Behind the Scenes of a Partner Visa 820 Application

Okay, so let me start this by saying. I NEVER thought I’d be writing a blog post about visas. I’m the person who writes about weekend trips to Byron Bay or my obsession with flat whites in Melbourne laneways. But here we are. Life happens, you fall in love, and suddenly, you’re elbows-deep in something called Temporary partner visa Australia instead of sipping cocktails by the beach.

I met my partner, Liam, during a working holiday in Australia. What was supposed to be a summer fling turned into… well, packing my whole life into two suitcases and trying to convince the Australian government that yes, our relationship was real, no, we’re not faking it for a visa, and yes, we do actually have shared Netflix passwords.

The Dreaded Partner Visa 820 Checklist

Oh boy. If you are anything like me and your brain shuts down at the sight of admin tasks, the partner visa 820 checklist will feel like a cruel joke. But you know what? It’s doable. I’ll save you the late-night Google searches:

  • Identity docs (passports, birth certs, that kind of thing)
  • Relationship proof (we literally spent a night printing WhatsApp chats because WHY NOT)
  • Joint bills and rental agreements (adulting, but make it immigration-friendly)
  • Police checks (spoiler: I’m clean)
  • Medical exams (less scary than they sound, unless you hate needles)
  • And, my favorite: statements about your relationship. Imagine trying to write your own love story without sounding cheesy or fake. Nightmare fuel.

But once we had the list, it became like a travel packing list. Not exciting, but satisfying once you tick things off.

Waiting for the Partner Visa 820 Processing Time = Pure Torture

I thought waiting in an airport during a delayed flight was bad. Turns out, waiting for the Partner Visa 820 processing time is next-level emotional torture. They tell you it might take anywhere from 6 months to 24 months. Ours? Took about 15 months. 15 MONTHS of waking up every morning and checking my email like a crazy person.

I spent a lot of that time just… living. On a Bridging Visa, which, if you’re curious, lets you stay in Australia and work while your application sits somewhere in government limbo. Liam and I road-tripped along the Great Ocean Road, binge-watched every season of MasterChef Australia, and tried not to talk about the visa unless absolutely necessary.

But some nights? She feels on the couch, wondering if I would have to leave and start over elsewhere. The uncertainty really messes with your head.

Why Do I Even Need the Partner Visa Subclass 820 Anyway?

Honestly, I asked myself this a million times. Why so complicated? But basically, the Partner Visa Subclass 820 lets you stay in Australia with your partner while the government decides if you’re worthy of permanent residency later (the 801 visa, but that’s another story). It’s a temporary visa, but it feels like a massive deal when you’re in it.

You don’t just apply for it and move on. You gather your life story, tell strangers why you love each other, and hope they see the truth in your paperwork.

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So… Would I Do It Again?

Honestly? Yes. Because at the end of the day, love is worth every boring, stressful, ridiculous government form. I’m now legally able to stay in Australia with Liam, work full-time, and finally stop worrying about flights back home.

But if you’re reading this and starting your own partner visa journey… here’s my unsolicited advice:

  • Start your Partner Visa 820 checklist EARLY. Don’t procrastinate like I did.
  • Be brutally honest in your relationship statements. Forget what you think immigration wants to hear—just tell your story.
  • Accept that the partner visa 820 processing time will probably be longer than you.
  • Do not let it steal your happiness. Meanwhile, keep living your life. Go on road trips, picnic, take a bad selfie together.
  • Laugh at the process. Or cry. Honestly, both are valid.

The Happy Ending

The day I got the email saying “GRANTED,” I cried at my desk and scared my coworkers. Liam brought home a bottle of bubbly, and we celebrated the best way we knew how—pizza and Netflix.

Visa stuff isn’t glamorous. It is not what you dream of when imagining your life in Australia. But now it’s part of our history and honestly? I wouldn’t change it for anything.

So to anyone out there applying for the Partner Visa 820, or stuck in the endless wait for your partner visa subclass 820 to process—hang in there. You’ve got this.

Akshay Sharma

Hi! I’m Akshay Sharma. I’m a blogger at LetsJumpToday & Imagination Waffle. You can contact me on Twitter and facebook.

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