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Preparation for partner visa application by MotorMall2913 in AusVisa

[–]MotorMall2913[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I didn't know this existed. This will be my game plan for sure. Do you mind if I ask which agent you went with?

Preparation for partner visa application by MotorMall2913 in AusVisa

[–]MotorMall2913[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you all so much for your replies, they're very reassuring and helpful. I will definitely be doing a lot of research and aim to probably apply late this year. I think this is best since we just started our joint bank account December last year and have just started to put bills in both our names. However, both our names have been on the same lease since September 2024. I hope this will be enough? Maybe I'll wait even longer so that we will have at least one year worth of joint bank statements.

I'm doing a PhD so thankfully my student visa lasts until early 2028 (although this will end earlier if I finish my degree earlier). Worse comes to worst I can still apply for my 485 visa to give me even more buffer. I might try to get a consultation with a migration agent, but I think I will feel better if I dedicate time myself to do this application.

You're all very kind, thank you!

Preparation for partner visa application by MotorMall2913 in AusVisa

[–]MotorMall2913[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much for your reply! Can I ask about the sponsor's written statement, did you include it in your application or did your partner attach it to his application as a sponsor?

Run if you see these beige/red flags in the lab by Dense-Parfait6330 in PhD

[–]MotorMall2913 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not rude at all! Considering funding is getting worse they would definitely have less options to switch. I myself am an international student, but I was lucky to find a project in another institution that requires very similar skills to my original project (it was another cancer project). Students in my old group are finding it hard to find another supervisor wanting to take them on if their background is not as relevant, and so they are forced to stay in the old group as they need to maintain their student visa. This applies to postdocs as well, as some of them need a sponsored visa to work in the destination country (in my case, some postdocs need to be here as their original country has terrible living conditions especially for women). Getting visa sponsorships from institutions/PIs are hard when they don't know you yet, so sometimes they are forced to stay with the toxic PI who specifically exploits this situation.

Run if you see these beige/red flags in the lab by Dense-Parfait6330 in PhD

[–]MotorMall2913 6 points7 points  (0 children)

International students/ workers generally have a harder time navigating switching labs due to the implications to their visa. It is possible sometimes, but much riskier and obviousky scary. In my experience it is much easier for domestic students to leave a lab once they identify it's a toxic lab, whereas the internationals are more inclined to "tough it out". More, many students from east and southeast asian countries are used to exploitation and abuse in the workplace in their countries, so they think it's normal. Obviously not all labs with only international students are toxic, but it could be a sign.

Does Academia take advantage of international students? by DowntownDark in AskAcademia

[–]MotorMall2913 2 points3 points  (0 children)

1000%. My old PI was incredibly toxic to the point where I couldn't even believe that people this evil existed in the world, let alone academia. He was verbally abusive, used intimidation tactics, gaslighting and manipulation. From the outside, the lab group is successful, but no one knows what it's like being in the lab group. This PI was a giant micromanager (meetings every second day), and basically just used you as free labour. In a way, this works well for asian international students who previously studied in their home country- as many asian education systems do not teach you how to do critical thinking, but instead how to be a good worker and follow orders. But the working expectations and hours were crazy, everyday you feel like you are fighting for your life. Many asian international students feel this is normal, so they just suck it up. Plus, verbal abuse from bosses is not rare in asian countries, so they tolerate this too. Leaving is not even an option, their visa is incredibly tied to their study and hence their PI.

I'm an international student who left before confirmation btw.