Previously entitled as a Statutory declaration by a supporting witness in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application the new Form 888 date stamped July 2023 is now titled, Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application, as of the 1st of July 2023.
The new form now requires only the information and signatory of the following:
‘This form must be completed by a person who:
- knows the visa applicant and their partner or fiancé(e) and the history of their relationship;
- is at least 18 years of age.’
The form goes on to say:
‘The person completing this form must provide documentary evidence of their current name, age and, where applicable, Australian citizenship or Australian permanent residency (for example, a copy of their birth certificate, Australian passport or passport containing a permanent visa).
You may be asked to submit up to 3 separate statements during the processing of the visa application. You may also be contacted for further comment and/or interview in relation to the information you provide.’
It indicates that the Purpose of the form:
‘When assessing a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application, the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) must consider the social aspects of the claimed relationship. The Department will use the information provided in this form (your statements), among other things, to assess these aspects.’
It explains how the applicant is to submit the form:
‘Once completed, the visa applicant or their appointed representative can attach this form to the Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application in ImmiAccount.’
The department provides important information about their privacy policies as follows:
‘The Privacy Act 1988 contains 13 Australian Privacy Principles which regulate the way that the Department collects and handles personal information. Information about how the Department
collects, uses and discloses personal information for its key functions can be found in form 1442i Privacy notice. More information about the Department’s general information handling practices (including form 1442i) can be found in the Department’s Privacy policy at https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-and-accountability/our-commitments/privacy ‘
Although the biggest change in the new form is that it is no longer in a Statutory Declaration format and therefore does not require to be witnessed by a Justice of the Peace or other authorized witnesses as in the past form, the department does fortify and amplify the person making the supporting statement are still obligated to make a truthful statement having regard to the following penalties:
Warning: The Migration Act 1958 (the Act) provides penalties for providing false or misleading statements of 10 years’ imprisonment or a fine of AUD$ 313,000.00 or both.
Based on the information and requirements of the new form it is possible for the form to be executed even though the person making the supporting statement is overseas at the time as long as the following requirements are met:
‘The person completing this form must provide documentary evidence of their current name, age and, where applicable, Australian citizenship or Australian permanent residency (for example, a copy of their birth certificate, Australian passport or passport containing a permanent visa).’ If you have any further question about the new Form 888, Partner, SkillSelect, Visitor’s, Child, Parent visa applications from the Philippines to Australia then do not hesitate to contact RESPALL Migration Australia and have yourselves professionally and accurately assessed and given a prospect of success regarding your particular visa application.
If you have any further question about the new Form 888, Partner, SkillSelect, Visitor’s, Child, Parent visa applications from the Philippines to Australia then do not hesitate to contact RESPALL Migration Australia and have yourselves professionally and accurately assessed and given a prospect of success regarding your particular visa application.
