5 /5 Valerie Dilar: Im 66 yo female American citizen with an Australian partner of +15 years. Our journey to obtaining a partner visa was long and difficult.
Our first application in 2016 involved making the unfortunate choice of using an incompetent MARA registered agent, who despite working in a QLD attorneys office, had no actual legal immigration support from the attorney. Our application was rejected. We ended up filing a complaint with the MARA division of Department of Home Affairs which was successful, however that changed nothing - we received no money back and we still had a rejected Partner visa application.
The 2016 rejection was for financial reasons relating to cost of a medicine I am prescribed and must continue to take.
Years of frustration followed. Every year I was obligated to obtain an ETA visa to enter the country. Because I had been rejected, my applications for this simple tourist visa were automatically put in limbo. The Department would then ask me to attend a physical and X-ray exam in the USA (a full day and about $1000) before the ETA was ultimately granted… at some unknown point later. As one can imagine, this process was grueling. I couldnt make flight reservations or plans to get to our home on the Gold Coast or see our grandkids in Victoria. My treatment re visas during the Covid years was particularly difficult.
We decided to apply for another long term visa. We chose Augustine and Co primarily because Calvin is an attorney specializing in Immigration and they had excellent ratings. We knew an appeal may be required and we wanted the very best available professional assistance.
After meeting with Calvin, a decision was made to apply for a family sponsor visa. After a lot of hard work our application was successful….I was given a 3 year visa, which was unfortunately almost useless as it was only valid for a single entry. Given our lifestyle, this would not work.
In further consultation with Calvin, we decided to apply for another 801 Partner/Spouse visa. Annie, a key associate at Augustine and Co, guided us through the process of collecting the necessary documents and medical records for the submission. The Augustine and Co web portal that is set up for the documentation was particularly useful in data collection and structuring the submission.
Like the 2016 application, I received an adverse ruling by a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC), again citing the cost of medical care and pharmaceuticals for my condition.
With significant inputs from Calvin and Annie, we assembled a medical and financial rebuttal to the MOC opinion. This included medical specialist evidence to support the rebuttal as well as personal submissions supporting granting of the visa.
It worked! The 801 visa application was finally approved by the department. To say we are overjoyed is an understatement.
I am pleased to provide this testimonial supporting Augustine and Co for Australian immigration. One additional positive was the fact that services were provided on a lump sum fee basis. Calvin and Annie and the team were great. I dont think the visa would have been granted without their expertise and guidance.
