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| Issues with Evidence | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 15 2010, 10:28:13 PM (424 Views) | |
| michaelavelli | Aug 15 2010, 10:28:13 PM Post #1 |
True Blue Mate
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Hi there. Just wanted to run by my current "evidence" situation in support of my 820 that I have a meeting to lodge in a little more than a week. I hope it's okay I started a new thread, I didn't want this to get lost in the shuffle. I feel pretty good about the "Financial" section. I have: - Statement from my US bank account showing a wire transfer I made of several thousand USD to an Australian bank account and my wife's bank statement showing the corresponding credit. I wired $ over in April before my move to Australia in September. - A car insurance policy with both of our names listed on it. - A couple statements from our joint account. opened in February. I highlighted our pay deposits, bill payments, etc. to emphasize that we do everything through this joint account. - Foxtel statements as it is the one utility that is in my name. - Three electric bills and corresponding receipts for paying those bills through my individual bank account which I had up until February when we opened a joint. The bills are in her name so I'm just showing that I paid for them through my account because that's how we divided up bills before our joint account. - A grocery bill that was paid for by two separate cards, half and half, and a copy of each of our cards from our individual accounts (again, this was before we opened a joint in February). I also have a ton of stuff for the Social Context/Nature of Commitment sections that I have saved and printed, just haven't organized them yet. The main thing I'm worried about right now is the "Nature of the Household" section. The main problem is my name is not really on anything having to do with our living situation (other than our Foxtel bill) because she had all this stuff set up before I moved here. I'm not on the lease because the property manager basically told us not to worry about amending our lease, I'm not on the utilities because she had them set up before my arrival, and I'm not on the car we bought because the dealer said he couldn't put my name on the car/financing because of my temporary status. Technically there's some overlap between the financial section and the household section because they both mention joint bills/responsibility for bills, but I feel stupid printing out the same things twice. The "Household" section also says to provide things address to both of us, and I have a couple envelopes that some congratulation cards came in (for our recent wedding) but I don't have a lot of them (I saved the cards, didn't think to save the envelopes). I have a TON of stuff addressed to me at this address and a ton more addressed to her, but not a lot addressed to both of us. So right now, this section is looking a little light. Am I taking the "categories" too literally? I think it's pretty obvious we're both at the same address since the evidence is going to be full with things in her name and then in my name. Are cards addressed to us in the actual card (i.e. Dear Mike & "Mike's Wife) sufficient? Is it enough to just provide a ton of things addressed to each of us individually at the same address? I have bank statements, pay stubs, superannuation statements, driver's licenses, all showing us at the same address. Should I assume those are okay? Everything is fine except for this section, just a little worried about it so I thought I'd bounce it off YDU. Thanks! |
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| Janda | Aug 16 2010, 06:47:51 AM Post #2 |
True Blue Mate
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When I came over I didn't know that I was staying. We had no evidence of a relationship at all for before I arrived in Australia. There were no bills in my name and the lease wasn't in my name either. We simply told our story in the "Story of Us" Stat Declaration and explained that since nothing was planned we didn't have evidence to show other than what we had accumulated after I had arrived in Australia. My husband did make a few changes by calling up and having my name added as a co-person or authorized person to most things. He had the name on the internet changed to both of our first names instead of just his. As far as the lease goes, we simply requested a letter from the real estate office stating that I and my son were both residing in the home with my husband and the date that we moved in. Just do the best you can. Throw everything except the kitchen sink in if you feel it applies to your situation. One thing we did that was not required was having some of my family and friends write up Stat Declarations about us. They already require you to get 2 from people in Australia but I thought having a couple extra from back home that knew what my life was like after arriving in Australia wouldn't hurt. We made a portfolio with those clear pages that you slip papers inside. We separated each section with a cover page and just inserted bills, and all the other evidence inside those. We also made a separate book for photos that we printed out on normal paper. I simply glued the photos to a plain sheet of paper and wrote under each one when and where it was taken. As far as Cards and such being address to husband and wife, that should be fine. I gave them all the cards from our wedding that were given by my husbands work mates and family and only very immediate family members put my name on there. No one else really knew who I was..haha. I don't think you are taking things too literally. In my opinion that is the best way to look at it. Just go down the list and gather up something for each thing on their list. That is exactly what I did. Include empty envelopes with your name and address as proof that you live or have lived there. I did that too. Oh and two extra things we did that we really didn't have to do to prove that our relationship was serious was make wills and we included those and also we did living wills and included those. Maybe that was a bit over the top to show them but we did them officially and felt by showing them these things being put on file with the state would also prove that we were serious. Don't worry! From what I'm reading that you have listed here, you seem to be doing good and have everything under control. It can be overwhelming if you think too much into it. Just do it exactly like you are doing. Go down the list and grab your papers for each request and you should be good. I guess it all worked for me because I'm still here...LOL. Our visa was approved in 14 days (Onshore that is) and we were permanent last March. I hope this helps a bit. I'm no pro, these are just some of the things we did. Alisa (Janda) Edited by Janda, Aug 16 2010, 06:48:29 AM.
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 "I tried sniffing Coke once, but the ice cubes got stuck in my nose" www.JandaDesigns.com.au - Custom Web Design, Web Site Hosting, Cheap Domain Name Registration. | |
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| shylady | Aug 16 2010, 10:09:13 AM Post #3 |
oldYank
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 hi michaelavelli,I agree with Alisa, you've got most everything you need. My name wasn't on the house or utilities, either, because my husband had lived in this house for 25 years before I moved in, so we didn't see the point in changing them. You've got a VERY good assortment of proof, and don't worry if the categories overlap, the fact that it's included in the application is enough. ANY little envelope with both your names on it at that address is good, and yes, cards addressed inside to both of you are good. I think you'll be fine!   Lisa |
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"I could’ve turned a different corner, I could’ve gone another place... " ku,'09 | |
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| beckagator | Aug 18 2010, 12:47:43 PM Post #4 |
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True Blue Mate
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hey y'all Thanks for all the tips, I struggled with the evidence stuff too. My fiance and I are living on seperate continents (hence the reason to apply for a visa) we have never lived together, and he's a student, and I met his friends in a whirlwind trip I took at easter, but most of our relationship has been long distance so finding people that know both of us to back us up is a little difficult. I ended up ordering checks from my bank with both our names on them, you can put whatever you want on checks, i sent a voided one as evidence. |
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| shylady | Aug 18 2010, 12:49:37 PM Post #5 |
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oldYank
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What a good idea!
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"I could’ve turned a different corner, I could’ve gone another place... " ku,'09 | |
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| blarg | Aug 20 2010, 12:54:38 AM Post #6 |
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True Blue Mate
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I signed up for heaps of junk mail putting "and <my partner's name>" on the first address line, followed by the actual address line on the second one. This results in mail that comes addressed to: You and Your Partner Address Do this with your utilities if you can too. Worked a treat. The case officer didn't even want all of my cohabitation evidence. |
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