820 Partner Visa RFI: Timelines, Evidence Gaps & Second Requests

#How long do you have to respond to a Section 56 request for an 820 partner visa application?

Under section 56 of the Migration Act 1958, a case officer may issue a written request asking you to provide additional documents or information. The timeframe is stated explicitly in the letter — most commonly 28 days from the date of the request, but occasionally the Department sets a shorter window, particularly if the matter involves a straightforward clarification or a health-related referral deadline.

Missing this deadline is a serious risk. If you do not respond within the specified period, the Department is empowered to make a decision on the information currently before them — which in most 820 cases means a refusal. There is no automatic extension granted, and late submissions may not be accepted unless the case officer exercises discretion.

If you genuinely cannot meet the deadline due to circumstances outside your control — for example, you need to obtain documents from overseas — you should request an extension in writing before the deadline expires. Extensions are not guaranteed, but case officers do sometimes grant them for well-reasoned requests. At VJ Consulting and Education, we always submit extension requests with supporting justification rather than letting a deadline lapse silently.

#How many Form 888 statutory declarations are required for an Australian partner visa RFI?

Form 888 is a statutory declaration completed by an Australian citizen or permanent resident who can attest to the genuineness of your relationship. While the Department's standard guidance suggests two Form 888s at the initial lodgement stage, an RFI asking for additional statutory declarations usually signals that the case officer finds the existing evidence insufficient in some dimension — for example, there may be gaps in shared living evidence, or the relationship timeline appears inconsistent.

When responding to an RFI requesting Form 888s, choose witnesses who:

• Know you both personally, not just one of you
• Can speak to the current nature of the relationship, not just its history
• Have observed the couple together in different contexts (social, domestic, family)
• Are willing to sign a statutory declaration knowing it carries legal weight

Diversity of witness perspectives matters more than sheer numbers. A single high-quality Form 888 from someone who has known you as a couple for five years, seen you share a home, and attended your family events will outweigh three generic declarations from casual acquaintances.

#Can a case officer contact your lawyer by phone instead of issuing a formal RFI for a partner visa?

This informal contact is not guaranteed and is entirely at the case officer's discretion. It is more common when the issue is simple — for example, confirming a document date or clarifying a name inconsistency — rather than substantive evidentiary gaps. If the matter is complex or involves additional documents, the Department will almost always issue a formal written request.

Importantly, case officers will not contact an unrepresented applicant by phone as a standard practice — they default to written notices via ImmiAccount. This is one practical reason many of our clients at VJ Consulting choose to appoint a registered migration agent: to ensure informal contact goes through a professional who can respond appropriately and quickly.

#What documents are typically requested in a second RFI for an Australian partner visa?

By the time a second RFI is issued, the case officer has already reviewed your initial lodgement and your first RFI response. The second request is therefore more targeted. Common document types requested include:

A second RFI is often a signal that the case officer is genuinely considering the application but has unresolved doubts. Responding with comprehensive, well-organised material — rather than the minimum required — significantly improves your outcome.

#How many RFIs are common during an onshore partner visa application in Australia?

The number of RFIs is not predetermined. It depends on how well-evidenced your initial lodgement was, whether your first RFI response fully addressed the case officer's concerns, and how your relationship profile compares to policy benchmarks. Applications lodged with comprehensive evidence from the outset often receive no RFI at all.

Applications that are more likely to attract multiple RFIs include:

• Couples who have spent significant time apart (e.g. different cities or countries)
• Short relationships lodged soon after the relationship commenced
• Applications with age gaps or cultural differences that require more contextual explanation
• Cases where the initial lodgement included incomplete financial or cohabitation evidence

Receiving multiple RFIs does not automatically indicate your application will be refused. Many successful 820 applications have involved two rounds of information requests. The key is responding thoroughly and promptly to each one.

#How long after lodging an 820 partner visa is it common to receive an RFI?

There is no fixed schedule for when a case officer will begin active assessment of your file. The Department operates a queue, and many 820 applications sit unreviewed for a year or more before a case officer is assigned. When assessment does begin, an RFI may follow within weeks.

The practical implication is that you should not wait for an RFI before updating your evidence. If your relationship circumstances change significantly — you move in together, marry, have a child, or open a joint account — you should proactively upload updated evidence to ImmiAccount without waiting to be asked. Proactive evidence submission can prevent an RFI from being issued at all.

#How long after completing RFI requirements does it take to get a partner visa decision?

Once you have submitted your RFI response, the case officer reviews all the material on file. If your response fully addresses the concerns raised and no further issues are identified, a decision may follow relatively quickly — sometimes within 4 to 8 weeks. If the response triggers a second RFI, or if outstanding health or character checks are still pending, the timeline extends accordingly.

There is no formal notification that your RFI response has been received and accepted as complete. You will simply receive either a second RFI, a request to complete health examinations, or a grant/refusal notice. Silence after submitting an RFI response is normal and does not indicate a problem.

#Should I complete the health exam immediately after generating the referral letter for an 820 partner visa?

Once a case officer is ready to finalise your application, they will arrange for a health referral to be generated in the eHealth system (operated by BUPA Medical Visa Services on behalf of DOHA). You will receive an email with instructions on how to book at a panel physician. Delaying this step delays your entire visa decision.

Health examinations have an expiry period — results are typically valid for 12 months. However, the more immediate concern is that a pending health check is the last remaining action item before a grant can be issued. Every week of delay at this stage is a week added to your wait.

#Do I need to complete a medical exam after lodging an 820 partner visa?

The health examination is not completed at lodgement. Instead, the Department generates a referral once the application is at an advanced stage of assessment. This means you will receive a health referral sometime during the processing period — typically when the case officer is close to making a decision — rather than at the start.

All applicants for the Subclass 820 onshore partner visa must undergo a medical examination conducted by a DOHA-approved panel physician. Self-referred examinations or results from general practitioners are not accepted. The examination typically includes a chest X-ray and a general health assessment; additional tests may be required depending on the applicant's country of birth, age, or travel history.

It is worth noting that the sponsor (your Australian partner) does not need to complete a health examination for an 820 application — only the primary applicant and any secondary applicants included on the application are required to do so.

#How long does a health examination take after lodging an 820 partner visa?

Most panel physician appointments for an 820 partner visa follow a standard process:

If the panel physician identifies findings that require specialist review — for example, a pulmonary abnormality on the chest X-ray — the process can take considerably longer. This is outside your control, but ensuring you attend well-prepared (fasting if required, bringing all relevant medical history) minimises unnecessary delays.

#When should you complete the immigration medical examination after lodging an 820 partner visa?

This is a frequently misunderstood point. Many applicants ask whether they should complete health exams proactively at lodgement. The answer is no — the Department will not accept results submitted before a referral is generated, because the results must be linked to your specific application file through the eHealth portal. Completing an examination before a referral is issued means you will need to repeat it at additional cost.

Equally, once the referral is generated, do not delay. The referral itself has an expiry date, and more importantly, the case officer may be waiting on your health clearance before issuing a grant. At VJCE, we advise all clients to book within 48 hours of receiving their health referral notification.

#Do you need to wait for a Department of Home Affairs request before doing your immigration medical for a partner visa?

This rule catches many applicants off guard. Because health examinations feel like something you can control and complete early, there is a natural inclination to get them done at the start. However, the eHealth system used by DOHA and BUPA Medical Visa Services requires that a referral code be generated by the Department before an appointment can be correctly registered against your file.

If you attend a panel physician without a referral, or with a referral from a previous visa application that has since expired, the results will not flow through to your current 820 application and you will be required to repeat the examination once a valid referral is issued — at your own expense.

The full partner visa process — from lodgement through RFI responses to health clearances and final decision — is significantly more manageable with professional guidance. Whether you are responding to your first Section 56 notice or navigating a second RFI after a complex relationship history, the team at VJ Consulting and Education is available to review your case, structure your response, and communicate directly with the Department on your behalf.