we hadn't been missing some important paperwork... so he gave us a month to get it together and we were on our way. Hope this helps a little!
	South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd \| The Big Bang Theory \| Doctor Who \| Pet Shop Boys \| Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys I don't do Facebook, sorry.


mily1383	Mar 13 2008, 06:40:38 PM Post #4
True Blue Mate Posts: 152 Group: Members** Member #2,008 Joined: Mar 12, 2008	That fast?! Everything we've heard is that it takes 6-9 months to be approved, and that we shouldn't even bother to get my FBI Check and physical yet because they'll expire before anyone even LOOKS at our application. Interesting... And glad I know the answers to all those questions! I wonder if they'd accept the answer "We'll cry" if we get denied...
	-Emily/Yank/PERMANENT RESIDENT!. -Melyssa/Aussie/Partner/Fiance/Gay lover type person. From San Diego to the Gong. Gay Specific Visa Questions? Email me! I'd love to share! LipstickLesbianSeeksPerfectColor@Hotmail.com


TerritorianTori	Mar 13 2008, 07:28:53 PM Post #5
It couldn't happen here Posts: 4,856 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: Feb 14, 2007 I come from... Rio Grande Valley, Texas I now live in... Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia	Well I should mention that our interview was close to 4 years ago... not sure what the process is like now! I'm sure it will all go fine! :))
	South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd \| The Big Bang Theory \| Doctor Who \| Pet Shop Boys \| Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys I don't do Facebook, sorry.


minx	Mar 13 2008, 07:43:47 PM Post #6
True Blue Mate Posts: 758 Group: Members** Member #108 Joined: Feb 18, 2007 I come from... South Florida I now live in... somewhere in the hills...	Hi Mily, We had our interview (for de facto) here in Perth August 2006. We weren't given questionnaires, but we were asked all those questions. Our interview was a couple of hours. My favorite question was "What do you love most about your partner?" Good luck with it, and don't worry! :hugs:



Silver	Mar 13 2008, 08:27:36 PM Post #7
True Blue Mate Posts: 516 Group: Members** Member #701 Joined: Nov 19, 2007 I come from... US I now live in... Melbourne suburbs I'm planning to move to... Regional Victoria	My interview lasted a couple of hours and happened last... July? Gosh, I should remember. Anywho, my biggest fear was being separated into separate interviews, but that didn't happen. They asked about coming over, how I met my husband, our relationship, what it's been like living here, what my plans were for family and work... They asked what day the garbage is taken out. My interviewer was really easy going and nice.



Angie	Mar 14 2008, 11:19:19 AM Post #8
True Blue Mate Posts: 418 Group: Members** Member #340 Joined: Jul 6, 2007	Wow, I wonder if I will ever stop being amazed by the inconsistencies of this process. I applied onshore for the spouse visa in mid Jan. 04, my interview was Feb. 22, 04 and it lasted all of 15 minutes. It consisted of her making some photo-copies of the things we provided to show our relationship was genuine (ie: photos, phone records, cards, etc.), correcting a few typos on the original application, some questions about an adopted child, and that WAS it!! I was stunned and asked her if she needed to ask questions about our relationship and she replied no, she had enough evidence to know our relationship was genuine. Then we left. My temp. spouse visa was approved in mid May 04. I don't know if it's the luck of the draw with what agent you get or what mood that agent is in that particular day but there seems to not be any true guidelines as to what they will and wont do/ask. Good luck!



shylady	Mar 14 2008, 12:34:19 PM Post #9
oldYank Posts: 4,803 Group: Members** Member #18 Joined: Feb 18, 2007 I come from... By the Shores of GitcheGumee (Longfellow) I now live in... Perth area, Western Australia	Angie Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:19 am Wow, I wonder if I will ever stop being amazed by the inconsistencies of this process. I applied onshore for the spouse visa in mid Jan. 04, my interview was Feb. 22, 04 and it lasted all of 15 minutes. It consisted of her making some photo-copies of the things we provided to show our relationship was genuine (ie: photos, phone records, cards, etc.), correcting a few typos on the original application, some questions about an adopted child, and that WAS it!! I was stunned and asked her if she needed to ask questions about our relationship and she replied no, she had enough evidence to know our relationship was genuine. Then we left. My temp. spouse visa was approved in mid May 04. I don't know if it's the luck of the draw with what agent you get or what mood that agent is in that particular day but there seems to not be any true guidelines as to what they will and wont do/ask. Good luck! My Spouse visa application/interview was exactly the same, when we went to lodge in person... though I moved here on a Prospective Marriage visa, but that info was kept in WashDC, they didn't have it here. The Perth Immigration office was really backed up then, so it took nearly 5 months. Still backed up, they tell me 6-9 months for my permanent residency, now. Seems to be Quote: the luck of the draw with what agent you get or what mood that agent is in that particular day :goodonya: Lisa
	"I could�ve turned a different corner, I could�ve gone another place... " ku,'09


mily1383	Mar 14 2008, 01:52:31 PM Post #10
True Blue Mate Posts: 152 Group: Members** Member #2,008 Joined: Mar 12, 2008	Oh! Good point! Melyssa (my partner) and I were just going over our application and what qualifies as "Proof of a genuine and ongoing relationship"? I never thought of pictures... or cards. What'd y'all include in your apps? We're worried because I don't have an income (because they won't let me work yet) and we don't have any major purchases together... because I don't have an income. The only two "major" things we have going for us are our joint savings (thank god for living with mum, or we wouldn't have that either!) and the fact that Melyssa changed her last name to mine. And the baby of course, if they count that. Since it's not biologically or legally hers, and won't be until some major legal things change, I'm doubting that means much.
	-Emily/Yank/PERMANENT RESIDENT!. -Melyssa/Aussie/Partner/Fiance/Gay lover type person. From San Diego to the Gong. Gay Specific Visa Questions? Email me! I'd love to share! LipstickLesbianSeeksPerfectColor@Hotmail.com


Angie	Mar 14 2008, 02:03:03 PM Post #11
True Blue Mate Posts: 418 Group: Members** Member #340 Joined: Jul 6, 2007	mily1383 Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:52 pm What'd y'all include in your apps? We're worried because I don't have an income (because they won't let me work yet) and we don't have any major purchases together... because I don't have an income. We included things like the pictures, cards that my husband sent me during times apart (save envelopes), heaps of phone records for times apart, silly things like every valentine's day Ray puts a valentine in the newspaper so we took the actual paper in, copy of the wedding invitations, postcards from his children addressed to us both, and copies of bills in both our names like the bond reciept, lease, and water and bills in our names seperate like the phone and cable are in my name while the power and insurance are in his name. We showed joint bank accounts both here and in the US. Then I also wrote a REAL sappy letter on how in love we were and how we split household duties, income/bills, what we enjoy doing for fun, etc. (I still have a copy if you need an idea for reference) Basically find and use ANYTHING that will establish history. Letters from friends and family, old pictures, or invitations to some event in both names. Give them something tangible to show your relation has some depth beyond paper.



mily1383	Mar 14 2008, 02:11:01 PM Post #12
True Blue Mate Posts: 152 Group: Members** Member #2,008 Joined: Mar 12, 2008	We gag met on the Internet. Do emails count? Or emails to and from family whilst we were in one country or the other? I haven't found anything that says they don't, but they also don't seem as 'official' as a postmark or signature.
	-Emily/Yank/PERMANENT RESIDENT!. -Melyssa/Aussie/Partner/Fiance/Gay lover type person. From San Diego to the Gong. Gay Specific Visa Questions? Email me! I'd love to share! LipstickLesbianSeeksPerfectColor@Hotmail.com


TerritorianTori	Mar 14 2008, 02:13:08 PM Post #13
It couldn't happen here Posts: 4,856 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: Feb 14, 2007 I come from... Rio Grande Valley, Texas I now live in... Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia	We were in a similar position - onshore spouse visa, just got married, I wasn't allowed to work. Some of the "evidence" we submitted were: * - pictures, taken together or taken separately at the same place/time (i.e. here's me standing at the big rock, here's Kirk standing at the big rock) * - letters sent to both of us, or to each of us individually at the same address * - travel itineraries, where we'd travelled to see eachother or travelled together * - joint names on bills like electricity, telephone, mobile phone, internet * - joint names on rental lease (we also got a stat-dec from Kirk's mum which verified that we had been living at their house together) * - superannuation statements listing eachother as the beneficiary * - membership cards from being members of the same organisation * - emails, chat logs, letters we'd written eachother when we were apart * - huge phone bills from calling eachother when we were apart :mrgreen: Here's a "fact sheet" for onshore interdependency visas which might be helpful - there are some good suggestions under the Evidence heading: http://www.iarc.asn.au/publications/pdfs/interdepon.doc Also the Gay and Lesbian Immigration Task Force website has a lot of specific information for interdependency visas. :cheers:
	South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd \| The Big Bang Theory \| Doctor Who \| Pet Shop Boys \| Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys I don't do Facebook, sorry.


Angie	Mar 14 2008, 02:15:42 PM Post #14
True Blue Mate Posts: 418 Group: Members** Member #340 Joined: Jul 6, 2007	mily1383 Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:11 pm We gag met on the Internet. Do emails count? Or emails to and from family whilst we were in one country or the other? I haven't found anything that says they don't, but they also don't seem as 'official' as a postmark or signature. Yes they do. Ray and I met online and I included all that in the aforementioned sappy letter. However I do not know what weight emails hold as opposed to cards and letters with postmarks in the way of establishing a timeline and dates. I do not know if they think email dates can be "faked" if you know what I mean. But I do believe EVERY little bit helps.



mily1383	Mar 14 2008, 02:20:00 PM Post #15
True Blue Mate Posts: 152 Group: Members** Member #2,008 Joined: Mar 12, 2008	Heh. I have that PDF up in the other window right now! But thanks! So basically, include anything and everything. We can do that! We're just worried about the phone bills too. She always called from a calling card so there's no record of the number she called from, only her recharges, and because it was coming through as an "unknown number" on my cell phone it looks like I have a thousand calls from myself on my bill. We would just LOVE for me to get residency by the time I'm in labor. We'd still have to pay for the birth/hospital/crapload of money up front, but at least we'd stand a chance at getting 85% back when I get my medicare card. And that means I might even be able to talk Melyssa into letting me get an epidural! Those things are EXPENSIVE!
	-Emily/Yank/PERMANENT RESIDENT!. -Melyssa/Aussie/Partner/Fiance/Gay lover type person. From San Diego to the Gong. Gay Specific Visa Questions? Email me! I'd love to share! LipstickLesbianSeeksPerfectColor@Hotmail.com


TerritorianTori	Mar 14 2008, 02:25:20 PM Post #16
It couldn't happen here Posts: 4,856 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: Feb 14, 2007 I come from... Rio Grande Valley, Texas I now live in... Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia	As long as you lodge the application before you go into labour, you'll have access to Medicare.... I know this because I found out I was expecting not several days after applying for the visa! Check out this post here. And you won't have to pay anything for care, or epidurals, unless you're planning to go private?
	South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd \| The Big Bang Theory \| Doctor Who \| Pet Shop Boys \| Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys I don't do Facebook, sorry.


SanDiablo	Mar 14 2008, 02:25:26 PM Post #17
True Blue Mate Posts: 1,002 Group: Members** Member #280 Joined: May 1, 2007	Your guys' blogs might be proof!
	"I'll try anything twice."


Angie	Mar 14 2008, 02:31:34 PM Post #18
True Blue Mate Posts: 418 Group: Members** Member #340 Joined: Jul 6, 2007	mily1383 Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:20 pm So basically, include anything and everything. We can do that! We're just worried about the phone bills too. She always called from a calling card so there's no record of the number she called from, only her recharges, and because it was coming through as an "unknown number" on my cell phone it looks like I have a thousand calls from myself on my bill. EXPENSIVE! I would show the phone bills with the weird number or receipts of the recharges and explain in a letter attached as you have here. It wouldn't be the first time the immigration dept. has dealt with people using phone cards so I am pretty sure they understand this situation. I think just the fact that you would go to the effort to "attempt" to show records will count in your favor.



mily1383	Mar 14 2008, 02:33:25 PM Post #19
True Blue Mate Posts: 152 Group: Members** Member #2,008 Joined: Mar 12, 2008	OMG. Are you SERIOUS?! When we registered at the hospital they said we'd have to pay cash up front. DON'T TEASE ME ABOUT GETTING AN EPIDURAL! I'm loving this place!
	-Emily/Yank/PERMANENT RESIDENT!. -Melyssa/Aussie/Partner/Fiance/Gay lover type person. From San Diego to the Gong. Gay Specific Visa Questions? Email me! I'd love to share! LipstickLesbianSeeksPerfectColor@Hotmail.com


TerritorianTori	Mar 14 2008, 02:45:38 PM Post #20
It couldn't happen here Posts: 4,856 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: Feb 14, 2007 I come from... Rio Grande Valley, Texas I now live in... Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia	Yep. As long as it's a public hospital, just show them your Medicare card (or quote your Medicare number, before the card comes in) and it's like gold. :mrgreen:
	South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd \| The Big Bang Theory \| Doctor Who \| Pet Shop Boys \| Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys I don't do Facebook, sorry.

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