Spouse Visa Application:
DIY or Hire a Professional?
Q. Can I apply for a spouse visa myself?
If you can gather and prepare the documents listed on Immigration's website, you can apply on your own.
With a My Number Card, online application is also available.
[Comparison] DIY vs. Professional
- +Lower cost
- !Higher denial risk
- ~Time-consuming
- +Higher approval rate
- +Almost zero effort
- $Professional fees apply
"Filing" does NOT equal "Approval"!
With self-applications, cases of prolonged review due to document deficiencies or insufficient explanations, and requests for additional materials, are more common. Those in a hurry or feeling uncertain should take special care.
The required documents are listed on Immigration's website, so if you can collect and prepare them yourself, you can file the application on your own.
However, "Filing" does NOT equal "Approval"
When you apply by yourself, the risk of denial inevitably increases.
Document deficiencies
Even if not immediately denied, requests for additional materials increase.
Prolonged review
More back-and-forth means it often takes much longer to receive a result.
Cases Where We Recommend Professional Help
The following types of applicants are recommended to engage a professional for "application filing assistance."
- Those who are busy with work (the required documents are quite extensive)
- Those who need the visa urgently
- Those with high-risk cases
- Those who feel uncertain about document preparation or communicating with Immigration
Summary
"Being able to do it" and "reliably obtaining approval" are two different things. Choose the best approach based on your risk tolerance and available time.