u/madisideeye

My partner and I have been in a genuine relationship for over 6 years and have strong evidence of our relationship, including photos, travel history and a formal engagement ceremony with both families present.

He is currently on a student visa in Australia and plans to apply for the Temporary Graduate Visa (TR/485) later this year. Before his application, we are considering completing an online marriage registration under Indian law.

If he applies for the 485 visa first, then later visits India and we have our wedding ceremony in May 2027, how long would it typically take for me to obtain an Australian visa as his spouse and join him in Australia? Has anyone been in a similar situation?

My fiancé and I have been in a relationship for almost 6 years. He is currently studying in Australia and will be applying for the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) after completing his studies.
We are considering doing a legally valid Nikah and marriage registration before his 485 application. We have extensive evidence of our relationship including:
6 years of relationship history
Formal engagement ceremony with both families present
Photos together over several years
Domestic travel together
Family photos and family involvement
Call logs, chats, and communication history
Financial transactions between each other
I would appreciate advice from anyone who has gone through a similar situation.
My questions are:
Is it better to get legally married before the 485 application and include the spouse from the beginning, or apply for the spouse later as a subsequent entrant?
Has anyone successfully included a spouse who was living overseas (outside Australia) during the 485 application process?
Does including a spouse make the 485 application more complicated or increase scrutiny significantly?
For those who had a long-term relationship before marriage, what evidence did immigration focus on most?
If the marriage took place shortly before the 485 application, did that cause any concerns from the case officer?
How long did your spouse’s visa processing take if they were outside Australia?
If you had an online marriage/Nikah followed by a traditional wedding ceremony later, was that accepted without issues?
Looking back, is there anything you wish you had done differently before lodging the application?
Any experiences, timelines, or advice would be greatly appreciated.