Q&A: “I want to sponsor my wife to migrate to Australia but she also has a child from her previous marriage. Can I also sponsor my step-child too?”
Yes you can. Many families today are made up of step-parents, step-siblings, half-siblings, adopted children and so forth. The composition of family households has changed from the traditional family comprising of a mother, father and their children. This makes family sponsored migration even more trickier.
Including a child in a partner/spouse visa application
An applicant for a partner/spouse visa can include their child in their application for migration to Australia provided that:
Their Australian citizen/permanent resident spouse agrees to also sponsor them on the partner/spouse visa
The child meets the definition of being a ‘dependent child’ of the primary visa applicant
The primary visa applicant has not yet been granted their permanent residence (second stage of the partner/spouse visa)
But what classifies as a dependent child?
A person is considered a dependent child if they are a child or step-child of the primary visa applicant and:
They are under 18 years of age, are not engaged to be married and they are neither married nor in a de facto relationship; or
Your child is between 18 to 23 years of age and is wholly or substantially dependent on you for financial support to meet their basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing; or
Your child is 18 years of age or over and has a disability that prevents them from working
Is my adopted child considered as a child of mine?
Yes, Australian migration law considers a person to be a child of another person, if the parent-child relationship exists through one of the following circumstances:
Biological relationship
Through adoption
Through artificial conception
A surrogacy arrangement
Adding a child to a partner/spouse visa application can be a complex and time consuming process. Depending on your family situation and country of origin, obtaining the required documentary evidence can be challenging. At Titan Migration, we take the time to explain the process and requirements to you so that it is clear, stress-free and easy to understand.
Contact us today or book an appointment online to speak with our registered migration agent.
About Peter Chang
Peter Chang is a registered migration agent based in the Western Sydney hub of Parramatta, Australia. He is the co-founder of Titan Migration, a consultancy specialising in providing Australian immigration advice and visa assistance services.