What to know before and after applying for Australia Spouse Visa for Category 309/100

Hello Everyone,

I have been searching and not found any place or anyone dedicatedly talking about the specific to Australian Spouse Visa of Category  Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) and Partner (Migrant) visa.

First of all  a little introduction about myself. I am a Pakistani citizen and married to my wife who is Australian citizen. I have recently got my grant from Australian Immigration and thought it would be really nice to share my experience and allow anyone to ask me a question and create a place where anyone can come and find information in a simple to understand language.

So I am making this efforts to help everyone planning to submit application or already submitted. I again want to make sure that I can only share my experience and it might be different to you. I have only certain experience of getting Spouse visa for people living outside Australia and partner living in Australia.

So here it goes.

If you landed here after searching you might already know but I want to stress in CAPS 

"This Application all about proving that you and your partner in a genuine and continuing relationship"

So once we stablished this I am going to assume that you are in a genuine and continuing relationship and not planning to shame marriage and certainly condemn any kind of force marriage.

Second most import thing about this application I witnessed is:

"The primary Applicant is the one who is applying to get into the Australia"

I'll be making different chapters to discuss the following but here is a brief:

Since I was living outside Australia and primary applicant. I'll be writing a guide for people who are living outside Australia and applying for 309/100 and I won't be responsible for any of the information to be outdated as it's my own experience that's all.

In short the process will go like this.

Get Married

Create IMMI Account Online

Apply for 309/100

Pay for your Application 

Get Email Asking to Upload Your Documents

Upload Documents in your IMMI Account

Then Wait

And Wait

After almost 6-9 months you will receive a generic email including a checklist. That checklist will be specific for your country. I am attaching mine but it's might give you an idea

Check List
Interview Call
Grant
Travel to Australia

Pre Marriage Evidence
So, if you are planning to get married to anyone living in Australia while you are living outside. This is very important to start collection any evidence that might be helpful in your application. Here is a list of proof you can collect (CheckList)

1.  Screenshots of your personal chat and call record
2.  Mutual Facebook activity 
3.  Create witnesses of your relationship 
4.  Try to know your partners friends/family living in Australia and make contact (IMPORTANT)
5.  Start saving, yes fees of this application is AUD7,160 convert this in your currency and please do not think your partner living in Australia is a multi millionaire unless he/she is :) then don't worry about saving
6.  You will need Police certificate so stay out of trouble.
7.  If you have lived outside your home country for 1 year or more (Collective) you will require police clearance certificate from that country too so search for how to ge that. Police certificates are only valid for 1 year so do not apply just yet.
8.  Form 54 for family composition require personal details of your family including parent and siblings date of birth address etc so start compiling information.
9.  If anyone of you had previously married and divorced then you will require government issued divorce certificate. 
10. You might think I will do this after getting married and there is plenty of time but remember the process of getting visa for Australia takes from 9 months to 16 months and in some cases even more. So every day counts, the sooner you submit your application the quicker you get the visa. Any of the above you can sort before the wedding day will save you time and you will fly soon.

During Marriage Evidence

Usually we all think very positively that since our marriage is genuine and everything we are doing legal it should not be difficult to get the visa in normal cases it's right but small things create issue and it becomes hard to proof a relationship if you don't have proofs.

1. Wedding Card or electronic sharing such as Facebook invitations
2. Professionally taken photographs as well as photos takes from own or family member's mobile
3. Don't worry about too much about videography as there won't be a place or time where you can upload video
4. Don't burden yourself with a huge event as long there are close family members are attending. Remember visa fees!
5. Event(s) can be traditional or cultural, end of the day it should show that it was a genuine event.
6. Avoid doctoring/photoshop any images to fit anyone in the picture.
7. It will be a good idea to invite foreigner family members in your wedding as they can be witness of your wedding and sign Statuary Declaration

After Marriage Relationship Proof

1. It is good to spend time with your new partner alone but don't forget to attend public events and don't stay back in taking group photos they will all add weight to your case later.
2. Any shopping slips, eating out, even payment emails of Uber/Careem or similar service will be really good to show that you were hanging out together.
3. Do take selfies, even if you are a shy type, don't!!! You will thank yourself of taking selfies later.
4. If there is any other wedding or birthday party DO ATTEND THAT! It's really important.
5. Joint bank account is also important showing commitment to each other.
6. If there is an asset then make it a joint or at least put your partner as Next of Kin.

Documents to prepare

1. When we living in different countries it's good to have a video call using FaceTime or FaceBook/What's App but do text each other as it will be easier to send them screenshot of chat. If you have to call then use Facebook messenger as it keeps the log of call history along with chat.
2. Do send gifts to each other and it possible purchase them online so there are proof of you sending gifts.
3. You both have to provide your financial standing also financial support so keep your bank account running.
4. If you are sending money to your partner do it by Western Union/Money Gram etc so you have proof of it.
5. Passport is the obvious one but make sure if your passport is expiring within 2 years then it's best to get a new one which last 5 to 10 years.
6. Be prepare to shake your memory as you have to provide your immigration history of last 10 years. If you have travelled a lot then you should have your e-Tickets or stamps on passport. Start compiling them together.
7. If any of the partner has any sort of medical history or anything which can be used as compelling ground then you will need proof of that. It might not make a difference at all but it's worth the try.
8. You will be required to fill loads of personal details in Form54 & Form80
9. You will be required to get a full medical done but before that you should get a Polio Certificate, depending which country you are applying from you can get from most of the government hospitals and airports now a days.
10. Scan all the shopping slips, birthday cards you sent to each other, any invitation cards/letters which has both of your names. 
11. Compile emails to create one PDF
12. Update your personal details in government records, i.e CNIC (Pakistan) for both partners. 
13. Get your Nikah registered and apply for Nadra Computerised Marriage Certificate.

Continue... I'll update more, if you have any question please post and I'll include them