Application Preparation and Lodgement
Preparation discipline
Preparation begins with a matter plan: confirm the correct subclass, confirm the applicant's location (onshore vs offshore affects which visa can be granted), identify the Schedule 1 validity requirements, and build an evidence matrix mapping each criterion to the documents that prove it. Agents should confirm identity documents, check passport validity, and verify that forms are the current versions.
Lodgement mechanics
Understand valid lodgement (correct form, fee, location, and any required nomination or sponsorship), the date of application rules, and the consequences of an invalid application - it is not a valid application and cannot be decided. Know the rules on associated applications (family members included), subsequent entrants, and bridging visa consequences of lodging onshore.
Traps in questions
- Lodging before a required nomination or sponsorship is approved, rendering the application invalid.
- Assuming an application can be 'fixed' after lodgement when a Schedule 1 requirement was missed.
- Forgetting to include dependent family members, who then cannot be added later in some subclasses.
- Miscalculating the visa application charge or missing a fee exemption.
Rule of thumb
Use the 'validity first' rule: never lodge until every Schedule 1 element is confirmed in writing. A worked example: for a subclass 482, the nomination must be approved before or with the visa application; lodging the visa first is invalid and the fee may be lost. Maintain a lodgement checklist signed off before submission.