Migrating to Perth

[UK2Perth]

Hello everyone,

My story is quite complicated but to cut a long story short, my fiance sold his house in the UK and mine is on the market. He had started his visa process before we met and originally I didn't want to go as I thought it was too much of a big step to leave family & friends behind in the UK and I had just bought my house so the timing was all wrong. This was his dream not mine but who was I to try and stop him. He moved to Joondalup in Perth in July and after visiting him last month I really enjoyed it and have decided to join him out there after he proposed and I accepted. I am going out again to visit him next month and hopefully he will be back at Christmas for a couple of weeks, only thing is, he has a visa and I don't! I have a few questions I would like answering before paying for agency fees..

1) Can I visit Australia once I have started the visa application process?

2) Is there such thing as a 12 month tourist visa where you can visit but can't work?

3) If my current employer were to help with the process, does this speed up the process?

4) Most of the schools we passed seemed to be private, is this the norm out there? I have a daughter who is nearly 11.

Any advice you can offer relating to the above questions would help.

Thanks,

Jo x

[Gollywobbler]

Hi Jo

Welcome to Poms in Oz.

I suspect you need to start by swotting up on the DIAC website, which is here:

Department of Immigration and Citizenship

Once you click on the Visas and Immigration section, you get a new homepage. It is important to read the relevant Information Booklets thoroughly.

I hope this will help to get you started.

Cheers

Gill

[UK2Perth]

Ahh thanks... it's difficult with the distance and he has just moved house so doesn't have Broadband at the moment plus he doesn't have all the answers for me anyway! We went to visit the immigration office in the centre of Perth and the woman judged me and made me cry saying we have to prove we are in a genuine relationship.. thing is we had separate houses in separate towns, not everybody lives together before they get married do they! Best laugh is, the woman behind the desk who made me cry was Phillipino!!! :)

[Gollywobbler]

Hi again, Jo

Your experience is not unexpected, hunny. They are deeply suspicious of anything that they think could simply be a marriage of convenience.

Partner Migration Booklet

Start by reading Booklet 1, I suggest (Partner Migration.)

Then follow this link:

Family - Visas & Immigration

The long-stay tourist visa that you were asking about is here:

Visa Options - Tourists - Visitors - Visas & Immigration

However, I would suggest that you do your homework very thoroughly before you even consider applying for any of the visas because there can be hidden traps for the unwary with all of them.

Sing out if you need further help.

Cheers

Gill

[UK2Perth]

Cheers Gill

Looks like I got a lot of bedtime reading to do doesn't it! :(