在2009年7月1日,移民法对于spouse的定义如下:
- They are married to each other under a marriage which is valid under Australian Law
- The have mutual commitment to a shared life as husband and wife to the exclusion of all others;
- The relationship between them is genuine and continuing and
- They live together or do not live separateand apart on a permanent basis
从上面可以看出,申请配偶移民不单单只是要求双方结婚就行了,移民局还要求双方具有对婚姻的忠诚,是真实有效的婚姻而不是名存事亡的夫妻关系。曾经有一个案例,一个申请人递了两份配偶移民移民,他保持着与妻子的婚姻关系并且与另外一个女人保持着同居关系,结果移民局把他的两份申请都给拒了,理由是要求有mutual commitment,即排他性。所以在这里提醒大家,结婚证书不是移民局考察关系真实性的唯一标准,两人一起生活的证据更重要。