RPM Immigration Lawyers

Why have a joint bank account?

Basically, it’s good evidence for a partner visa application that as a married or de facto couple, you have combined your finances and you are financially supporting each other.

Do we both need to contribute to our joint bank account?

Ideally, yes.  Although sometimes only one partner will have an income, so in that situation it’s ok if only one partner contributes to the joint bank account.

When both partners are contribuitng to the account, it’s not necessary that it be on a 50/50 basis – one partner may be earning more than the other, for example.  So, 80/20 or 60/40 contibutions, for example, are also OK.

Should we spend our funds in the joint bank account?

You could have a joint bank account just to save money in – for a rental bond, or a home loan deposit, for example.

Or – and this is good as evidence for a partner visa application – you could both use the funds in the joint bank account for your day to day living expenses – your groceries, rent, car expenses, clothing, entertainment, etc. etc.

Some couples have two joint bank accounts – one for saving and one for their living expenses – that’s good evidence.

How long should we have the joint bank account for?

The longer you have had, and used, your joint bank account before you lodge the partner visa application, the stronger it is as evidence.

Further Information

Feel free to contact me if you would like to book a consultation for more information about anything mentioned here.

Regards.

Ross McDougall.

Immigration Lawyer & Solicitor.

www.rpmlawyers.com.au

Tel: 08 8528 9187

This information is correct at March 23rd, 2023.  But, keep in mind that immigration law changes from time to time.

 
Couples lodging a partner visa application need to show immigration that they have combined their financial affairs.

Having a joint bank account (a bank account in both of the couple’s names) is one piece of useful evidence that a couple’s finances have been combined.

It’s important that both of the couple actively use their joint bank account after they open it – ideally both making deposits into it and using the funds in it for day-to-day living expenses.

Sometimes, one of the couple will be in Australia on a temporary visa – a visitor visa for example.

Can the couple open a joint bank account in Australia if only one of them is an Australian permanent resident or citizen?  The answer is possibly – it depends on which Australian bank you approach.

In the recent past, the following banks have been known to open joint bank accounts for a couple where one of the couple is in Australia on a temporary visa (such as a visitor visa):

• Commonwealth (Google ‘CBA migrant banking’)
• Westpac
• ANZ
• BankWest

This list does not include every Australian bank that provides this service – some, but not all, other banks do also.

Keep in mind that banks change their account products from time to time – what they offer today, they may not offer tomorrow.

All the best with opening (and using!) your joint bank account.

Feel free to contact me if you would like to book a consultation for more information about anything mentioned here.

Regards.

Ross McDougall.

Immigration Lawyer & Solicitor.

www.rpmlawyers.com.au

Tel: 08 8528 9187

This information is correct at September 8th, 2022.  But, keep in mind that immigration law changes from time to time.