Spouse 309 nominated by my Aussie partner — anyone done it without a migration agent?

Anonymous Patient Kookaburra · 16 May 2026

My partner is Australian, we've been together 3.5 years and married for 18 months. Have a joint lease, joint bank account, family photos, the lot. Quotes from agents are coming back at $4,500 to $6,500. Has anyone here DIY'd the 309/100 successfully? I'm capable of forms but the relationship evidence section is making me anxious — there's no clear "this is enough" line. Just wondering what the actual risk is if I do it myself. Worst case I assume is RFI rather than refusal?

3 replies

Anonymous Earnest Pelican · 16 May 2026
DIY'd ours. Relationship evidence wants breadth across 4 categories (financial, social, household, commitment). Aim for ~15 pieces per category, dated across your timeline. Two statutory decs from friends help.
Anonymous Realistic Goose · 16 May 2026
Risk of DIY isn't refusal, it's longer processing because the case officer keeps asking for more. Agent is worth it if your case is "complicated" (kids from prior, big age gap, short relationship). Yours sounds straightforward.
Anonymous Modest Emu · 17 May 2026
We DIY'd, took 9 months. Hardest part was form 47SP itself — long, easy to make small errors. Triple-check every date against your passport stamps.

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