Partner visas / Home Affairs letters
Guide · After you lodge
Requests for information and section 57 letters.
Most partner visa applications get at least one letter from Home Affairs before a decision. Some are routine. Others are a warning. Here is how to tell the difference and respond.
Two kinds of letter
Request, or invitation to comment?
Section 56: request for information
Home Affairs asks for something it needs to decide the application: health examinations, police certificates, more relationship evidence, updated documents or forms.
- Usually routine
- Send everything requested, in one response
- Explain anything you can't provide and when you will
Section 57: invitation to comment
Home Affairs has information that could lead to refusal and gives you the chance to respond before it decides. This is procedural fairness, and it is serious.
- Inconsistent dates or facts across forms and statements
- Information from a previous visa application
- Information from a third party, such as an allegation
- Doubts about whether the relationship is genuine
Responding
How to respond well.
Read the deadline first
The letter sets the time to respond. If you need more time, ask before the deadline and explain why. Extensions are not automatic.
Answer what was asked
Address each point in the letter directly. Generic relationship evidence doesn't answer a specific concern.
Explain inconsistencies
If dates or details differ, explain why with evidence. Unexplained inconsistencies are a common reason for refusal.
Keep it consistent
Everything you send now is compared with what you have already said. Check your earlier forms and statements before you write.
How we help
Clients we act for, and applications you lodged yourself.
If we lodged your application
Responding to Home Affairs requests is included in our fixed fee. We tell you what is needed, check it and send the response.
If you lodged it yourself
Book a 30-minute consultation ($330) and bring the letter. A lawyer reviews it, explains the risk and advises you on how to respond before the deadline.
How it works
From first call to decision.
Discovery call or consultation
A free 15-minute discovery call checks basic eligibility and whether we're the right fit. It isn't legal advice. For advice on your situation, book a 30-minute consultation ($330).
Engage us
You receive a written quote, a document checklist and an evidence plan for your relationship.
We build your application
Your lawyer checks every document and drafts your relationship statements with you.
Final review and lodgement
You approve it and we lodge. We deal with Home Affairs until a decision.
FAQ
Questions about Home Affairs letters.
Is a request for information a bad sign?
Not usually. Section 56 requests for health checks, police certificates or updated documents are a normal part of processing.
Is a section 57 letter a refusal?
No, but it means Home Affairs is considering refusing based on the information described. A careful response with evidence can change the outcome.
What if I miss the deadline?
Home Affairs can decide the application without your response. If you are close to the deadline, contact us straight away.
Can I send more evidence without being asked?
Yes. You can add documents in ImmiAccount at any time before a decision. Make sure it is consistent with what you have already lodged.
Do you handle responses for people you didn't lodge for?
Yes, through a 30-minute consultation ($330). It is legal advice on your letter, the risk and how to respond.
General information only, current at 14 October 2026. Not legal advice. Home Affairs policy and the Migration Regulations change; we check your case against the rules in force when you apply.
Not sure which visa fits?
Book a free 15-minute discovery call to check basic eligibility and whether we're the right fit. It isn't legal advice, and depending on your circumstances you may still need a consultation. For legal advice now, book a 30-minute consultation ($330). Or call 1300 079 743.