Married to a refugee

**furpaws** · 13-07-12, 16:56

Please if someone could give some hints,

I am in serious relationship with a guy from Iraq having refugee status here in my city in North Sumatera. He is awaiting Visa to go to Australia, such a long wait actually it has been for 2.6 years now. I am myself have been separated with my husband for 5 years and have a little baby girl. I would like to know if we are eventually got married 'nikah siri' as he is not having passport would it be a problem to his refugee status? Or better we wait until he is residing in Australia so then we could plan about having family? Can i join him as a wife to Australia shortly or is there any certain period for us to reunite maybe because he is new in Australia with refugee status. Please i would be so thankful to any information. Many thanks.

**ponyexpress** · 14-07-12, 10:17

It's quite normal for a refugee to wait for 2.5 years to get his/her case finalised and approved by the DIMMA (the department of Immigration and Citizenship). In some cases, refugees have to wait for 8-10 years until the government finalises its decision. I am not trying to scare you, it's not always a happy ending story with a refugee application. But there are heaps of people who made it.

1. If he already lodged in his refugee application visa, then you probably have to wait until it's approved then he can apply for another visa for you and your little one. Once he is granted a refugee visa, he will have the same right as a permanent resident visa holder does, who can sponsor relatives and families to come to Australia.
2. Any dependent children and partner can be included in the application for a refugee visa. I guess he has lodged it in already without including you and your baby. He probably won't risk it to start the process all over again.
3. As far as I know, his refugee status won't change if he marries you.
4. I am not sure what sort of documents will you need for a marriage in Indonesia. You have to find out whether it's possible for a refugee who has no passport or any identity cards to get married in Indonesia.

Here is the link to the Australian immigration website:

http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/humanitarian/offshore/200/

Maybe it's a good idea to talk to any lawyers dealing with refugees in Australia. Good luck!

**ScooterIndo** · 14-07-12, 20:11

Dont worry about it - according to my present status my wife is married to a tourist.

**747-8** · 15-07-12, 23:22

Originally Posted by furpaws

Please if someone could give some hints,

I am in serious relationship with a guy from Iraq having refugee status here in my city in North Sumatera. He is awaiting Visa to go to Australia, such a long wait actually it has been for 2.6 years now. I am myself have been separated with my husband for 5 years and have a little baby girl. I would like to know if we are eventually got married 'nikah siri' as he is not having passport would it be a problem to his refugee status? Or better we wait until he is residing in Australia so then we could plan about having family? Can i join him as a wife to Australia shortly or is there any certain period for us to reunite maybe because he is new in Australia with refugee status. Please i would be so thankful to any information. Many thanks.

In Australia, they recognize defacto relationships which has as much legal standing as a real marriage; you only need to prove that you are in a genuine relationship with the other person and live just like a husband and wife does, ie, share the same roof, share in paying bills, have a joint bank accounts etc. If the guy from Iraq is the father of your little girl, then this adds more weight to your case that you are in a defacto relationship with him, and in which case, will make it easier for you to move with him, if he is granted refugee status in Australia.