Sending an enquiry does not appoint the lawyer or lodge anything with the Department, and it does not pause any deadline.
If you have been refused, the 28 days to apply to the ART run from the day you are notified, or taken to be notified, of the decision and cannot be extended (Migration Act 1958 ss 347(3), (5) and 494C), so send your enquiry early. Section 347(3) sets a shorter 14-day limit if you are in immigration detention on the notification day.
Private enquiry — available
The form asks for name, reply email, visa/matter stage, optional decision-notification date, optional state or territory, a question and privacy/contact consent. It has no phone field or upload. Submitted questions are addressed to Australian Migration Lawyers. Do not include passport numbers, passwords or full documents in an initial enquiry.
What to include in your enquiry
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The visa and stage.
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Letter dates and delivery method: email, ImmiAccount or post. Migration Act 1958 s 494C sets deemed-notification rules, so the date you read a letter may not determine the ART deadline.
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Your current visa and any condition 8503. Under Migration Act 1958 s 5(1), a bridging visa is not a substantive visa; Home Affairs’ subclass 820 page says an 8503 waiver must be approved before applying.
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Earlier refusals or cancellations since your last entry: Migration Act 1958 s 48 may affect applications in Australia.
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Earlier partner sponsorships: Migration Regulations 1994 reg 1.20J sets sponsorship limitations.
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Your state or territory.
Do not include passport numbers or full documents in an initial legal enquiry. A lawyer you contact directly can explain what is needed.
Who answers your enquiry
Submitted enquiries are addressed to Australian Migration Lawyers. Read about PartnerVisaLawyer.com.au for the guide’s separate publishing role.
What happens to your enquiry
The enquiry form sends your question to Australian Migration Lawyers; it does not lodge anything with the Department. If a deadline applies, use the official lodgement route in your notice; do not wait for this form.
Read the privacy policy for recipient and site-copy handling. Sending an enquiry does not by itself appoint a lawyer or stop a statutory deadline. Form 956 is used to notify the Department of an appointment.
Who receives my enquiry? Submitted questions are addressed to Australian Migration Lawyers. A browser reference confirms send acceptance and recording, not that the practice has read or agreed to act on the message.
Does sending an enquiry stop my deadline? No. Migration Act 1958 s 347(5) prevents an extension of the ART application time limit.
Does sending an enquiry make the lawyer my representative? No. A lawyer’s engagement and Form 956 appointment are separate steps.
Before you send it
General information is available in the Partner Visa Lawyer guide; advice about your own case should come from an Australian migration lawyer. If a deadline is near, contact one directly rather than waiting for an enquiry reply.
A partner visa with Australian Migration Lawyers usually costs $14,000 plus GST, separate from the Home Affairs visa application charge. The enquiry itself does not commit you to any work.
The registered law firm is Australian Legal Partnership Pty Ltd (ACN 656 815 539), trading as Australian Migration Lawyers.