Immigration matters are decided on evidence and on deadlines. Most of the applications that come to us after a refusal failed for one of those two reasons — not because the underlying situation was weak.
Partner and family visas
Partner visas are assessed against four areas: the financial aspects of the relationship, the nature of the household, the social context, and the mutual commitment. We work through each one with you, identify where the evidence is thin, and build the file before it is lodged rather than after a request for more information arrives.
We act on onshore applications (subclass 820/801) and offshore applications (subclass 309/100), as well as parent and other family sponsorship — where the realistic waiting time is often the most important thing to understand before you start.
Skilled and employer-sponsored visas
For skilled applicants the sequence matters: skills assessment, points, expression of interest, then invitation. For employer-sponsored applications the business itself has obligations that must be met before the visa is considered. We advise on which pathway is realistic for your qualifications and work history, and what would need to change to open a better one.
Refusals, cancellations and review
This is the most time-critical work we do. Most refusal and cancellation decisions carry a right of review to the Administrative Review Tribunal, but the deadline is short, strictly enforced, and runs from when the decision is taken to have been received — not when you open the letter. Check the date on the decision record the day it arrives and get advice immediately.
A review is a fresh look at the merits, so it is a genuine opportunity to file the evidence that was missing. It is not an opportunity to explain away a gap that has since become unexplainable.
Citizenship and bridging visas
We advise on eligibility for citizenship by conferral, including the residence requirement and character considerations. We also advise on bridging visas — in particular what work and travel rights you hold while an application or review is on foot, which is the question most people forget to ask until they need to leave the country.
What makes an application stronger
- Evidence collected from the beginning and filed by criterion, not by date
- A written chronology explaining any period the couple lived apart
- Certified translations for every document not in English
- Health, character and sponsorship requirements dealt with early rather than when the case officer asks
- Honest disclosure of previous refusals — they will be on file regardless
Working with us
Advice, document preparation and representation are available in Vietnamese or English. We tell you at the first appointment whether we think the application is realistic, and we put the fee in writing before any work starts.
General information only. This page describes the law in general terms and is not legal advice for your situation. Time limits are strict and the law changes. Call BNE Lawyers on 0423 007 888 to discuss your own circumstances in English or Vietnamese.