u/Pale_Tiger_2606

Hi, I'm back! I haven't logged onto this account for 18 months since first asking for advice, it was very interesting reading through all the replies just now. Thank you to the mods for not deleting my post, I was sure it wouldn't stay up but I was surprised to see it had! I was also surprised (and happy) to see a recent post advising someone to speak to a migration agent. I wish someone had done that for me.

I'm posting this to update everyone about our application, and to let people in my position know that people on this sub might be wrong, and you should speak to an agent if money isn't an impediment. We did, our lawyer said our case strength was 'average' and our chances were 'good' even though this entire sub said we didn't stand a chance, and our 820 was granted without a hitch in 18 months.

I deleted my original post, but here it is anyway: https://www.reddit.com/r/AusVisa/comments/1dzqgwz/comment/lchk60b/?context=3

And this was my follow up post: https://www.reddit.com/r/AusVisa/comments/1e0r2ue/dont_listen_to_redditors_on_this_sub_speak_to_an/

The mod in the follow up said they would pay to follow my application, so here are the facts:

Dated online for 15 months > got married in Aus while husband was on tourist visa > Applied for 820 in October 2024 > 820 granted in April 2026

Here's the full story:

• Met online, my now-husband was in Canada, both in our 30s - We dated online for about 15 months, visited each other a lot on tourist visas but never properly 'lived' together.
• We wanted to apply for an 820 but everyone in this sub said we wouldn't qualify and told us we needed to apply for other visas first, among other pieces of confusing advice. Spoke to a migration lawyer about it, he sounded tired to hear about how wrong redditors can be, and he said we can gather together evidence for an 820 in the three months before we apply, continue to supply evidence until it's granted, and that we should either register our relationship or get married before applying. We didn't want to wait years to call each other husband and wife, so we got married (but registering your relationship is just as good, for anyone else needing advice)
• Applied for 820 in October 2024 with tons of evidence for each pillar and 4 Form 888s
• At first the lawyer told us to upload new evidence every month after applying, but after the first two months he said every 3 months was fine. Then three months later after I sent a new batch of evidence he said not to send any more evidence at all because the total amount we've submitted was more than enough (I can be a bit... fastidious when it comes to paperwork haha, since I have a law background myself). This made me a bit nervous, but he turned out to be right.
• Request for more info in early April 2026: updated police check and medical. Submitted that within a week (drove 1.5 hours to find a clinic with an available appointment)
• Late April: 820 granted 🥰 We are so ecstatic. We've spoken to our lawyer about planning for the 801 as well.

I wanted to make a small note of two things:

1. The mod in my second post said "No one told you to "move to Canada," and I can see deleted replies; none mentioned that."

In my first post, if you scroll to the third comment, you'll see a deleted user saying "...People do it lots of different ways, but in your situation where you met online a WHV or you moving to their country to gather evidence would be the most common ways..."

2. In my second post, a redditor said something that sounded particularly spiteful so I just wanted to address it: "Oof goodluck OP, I cant wait for the agent to be having your fee money when they lodge your application, spend those money for their needs, and then apologized to you when you got the result. I dont care if you wont reply here, but I believe you read all of them"

You're right, I did read them, but not for 1.5 years, and not until the visa was granted. There's a lot to be said for people wielding power and platforms responsibly, sounds like you're not quite there yet.

But the mod was gracious, thank you for that. And I hope this post stays up too. I'm now about to sign out of this account for good, so please don't reply to this expecting me to reply, I won't.

The only reason I posted this at all is for two reasons: the first is already mentioned, to let newcomers know that an agent/lawyer should be their first stop. And second is to let the people on this sub know that a huge amount of the stress my husband and I experienced when first looking at visas came entirely from this sub. Some of the advice came from a good place, I know, but a lot was strangely spiteful/sarcastic/demeaning for no reason. I felt this had to be said, for the sake of how anxious we both were 18 months ago. Please be nicer to newbies, everyone.

Best of luck to everyone with their visas!