Paid guide · Consumer · Partner / onshore
Schedule 3 Strategy Pack
Schedule 3 in plain language — when it bites, when the waiver applies, what "compelling reasons" evidence the Department accepts, and how applicants typically lose (or save) the file at the Schedule 3 stage.
$99 · PDF on launch
MARN 1576536 · Verifiable at mara.gov.au
If you are facing a Schedule 3 issue right now
Do not wait for the Pack to ship. Schedule 3 issues are decision-blocking and time-sensitive. Contact us immediately or call 02 8188 1887. The Pack is for applicants who have time to read before lodging.
First edition in preparation
Submit the form below for a one-off launch email when the first edition ships.
What's inside
- What Schedule 3 is and the visa subclasses where it applies (onshore partner visa is the most common trigger).
- When Schedule 3 bites: bridging visa holders, applicants with expired substantive visas, the 28-day rule.
- The Schedule 3 waiver: the "compelling reasons" standard, what the Department has historically accepted, and what tends to be rejected.
- Evidence the waiver requires: relationship hardship, child welfare, employment ties, health considerations — and how to frame each.
- Common case patterns: short overstays, prolonged unlawful periods, multiple bridging visas, mixed-status families.
- Tactical positioning: when to lodge despite Schedule 3 risk and when to address it first.
- If Schedule 3 is not waived: merits review at the ART, alternative subclasses, offshore lodgement.
Who this is for
- Onshore partner visa applicants who may trigger Schedule 3
- Their Australian partners trying to understand what they're facing
- Migration agents wanting a Schedule 3 reference
Who this is not for
- Anyone with an immediate Schedule 3 decision. Contact us directly — do not buy a guide.
- Substitute for individual advice on the specific facts.
Notify me when the first edition ships
Frequently asked questions
Is the Schedule 3 Strategy Pack migration advice?
No. The Pack is general information about the Schedule 3 framework. Schedule 3 cases are highly fact-specific and time-sensitive — anyone facing a Schedule 3 issue on their specific visa application needs individual advice, urgently.
What is Schedule 3?
Schedule 3 of the Migration Regulations sets out criteria that certain onshore visa applicants must meet at the time of application if they hold a bridging visa, are unlawful, or fall within specific categories. The Department can waive Schedule 3 in some cases, but the test is restrictive and the discretion is exercised sparingly.
Does the Pack guarantee a Schedule 3 waiver?
No. Schedule 3 waivers are at the Department's discretion under specific criteria. Section 15 of the Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2022 prohibits any guarantee of outcome.
When does the first edition ship?
The first edition is in preparation. Submitting the form below subscribes you to a one-off launch email.
Refunds?
Digital products are refundable within 14 days of purchase if the file has not yet been downloaded. Australian Consumer Law rights are unaffected.
Related
This Pack is general information about the published Schedule 3 framework at the date of publication. It is not migration advice for any specific person, and purchase does not create a migration agent–client relationship. Schedule 3 is fact-sensitive — readers with an active matter should seek individual advice immediately. Outcomes cannot be guaranteed (section 15, Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2022). Migration advice provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) after paid initial consultation (s 43), with written service agreement (s 42). OMARA Consumer Guide provided. Refunds: 14 days if not downloaded; ACL rights unaffected. PI insurance held.