888 Immigration Form – Fill Out and Use This PDF

Statutory declaration by a supporting witness in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application

Form

888

About this form

This form must be completed by a person who:

¥knows the visa applicant and their partner or fiancŽ(e) and the history of their relationship;

¥is at least 18 years of age; and

¥is an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident.

Note: If the visa applicant is outside Australia and is unable to have an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident complete this form, any person who knows the applicant and their partner or fiancŽ(e) may also complete this form.

The person completing this form must provide evidence of their current name, age and, where applicable, Australian citizenship or Australian permanent residency (for example, a certified copy of the birth certificate, Australian passport or passport containing a permanent visa). All copies must be certified.

Note: You may be asked to submit up to 3 separate declarations during the processing of the visa application. You may also be contacted for further comment and/or interview in relation to the information you provide.

Purpose of this form

When assessing a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (the department) must consider the social aspects of the claimed relationship. The department will use the information provided in this form (your statements), among other things, to assess these aspects.

The departmentÕs policy is that these statements be provided in the form of statutory declarations. You may use this form, or alternatively, you may use the statutory declaration template, which is available on the Attorney-GeneralÕs Department website at www.ag.gov.au

In Australia, statutory declarations must be witnessed by a person prescribed by the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 and Statutory Declarations Regulations 1993. Any attachments to the Declaration must be certified by a prescribed person. Prescribed persons include those who are a:

¥Justice of the Peace;

¥medical practitioner;

¥legal practitioner;

¥civil marriage celebrant or registered minister of religion;

¥dentist;

¥nurse;

¥optometrist;

¥pharmacist;

¥physiotherapist;

¥full-time teacher;

¥bank manager or bank officer with 5 or more continuous years of service;

¥postal manager or permanent employee of the Australian Postal Commission with 5 or more continuous years of service;

¥police officer; or

¥public servant with 5 or more continuous years of service.

A full list of prescribed persons can be found on the Attorney-GeneralÕs Department website.

Warning: Under the Statutory Declarations Act 1959, people who intentionally make a false statement in a statutory declaration are liable for punishment of

4 years imprisonment. In addition, the Migration Act 1958 (the Act) provides penalties for providing false or misleading statements of 12 months imprisonment or a fine of AUD12,000.

If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident and you reside outside Australia, your statement cannot be considered a statutory declaration under Australian law, even if it is made using this form or the template provided by the Attorney-GeneralÕs Department. However, under policy, your statement should be witnessed or certified according to the legal practices of the country in which you make the statement. Failing that, it should be witnessed by a person whose occupation or qualification is comparable to those listed above. This person should sign, date and specify their occupation at the bottom of the statement.

You should confirm the requirements with the nearest Australian mission overseas when you lodge your application. Contact details for Australian missions are available on the departmentÕs website www.border.gov.au

Important information about privacy

Your personal information is protected by law, including the Privacy Act 1988. Important information about the collection, use and disclosure (to other agencies and third parties, including overseas entities) of your personal information, including sensitive information, is contained in form 1442i Privacy notice. Form 1442i is available from the departmentÕs website www.border.gov.au/allforms/ or offices of the department. You should ensure that you read and understand form 1442i before completing this form.

Home page www.border.gov.au

General Telephone 131 881 during business hours enquiry line in Australia to speak to an operator (recorded

information available outside these hours). If you are outside Australia, please contact your nearest Australian mission.

Statutory declaration by a supporting witness in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application

Form

888

Please use a pen, and write neatly in English using BLOCK LETTERS. Tick where applicable ✓

Details of person making the statutory declaration

I, Family name

Given names

of Your residential address

POSTCODE

Occupation or qualification

Telephone numbers
Office hours
	(AREA CODE	)
After hours
	(AREA CODE	)

make the following declaration under the Statutory Declarations Act 1959:

1Visa applicantÕs name Family name

Given names

How long have you known this person?

2Name of applicantÕs partner or fiancŽ(e) Family name

Given names

3State how you know the applicant and the applicantÕs partner or fiancŽ(e), and indicate how often you have been in contact with them

If insufficient space, please attach additional details

4State whether you believe the relationship of the applicant and his/her partner or fiancŽ(e) to be genuine and continuing, and give your reasons for your belief

Office use only

File number

If insufficient space, please attach additional details

Your signature

Declared at

On

Before me,

✍

DAY MONTH YEAR

Signature of qualified person

✍

DAY MONTH YEAR

Preferred title	Mr
	Other
Contact address

Mrs

Miss

Ms