Guest sair999 Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 Can anyone tell me how long you get to validate your visa once it is granted please. Someone has told me 12 months and someone else only 10 months! Please help. Sarah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vixpinkbabe Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 Hi Sarah, It's 12 months from when your police checks or medicals were done (whichever was first) Although some of my friends got given an extra few months, I didn't, think it just depends if you're lucky. Best of luck Vicky xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chris_mac Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 Can anyone tell me how long you get to validate your visa once it is granted please. Someone has told me 12 months and someone else only 10 months! Please help. Sarah Hi Sarah How long to validate your visa? - Permanent visas granted offshore normally have a 'first entry date'. ALL family members must enter Australia by this date. - The main applicant must enter Australia first (or at the same time as the rest of the family). The others must enter Australia after the main applicant and before the 'first entry date'. This is known as 'validating' the visa. - The 'first entry date' is normally around 12 months from the earliest date of police checks and medicals. Some people get less than that if medicals have a lesser validity - 6 months is not unknown. - 'First entry date' cannot be changed after your visa is granted. If there is a problem meeting this date after visa has been granted, you must seek urgent professional advice to liaise with DIMIA so they do not cancel your visas. Only in exceptional circumstances will you be able to keep your visa if you do not respect the 'first entry date'. - It is quite acceptable to validate a visa with a holiday in Australia. How long to make the 'proper' move? - The visa is valid for 5 years from the date of grant (NOT the date the visa is stamped or validated) - You are expected to be in Australia for a total of 2 years (730 days) in this 5 year period. - This is so that you easily qualify for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) after the 5 years is up. You will need an RRV to re-enter Australia as a PR if you are not an Australian citizen. - If you do not meet this requirement but are inside Australia on the expiry date of the visa (5 years hence) the visa does not expire until the moment you set foot outside Australia for any reason. - Hence if you are living in Australia at the end of the 5 year period you will probably not lose your PR but you will face hassle in getting an RRV. - In order to keep life simple, make sure you move to Australia no later than 3 years from visa grant. This ensures you will have the 2 years in Australia required to get an RRV 'no questions asked' at the end of the 5 year period. - Form 968i is an essential resource to understand the RRV rules. Bear in mind these can change anytime. http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/968i.pdf - Becoming an Australian citizen is the only way to fully secure your status in Australia. Australian citizens do not require RRVs. In general, permanent residents can apply for Australian citizenship after 2 years in Australia as a PR. http://www.citizenship.gov.au Best wishes Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sair999 Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 Thanks Chris for your answer, appreciated. Sarah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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