Australian Visa Refusals

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Australian Visa Refusals

Had an Australian Partner Visa or Australian Child Visa refused? See if the experts at Down Under Visa can help you with a Merits Review.

Especially from the Philippines to Australia, Thailand to Australia, Vietnam to Australia or Cambodia to Australia? Have you had an Australian visa refused? Especially a Partner Visa or Child Visa? Most of these visa refusals can be appealed in a process known as Merits Review. This takes place at the Administrative Affairs Tribunal (AAT) where a refused visa can be overturned IF the case has "mer

it". If the Department of Home Affairs made a mistake in their decision, or if there are exceptional circumstances which are compelling and compassionate, there is usually an opportunity for this decision to be overturned. This requires a sound knowledge of Australian Migration Law, and of the culture where the visa applicant is from. Down Under Visa is run by Jeff Harvie, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 0959797) who manages Australian visa applications especially for couples and families from Philippines to Australia, Thailand to Australia, Vietnam to Australia and Cambodia to Australia. He is based in Manila Philippines, and has been helping thousands of clients over many years to make their dreams come true. Please go to https://www.downundervisa.com/aat-merits-reviews-appeals-for-visa-refusals/ so we can assess your case and tell you if we believe we can help you.

11/05/2026

https://youtu.be/qyiXk5XBCTw

Two happy Down Under Visa clients with an Australian Partner Visa grant. Here they tell their story of how Jeff Harvie and the Down Under Visa team brought them together, and why thei highly recommend that Australian Filipina couples do the same thing.

More information in the video description, as well as a link to a FREE VISA ASSESSMENT.

Gavin (Gav) and Desiree were married in the Philippines in 2022, and naturally wanted Desiree to return to Australia to spend their lives together as a happi...

11/05/2026

What about my visa interview for my Partner Visa from Philippines to Australia?

Will I get interviewed for my partner visa, and what will I say?

Want to bring your wife, husband, partner, girlfriend, boyfriend or child to Australia from the Philippines, China, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia? Get a FREE VISA ASSESSMENT from Down Under Visa today by clicking the link in the description and spending five minutes only.

A common worry about Australian visas, especially for those from the Philippines and other South East Asian countries is being interviewed by a very serious Australian from the Australian Embassy.

The good news? It almost never happens these days. And if it does, we at Down Under Visa are happy to help you prepare if you need. It only really happens if they have something they are concerned about, which means the better-prepared the application the less likely it will even happen.

And when it happens? It’s usually someone from the local office, ie a Filipina Case Officer in Manila. And they prefer to do it over the phone too.

Again, if you have a professionally managed application they will have less concerns. If you have an application with questions improperly answered or with a lack of the evidence they like seeing, then they do the interview harboring suspicions already. Not a good thing at all!

Get a free visa assessment from Down Under Visa, and they will see a complete and evidence-packed visa application from you.

Get a free online visa assessment now and let’s see if we can help you. Link is in the description below.

Down Under Visa are THE Registered Migration Agents in South East Asia who specialise in visas for loving couples who want to be together! No work visas. No student visas. No investment visas.

Just Australian Partner Visas and Australian Tourist Visas for couples from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia who can’t stand being apart. Also Prospective Marriage Visas, Child Visas and Citizenship applications.

More information on the Down Under Visa website.

Jeff Harvie
Registered Migration Agent (MARN 0959797)

What about my visa interview for my Partner VIsa from Philippines to Australia?Will I get interviewed for my partner visa, and what will I say?Want to bring ...

04/05/2026

Do I need to visit the Down Under Visa office? For a Partner Visas from the Philippines to Australia.

You would like to seek help with your Australian partner visa application from the Philippines. Do you need to make an office appointment?

Want to bring your wife, husband, partner, girlfriend, boyfriend or child to Australia from the Philippines, China, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia? Get a FREE VISA ASSESSMENT from Down Under Visa today by clicking the link in the description and spending five minutes only.

No! Not in this day and age. The days of commuting back and forth to our Manila office for appointments and to carry armfuls of documents are long gone. This is the computer and smartphone age, and we are not backwards in how we run our practice. You can access us easily 24/7, and you can literally manage the entire visa process with us from the initial assessment of your case through preparation of visa requirements to lodging and to the visa grant on your phone!

This is the process:

1. Do our free online visa assessment so we know all the essentials of your case and we can advice you accurately. Visa options. Costs. And any special issues.

2. Want to discuss further? The way more convenient option is to have a free Zoom meeting with me (Jeff Harvie) to iron out any concerns or confusion.

3. Want to start? We have an online portal which is very user-friendly and hugely convenient to use. And we always answer questions and concerns quickly.

Get a free online visa assessment now and let’s see if we can help you. Link is in the description below.

Down Under Visa are THE Registered Migration Agents in South East Asia who specialise in visas for loving couples who want to be together! No work visas. No student visas. No investment visas.

Just Australian Partner Visas and Australian Tourist Visas for couples from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia who can’t stand being apart. Also Prospective Marriage Visas, Child Visas and Citizenship applications.

More information on the Down Under Visa website.

Jeff Harvie
Registered Migration Agent (MARN 0959797)

Do I need to visit the Down Under Visa office for my Partner Visa from the Philippines to Australia

29/04/2026

De Facto Relationships and Registered Relationships. NOT simple!

Can you get an Australian Partner Visa from the Philippines simply by getting a Registered Relationship Certificate? No you may not!

Want to bring your wife, husband, partner, girlfriend, boyfriend or child to Australia from the Philippines, China, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia? Get a FREE VISA ASSESSMENT from Down Under Visa today by clicking the link in the description and spending five minutes only.

We get a lot of our free online visa assessments from couples who don’t want to marry. They do a bit of research (usually Facebook groups) and decide to get a Registered Relationship Certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages and to apply as a de facto couple.

A de facto relationship means that you lead a shared life together. You share a household and you share your lives. Having spent two weeks in hotels and resorts doesn’t even come close. Even married couples must prove that they lead a shared life!

To be in a de facto relationship that the Department will recognise, you need to “set up house together” and start living together as a committed couple. Do the shopping together. Do the housework. Pay the bills from joint bank accounts. Think and act in terms of “us” and “our” rather than his and hers. It should be for 12 months. A Registered Relationship? It allows you to shorten that time to around 6 months, but it’s not the “only thing you need”.

They don’t grant partner visas on the strength of you intending to commit your lives to one another. They won’t let your partner settle permanently in Australia on a promise. They need to see that you are actually doing it, and doing it for a reasonable length of time.

We will assess your case and tell you honestly and often bluntly whether you qualify. There are no “yes-men” or visa shop sales staff here! Only one very honest and ethical migration agent who will not help you to waste your time……and who has some great ways to help you to build that relationship which will work.

Free assessment from the link in the description.

Down Under Visa are THE Registered Migration Agents in South East Asia who specialise in visas for loving couples who want to be together! No work visas. No student visas. No investment visas.

Just Australian Partner Visas and Australian Tourist Visas for couples from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia who can’t stand being apart. Also Prospective Marriage Visas, Child Visas and Citizenship applications.

More information on the Down Under Visa website.

Jeff Harvie
Registered Migration Agent (MARN 0959797)

De Facto Relationships and Registered Relationships for Australian Partner Visas. NOT simple!

23/04/2026

Want to bring kids to Australia from the Philippines later? After your Partner Visa grant? Be warned!

Want to bring your wife, husband, partner, girlfriend, boyfriend or child to Australia from the Philippines, China, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia? Get a FREE VISA ASSESSMENT from Down Under Visa today by the link in the description and spending five minutes only.

Australian Child Visas and Dependent Child Visas. What’s the issue?

To explain!

We get plenty of applicants for Australian Partner Visas from the Philippines and South East Asian countries who have kids, and yes they DO want to bring them. Just not straight away! Often it’s about finishing school, or child or children don’t want to leave their friends. Or mum wants to settle in first and bring the kids later

We tell them about Dependent Child Visas and Child Visas, and warn them to make sure the kids remain dependent. But as they say? When the cat’s away, the mice will play! And grandparents and aunties don’t supervise them like parents do.

So the child stops studying, or gets a job, or in some cases gets married! No longer dependent and we have to give the bad news! No longer dependent means no longer eligible for a visa!

The other issue is that child visas currently take a long time to process, so expect to be apart for years. It’s a long time to be apart from your kids.

So think carefully, and for goodness sakes get some professional advice and listen to it! Free visa assessment. Link is in the description.

Down Under Visa are THE Registered Migration Agents in South East Asia who specialise in visas for loving couples who want to be together! No work visas. No student visas. No investment visas.

Just Australian Partner Visas and Australian Tourist Visas for couples from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia who can’t stand being apart. Also Prospective Marriage Visas, Child Visas and Citizenship applications.

More information on the Down Under Visa website.

Jeff Harvie
Registered Migration Agent (MARN 0959797)

3 likes. "Bringing kids to Australia from the Philippines later. Beware! "

17/04/2026

Want an Australian Partner Visa from the Philippines but you have a criminal record?

You probably know that a criminal record can prevent you from sponsoring your wife or partner from the Philippines to Australia. Yes, that law exists. Very real, and can be a serious issue.

Want to bring your wife, husband, partner, girlfriend or boyfriend to Australia from the Philippines, China, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia? Get a FREE VISA ASSESSMENT from Down Under Visa today by clicking the link in the description and spending five minutes only.

To explain!

This rule is there to keep your lady safe from the risk of domestic violence at the hands of an Australian sponsor with a history of violence. Previously? Ladies DID on occasion get sponsored by violent men, and they are very vulnerable being in a strange country. We’ve had clients in the past get caught. Now they ask for police clearances (National Police Clearances etc) from sponsors to assess this risk.

They are on the lookout for men (Australian sponsors) with previous criminal convictions for violent crimes, like assaults and armed robbery. NOT being caught with a bag of dope or being a drunk driver! They only care about violent crimes.

Do you have a past criminal record? Do you have a past conviction for a violent crime?Ths does not alway mean a visa refusal! There are shades of grey, and we can generally help men who have long since moved on from mistakes of the past to show that they are no current risk to the visa applicant. Definitely get some professional help!

Jeff Harvie is a Registered Migration Agent in South East Asia (based in the Philippines), married to a Filipino lady, does nothing BUT Australian Partner Visas and Australian Tourist Visas for Australian men in relationships with ladies in South East Asia. He also went through the Partner Visa process himself many years ago. So he’s just like you! Where else would you go but Down Under Visa?

Down Under Visa are THE Registered Migration Agents in South East Asia who specialise in visas for loving couples who want to be together! No work visas. No student visas. No investment visas.

Just Australian Partner Visas and Australian Tourist Visas for couples from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia who can’t stand being apart. Also Prospective Marriage Visas, Child Visas and Citizenship applications.

More information on the website

Jeff Harvie
Registered Migration Agent (MARN 0959797)

Want an Australian Partner Visa from the Philippines but you have a criminal record?You probably know that a criminal record can prevent you from sponsoring ...

10/04/2026

Visa from the Philippines to Australia. What are my requirements?

What documents and evidence do I need for an Australian visa application? Tourist visa or Partner visa?

Want to bring your wife, husband, partner, girlfriend or boyfriend to Australia from the Philippines, China, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia? Get a FREE VISA ASSESSMENT from Down Under Visa today (link in the description) and spending five minutes only.

“What are my requirements?” Do I enjoy hearing this question on an almost daily basis? Not especially! One? There is no “standard list of requirements”, and Two? You don’t ask the chef for his recipes, nor do you ask your doctor for do-it-yourself surgery instructions! Every client has their own situation, and there is no one-size-fits-all list.

And Down Under Visa isn’t your one-stop-visa-shop either! We are Migration Law consultants, qualified to assess your suitability for a visa application and for guiding you through the complicated minefield which is Australian Immigration? And the costs? A lot of money, but more importantly the cost of making a life with your sweetheart! Get the experts to manage it if you can’t stand the thought of it going wrong.

We will assess you first of all for suitability for a visa. If you don’t qualify, all the “requirements” in the world won’t get you a visa! So let us do that first, and advise you what visa you will qualify for.......or sometimes sadly that we can’t help you (which is better than wasting your time and money!

Secondly, once you become a client, we will assess you even further and then give you a detailed To-Do List, ie requirements that will match you and your situation. And we will guide you through the process to make sure you get it right. Much more complicated than handing out lists to everyone.

So if you met the love of your life in the Philippines or anywhere else in South East Asia? Go meet her! Make life plans together! Get Australian visas to make it happen! And don’t risk failure. Get professional Migration Agents Down Under Visa to help you.

Jeff Harvie is a Registered Migration Agent in South East Asia (based in the Philippines), married to a Filipino lady, does nothing BUT Australian Partner Visas and Australian Tourist Visas for Australian men in relationships with ladies in South East Asia. He also went through the Partner Visa process himself many years ago. So he’s just like you! Where else would you go but Down Under Visa?

Down Under Visa are THE Registered Migration Agents in South East Asia who specialise in visas for loving couples who want to be together! No work visas. No student visas. No investment visas.

Just Australian Partner Visas and Australian Tourist Visas for couples from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia who can’t stand being apart. Also Prospective Marriage Visas, Child Visas and Citizenship applications.

More information on the Down Under Visa website

Jeff Harvie
Registered Migration Agent (MARN 0959797)

Visa from the Philippines to Australia. What are my requirements?What documents and evidence do I need for an Australian visa application? Tourist visa or Pa...

07/04/2026

Will Trump’s war affect my Australian Visa from the Philippines?

Can I still get a visa, or will this mess up my travel plans?

Want to bring your wife, husband, partner, girlfriend or boyfriend to Australia from the Philippines, China, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia? Get a FREE VISA ASSESSMENT from Down Under Visa today by clicking the link in the description and spending five minutes only.

Plenty of panic about this at the moment, and worry in general. May I remind you that we all survived COVID a few years ago, which had a MUCH greater impact. And the Middle East? Kuwait! Iraq. Afghanistan. The Americans are regularly launching missiles in that part of the world, and it has yet to affect a single Australian visa!

We certainly survived COVID, which was much worse! The Australian and Philippines borders were closed for two years! Travel was rare and highly restricted. We had couples stuck in Australia and unable to return. We had couples stuck apart. We had couples who were desperate to meet each other. Not only did Down Under Visa keep working for you every day during this time, the Department kept granting visas! And Australian Filipina couples never gave up on each other, and the stories were inspirational.

The changes you heard in the news? The possibility of cancelling temporary visas on mass? They used these powers to stop Iranians visiting Australia at the moment, for whatever their reasons may be. It has NOTHING to do with stopping Bill from Bendigo bringing his wife Maribel from Mindanao to Australia! Relax! Life and visas will go on!

So no. There are no bans on visas. Australia is open and Australian visas get granted every single day. There is no threat to Australia from this part of the world. I guess they don't want to see a flood of Iranians entering Australia in the course of a few weeks because there are missiles flying in that part of the world thanks to Mr Trump. How is the Philippines coping? Fuel is expensive, and less cars on the road. Otherwise remarkably normal!

So if you met the love of your life in the Philippines or anywhere else in South East Asia? Go meet her! Make life plans together! Get Australian visas to make it happen!

Jeff Harvie is a Registered Migration Agent in South East Asia (based in the Philippines), married to a Filipino lady, does nothing BUT Australian Partner Visas and Australian Tourist Visas for Australian men in relationships with ladies in South East Asia. He also went through the Partner Visa process himself many years ago. So he's just like you! Where else would you go but Down Under Visa?

Down Under Visa are THE Registered Migration Agents in South East Asia who specialise in visas for loving couples who want to be together! No work visas. No student visas. No investment visas.

Just Australian Partner Visas and Australian Tourist Visas for couples from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia who can't stand being apart. Also Prospective Marriage Visas, Child Visas and Citizenship applications.

More information on the website.

Jeff Harvie
Registered Migration Agent (MARN 0959797)

Will Trump’s war affect my Australian Visa from the Philippines?Can I still get a visa, or will this mess up my travel plans?Want to bring your wife, husband...

06/04/2026

https://filipinawivesguide.com/article/cultural-problems-misunderstandings/why-australian-men-looking-south-east-asia-future-partners

Why Australian Men are looking to South East Asia for their Future Partners. Enjoy, like and share!

Discover why more Australian men are finding love in South East Asia, particularly the Philippines. Real insights from Jeff Harvie of Down Under Visa on cross-cultural relationships.

31/03/2026

Can we make an Easier and Faster Australian Visa Application from the Philippines?

Can Down Under Visa (or any good Registered Migration Agent) speed the application though without all this nonsense paperwork?

Australian Visa applications, especially from the less affluent countries in South East Asia like the Philippines, have a tough job convincing the Australian Government that they are genuine and not just trying to live the good life. If the doors were open and there was no scrutiny, the Philippines would be empty by this time next week!

So we have ONE application opportunity to convince them that you have a good reason for visiting or for staying permanently. With tourist visa applications especially, it's extremely hard to prepare and lodge a successful application after a refusal, and partner visas are very expensive! You engage the services of Down Under Visa to get you a visa application. We cannot get you results and save you work or do rush jobs at the same time. It just doesn’t work like that!

We reserve the right to insist on the highest possible level of information and relationship evidence from you, because we can’t build a case on rubbish! We’ve done thousands of Australian visa applications over the years, and we have a reputation to uphold of never letting our clients down. And that calls for us being painfully honest and being tough when we need to be.

Can you handle that? Our thousands of successful former clients all seem to think it was worthwhile. And why wouldn’t they?

Jeff Harvie is a Registered Migration Agent in South East Asia (based in the Philippines), married to a Filipino lady, does nothing BUT Australian Partner Visas and Australian Tourist Visas for Australian men in relationships with ladies in South East Asia. He also went through the Partner Visa process himself many years ago. So he's just like you! Where else would you go but Down Under Visa?

Down Under Visa are THE Registered Migration Agents in South East Asia who specialise in visas for loving couples who want to be together! No work visas. No student visas. No investment visas.

Just Australian Partner Visas and Australian Tourist Visas for couples from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia who can't stand being apart. Also Prospective Marriage Visas, Child Visas and Citizenship applications.

Jeff Harvie
Registered Migration Agent (MARN 0959797)

Can we make an Easier and Faster Australian Visa Application from the Philippines?Want to bring your wife, husband, partner, girlfriend or boyfriend to Austr...

27/03/2026

Never claim paternity to be a hero on an Australian visa application from the Philippines

Want to bring your wife, husband, partner, girlfriend or boyfriend to Australia from the Philippines, China, Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia? Get a FREE VISA ASSESSMENT from Down Under Visa today by clicking the link in the description and spending five minutes only.

Do not claim to be the biological father of a child on an Australian visa application when it’s not your child!

I get it! I have adopted children myself. I admire any man who willingly takes up the dad mantle instead of walking away! It’s old-school chivalry! It's a noble action and intent, but you will in fact make things worse by lying about the facts.

But it’s highly illegal to write false information on an application for a Government document! You risk visa refusal, 3 year bans, and maybe prosecution.

The Department are very good at finding out, especially if you weren’t in the country at the time of conception. AND it's very obvious when a child doesn’t resemble dad! They DO look at photos and they DO notice these things.

So please do NOT do it! Once you have that bogus birth certificate, your future with the child is fried! It's especially heartbreaking to see because there ARE perfectly legal ways of giving your last name to a child. Even more noble because it actually works. I did it myself many years ago so I'm speaking from experience.

Jeff Harvie is a Registered Migration Agent in South East Asia (based in the Philippines), married to a Filipino lady, does nothing BUT Australian Partner Visas and Australian Tourist Visas for Australian men in relationships with ladies in South East Asia. He also went through the Partner Visa process himself many years ago. So he's just like you! Where else would you go but Down Under Visa?

Down Under Visa are THE Registered Migration Agents in South East Asia who specialise in visas for loving couples who want to be together! No work visas. No student visas. No investment visas.

Just Australian Partner Visas and Australian Tourist Visas for couples from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia who can't stand being apart. Also Prospective Marriage Visas, Child Visas and Citizenship applications.

More information on the website

Jeff Harvie
Registered Migration Agent (MARN 0959797)

Never claim paternity to be a hero on an Australian visa application from the PhilippinesWant to bring your wife, husband, partner, girlfriend or boyfriend t...

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