What Is a Form 888?
The migration of a partner or fiancé usually requires an application to be filled, by the applicant’s close friends or relatives, providing details that show the relationship between the partners is genuine and committed. For the submission of this visa application, form 888 is a necessity.
Most, if not all, cases of partner visa applications will require form 888. Although there are rare cases where it’s not mandatory, one must first inquire from the relevant department about specific circumstances before ignoring the form completely.
The deponent, or sponsor, must also be a citizen of Australia and provide proof of their permanent residency. However, friends and relatives of the applicant, who will help complete this form, are free from this condition.
If you need to make a statutory declaration outside of Australia, then it is best that the person who witnesses your statement has an official connection with Australia.
For example, if a person were in America and still wanted legal documentation attesting, then any lawyer admitted into practice by Australia would be able to do so without issue since their status includes being registered on our list of authorized individuals allowed to Witness Statutory Declarations.
The Necessary Information Required on Form 888
The form is divided into several sections, and each section asks for a different set of information. All of these sections are explained down below:
- Details of the person making the declaration
The family name and given names of the friend or relative will be needed here, along with other personal details such as the current residential address, qualification/occupation, contact numbers, and office hours.
- Information of the applicant and the sponsor
The family names and the given names of both the members in the relationship will be needed here. Additionally, the declarer must also provide details as to how they meet the relevant person.
- Details of the relationship from close ones
The friends or family of the applicant should have been informed about the relationship between them and the sponsor and know both of them very well. This is required as they will be asked about the key aspects they have noticed in the relationship, along with details as to whether the mentioned relationship is genuine and committed.
- Important events and relevant dates
To make a statement more convincing, detailed descriptions of events should be given by the relatives. Including dates with these descriptions will add authenticity to these statements, making the overall application more likely to be accepted.
Do note that at least 2 888 forms are required for the application process to succeed. However, it’s recommended that up to 4 forms should be provided.
How to Enter and Fill Out a Form 888?
The key here is to not only make the details look convincing but also simple, organized, and easy to understand. This will ensure that the officer will not have a hard time reading your application, increasing the chances of acceptance.
Step 1 - Fill in your personal details
Your name, both family and given, should be written here. Do note that the current variation of this form requires names to be written in ‘BLOCK LETTERS.’ What this means is that the letters should all be in uppercase and have a reasonable amount of space between them.
After filling in your names, add your contact number, office hours, and residential address into the form, and if required, the postcode as well.
Step 2 - Names of the Applicant and the Sponsor
The name and given names of the applicant and the sponsor should be written here. After this, fill in details about how long you have known the specified person.
Step 3 - Details about your relationship with the partner/fiance
This part will require you to write about your relationship with the specified person. Include here how you came to know this person along with all the details of the time you have spent with them. These details should be kept as organized and easy to understand as possible.
Although there is quite enough space on the form itself, additional details can be attached to the form if you require more space to fill in important information.
Step 4 - Details of the relationship between the applicant and the sponsor
Here include all the details that show whether the relationship between the mentioned members is genuine and continuing. Events and dates of your time with them can be added here to make the statements more convincing.
Place yourself in a perspective that you don’t personally know these individuals and see whether your claims still stand. You have to be as objective as you can be here when defining the relationship. If you have specified the relationship to be genuine, state your reasons for doing so here.
Do note that everything you provide here is as accurate as possible and avoid false statements at all costs, as making a false statement can not only land you in serious legal trouble but can also result in a 4-year prison sentence
Who Needs to Fill Out a Form 888?
Whenever a couple needs to apply for migration, their friends should make a statutory declaration. They state the details they know about the couple’s relationship.
This form cannot be filled by the couple themselves and should only be filled by a close friend or relative who knows the history of the couple and are of 18 years of legal age.
Who Can Certify a Form 888?
Under the Statutory Declarations Act 1959, and the Statutory Declarations Regulations 2018, only the following persons can act as a witness and certify the form:
- Justice of the Peace
- Medical practitioner
- Legal practitioner
- Civil marriage celebrant or registered minister of religion;
- Dentist
- Nurse
- Optometrist
- Pharmacist
- Physiotherapist
- A teacher employed on a permanent full-time or part-time basis at a school or tertiary education institution;
- Bank officer with 5 or more continuous years of service;
- Permanent employee of the Australian Postal Corporation with 5 or more continuous years of service;
- Police officer
- Public servants engaged on an ongoing basis with 5 or more years of continuous service.
- A complete list of prescribed persons can be found on the Attorney-General’s Department website.
Additional or External Form 888 Resources
Additional details about form 888 and its related procedures can be found on the official government site here.
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/888.pdf
https://www.lcmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/Form-888-Example.pdf
