jo688

Could anyone tell me if when applying for a partner visa if the stat decs can be certified copies or if they have to be originals. I am using form 888 for the main two but wondered if I had to use an official form for the others or if I could just to print out sign and certify a word doc. Many thanks,

Does anyone know how the up to 12 months in 18 months condition on an evisitor is calculated? I have just re-entered Australia on mine and want to know how long I can stay without overstaying. On my current visa I am only up to five months but I am concerned about a previous evisitor which would in effect fall into an any 18 month period. Counting backwards from my intended leaving date I do not exceed 365 days in 18 months. Will that be okay or is there anywhere I can find out officially. It seems to me if I leave at the end of May Jan 2012 would count in the 18 months but if I leave end of June it wouldn't. Or do they only count forward on your current visa. I want overstay, but I don't want to leave if I don't have to. Any thoughts?

Could anyone tell me if you apply for a partner visa onshore while on a three month multi entry visitor visa if the bridge visa kicks in when your three month stay expires or when the 12-month validity of the visa expires. Many thanks

I am a UK citizen and my boyfriend is an Australian PR. We met almost three years ago and have visited each other back and forth several timesand met each other's families. He cannot live in the UK for long periods due to custody agreements and I have no right to live permanently in Australia. From December - May I visited him on a tourist visa - this was a three-week trip that got extended a few times as we wanted to be together. We took trips met family etc but built up very little relationship evidence as I was a tourist and didn't think I'd end up staying for the time I did. I have been back in the UK for fours months as my visa expired and while I have been helping with an ill relative. I am considering taking a nine month break from my freelance work here and applying for a 6-month tourist visa to return to Oz and spend more time with my partner and my friends and explore some more. I'd like to go for three months return for Xmas and return for six months in January - perhaps with a trip to NZ in Oct and February returning to the UK in summer (either to apply for a souse visa off shore or on a BVB). I am hoping to get multiple entry and to avoid the NFS - in case I end up in a position where I want to apply for an onshore partner visa - a long way off but who knows how long any partner visa will take to process by then. I'm not wanting to apply for PMV. My questions is it okay to mention my bf on the six-month visa application - or will it increase the risk of a nfs/single entry. I have significant funds, will have a return flight and plans for returning home. If I say I'm single with no partner and describe him as my friend will it affect my spouse application down the line either on or offshore. ie. will we be able to submit evidence of the previous three years to strengthen our genuine relationship or just the nine months this time. What they ask is quite specific. Any advice much appreciated

Thanks for your reply. So just to clarify. I could apply for a 6 moth tourist visa and, if granted ,arrive July 2012 stay till Xmas 2012 return Jan 2013 and apply for a spouse or a de facto on shore towards the end of the second six months and stay on a BVA until the partner visa is decided on with work rights (even bridging from a tourist visa). If I left after the BVA kicked in I'd need a BVB. Two final questions. How difficult is a BVB to get. I have elderly relatives at home and would havve to leave at some points for visits or if anything happened inbetween applying for the visa and grant. Current figures I've heard are 13 months. How long can I be in the UK for the five months we have just lived together to count towards the 12 month de facto. We lived together December to May and I was planning to be home 8 weeks - it's now looking more like 12 as my uncle is very ill and is either going to pass away or we'll need to move him to a home/close down his house/sort out his affairs and I'd like to help my mum with all that entails.

Hello. I have several queries that I'm hoping some of you can answer. I've listed my specific questions at the end of a brief summary of my situation. Any advice would be gratefully received. I am a UK citizen and my partner is a UK/New Zealand citizen/Aus PR. We have been together since Jan 2011 with visits back and forth as time allows. Two weeks ago I returned to the UK after spending five months living with him in Melbourne and exploring Victoria on an EVA extended due to visiting to his folks in New Zealand. I would like to return to spend more time with him and travel more together so we can either decide to marry or meet the 12 month living together requirement to apply for de facto. He is tied to Aus because of his school age kids. I have had my whv and my profession is not on the skills list so am thinking a partner visa is the way to go. He has a decent job in Oz and I have the funds needed to self support. I do not want to apply for a PPV. I am thinking of applying for a six month visitor visa and, if granted, returning to Australia July 2013, returning to the UK for Xmas and if things work out returning to Australia in January 2014 for another six months on the same in visa. In this second six month period we would submit an onshore partner visa application and once my 6 months is up go onto a BVA to await processing time (with a possible trip to UK on BVB if necessary as I understand waiting times can be over a year). My questions are: MULTIPLE ENTRY Will I be able to re enter Australia in January 2014 for a second six months - I know technically if I have a multi entry visa I can, but will it cause problems at immigration? I also expect to make a couple of trips to NZ to see my elderly in laws - one possibly towards the end of the second six months for a landmark birthday. Could I go leave Oz May 2014 and still return before the visa's 12 month validity expires? I have looked at the 12 month visa but I don't want to risk the NFS. WORKING RIGHTS ON BVA I always understood that if you went on a BVA the terms of your previous visa continued (in my case visitor visa no working rights) but you could have the no work clause lifted if you could prove financial hardship. I recently read that this has changed and you automatically get working rights on a BVA. Can anyone clarify this? DE FACTO OR NOT? If we do decide to go the de facto route, will the five months we have just lived together count towards the 12 months living requirement given that: a) We are now spending two months apart (I have come home to apply for a longer visa, see my uncle who has had a stroke and attend a wedding and my partner has to go back to NZ end of June to help his 89 year old dad through an operation). b) I have officlal letters delivered to his address, mobile phone contract registered there, loads of photos and shared plane tickets to NZ to see his parents, to Coffs to see his sisters and other trips we have taken together. However, we do not have a shared bank account (I just drew money from his bank to avoid charges to cover his half of the flight over) and I have no bills/rent in my name (how could I being on a tourist visa?). Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Hello Can anybody tell me if you can work remotely for UK based companies while you are in Oz on an ETA. I am a writer and write for UK mags from my computer. I am set up as self employed in the UK and invoice and pay tax on any earnings in the UK. I am not planning on working (I am coming to visit friends and do some sightseeing) and but I do have regular clients who often need commisions doing on a short-notice basis. Turning them down would jeopordise them commissioing me again but I don't want to do anything I'm not allowed. I'm not planning working for any Aus based mags or doing any cash in hand work while I am in Oz. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone. Your information is really helpful. I still have no idea what to do. I thought I could go out on an ETA October, Nov, December, then return to the UK for about six weeks over Xmas and then head out to Aus again Feb, March, April on another ETA and come back to the UK to work and replenish funds in summer and see where we're at but am concerned that's a bit much for a tourist VISA and I may get turned back the second time. We've both agreed to put in a joint amount of cash to make this possible. I can only go three months at a time because of family ties at home. I'm in a real quandry as I've not really had permanent/regular work or a regular place to stay since I came back from Aus as I knew he was coming over and I had this idea of going back in the autumn. I have been staying with friends to save my redundancy money and this has made it hard to commit to shift/freelance work as I've moved around a lot. I've been applying for full-time jobs but with the Aus option in the back of my head I probably haven't been as focussed as I would have been. I had been hoping to get a three-month let/contract over the summer just to get some cash and get my hand back in at full-time work but that didn't happen and it's too late now. Summer is over, I can't keep living like this so it's crunch time and I have to a) Sign a lease for a flat in London and try to find to a full time job or atleast regular freelance work and move on. b) Book a ticket and go for three months to see what happens and worry about everything else later. Option a is the sensible one. It would be safe, easy, I would hopefully be earning cash and my career would continue. I slightly changed career path last year and have a year in my semi-new field under my belt so it would be good to build on that with atleast another year somewhere else. My worry is that if the work isn't forthcoming my savings will dwindle down to nothing. It also seems a very empty option as I would have to let the relationship go otherwise I could never settle down here and annual leave would make visiting for any length of time impossible. Option b is what I want to do but I know that for me the reality would be incredibly hard. Being out there would be fine but I am concerned how adrift I feel having not had permanent work for six months or so and obviously this would continue while I am in Aus. I have plenty to occupy my time and would volunteer for a charity for the weekdays when he's at work but it really would scupper my career having a gaping hole in my CV. My main nightmare though is I will have to come back and find a new job/flat to earn cash when I can't be there and if this year is anything to go by it'll be very hard. I am hoping I can set up work before I return in the summer and rent a room for three months or so but my confidence is pretty low at the moment and it seems a very frightening option. I could always stay with my folks but there is no work up where they live. I feel I ought to do the sensible thing given my current situation, but I also don't want to regret not taking a chance. At 41 I've had several long-term relationships but none where it felt just right but the cost and sheer complication of the visa stuff is terrifying and the idea of not being able to work for another year atleast is so depressing. I feel as though I'm setting myself up for a lot of upset and upheaval. I've been sitting on this decision for a couple of weeks and it's starting to really, get to me. I know what the sensible/practical option is but also think life is short. Seems like I can't win either way. I understand all the partner options but marriage or engagement seem a bit drastic when all we want is to have some time together to see where it goes. I'd appreciate any advice/stories from older couples who are in a long distance relationship can't get there on a skilled migrant or a WHV as to how they made it work especially financially and Thanks

Hi I have already posted once about this and received some good advice but am just needing clarity as I am so confused about what to do. In June 2010 I started seeing a British/New Zealand citizen who has had PR in Melbourne for about eight years. He is surrently applying for citizenship. He has been to the UK for short trips in June 2010, Jan 2011 and July 2010 and I came to Aus for six weeks in February 2011. We have known each other through friends for years but were both with other people. He has two girls (12 and 13) who he has joint custody of so him moving anywhere in the next seven or eight years is not an option for him. I am a UK citizen. I am a professional but my skills are not on the list and I am over 30 so cannot get a working holiday visa. We really think our relationship has potential but are struggling to see a way for it to progress long-term. Originally I thought I could come to Aus three times for three months on an ETA and see how it worked out. We both assumed if we got to the point where we wanted to be together permanently we'd get married and that would be that. Obviously, digging a little deeper, we realise it's not the case and is very complicated. My questions are: Will three entries for three months on an ETA in about a year be deemed excessive - could my third entry be refused? Could we marry in Oz on an ETA if I am from the UK or do we need a prospective mariage VISA? It would be hard but not impossible for him to get four weeks off work to do it in the UK. (I understand how to get married in Oz just need to know if it's possible on and ETA for me) Once married will we meet the requirements of the spouse VISA? We will have a well documented shared history, a joint bank account where we will both be putting cash in to pay for flights support me when I'm in Aus and pay for rent etc when I am back in London but we won't have joint names on a mortgage, bills and stuff like that as I'll only be here on a tourist visa so can't put down roots. The registering a relationship won't work either as we both have to prove we live in Victoria, which as I'll be on a tourist visa I don't. I realise we don't need to meet the 12 month living together if we were married but will time spent back in the UK to make some money to fund myself to go over and see him be seen as bad. If I get a longer tourist visa what does a no futrther stay mean? Does it affect any partner visa applications or just mean I have to apply offshore? Sorry for the many questions. I am just really unsure of what to do. I really think there could be something there with us but for me I am leaving my home, family and friends to go to a place where I can't support myself and where we may only be able to be together for half a year so I will have to go back to the UK and start myself up again every year. I have managed to do temp work here since I cam back but permanent roles are coming up now and it really is a case of do I go out for three months and see or try to forget it and settle back down to my life in London. It just seems so complicated to go the Aussie route but I feel it's the right thing to do. Thanks in advance Jo

Hello Can anyone answer the following questions for me. * I'm a freelance writer and write features for various UK magazines. I work for myself and pay my own self assessment tax in the UK. If I'm in Aus on an ETA or a tourist visa can I do this work remotely while I am out there or is this againt the VISA rules? I am planning on spending time with friends/family/doing touristy things but the occassional commission may pop up. * Can you do voluntary work on an ETA? If so how many days a we and does it have to be hands on stuff i.e helping out in a homeless shelter or can you volunteer say two days a week in the office of a charity - say helping out on their website etc. * Finally can yu marry in Oz when you're on an ETA (as long as you follow the requirements) or do you have to apply for the prospective marriage visa. Thanks in advance

Many thanks for your very clear reply. He is a British/NZ citizen, but has had PR for about nine years. He works for a big international company who have a migration department who will guide him through the process but he will apply himself and hopefull be accepted. One more question - can you marry in Oz while you're in Australia on an ETA or longer tourist visas? HopeI have posted this in the right place. Many thanks

Hello, I'm hoping someone one here can help with a few VISA queries as I'm getting so much conflicting advice. I am a UK citizen, a professional who lives and works in London I'm 41. This year I've started seeing a guy who's a British/New Zealand citizen and is 44. His company is currently applying for his Australian citizenshop, too. We were best man bridesmaid at our best pals' wedding 10 years ago but we were both with other people. We met again both single last summer in London, then again when he was on a business trip here in January. I flew out for six weeks in February and he came out for a couple of weeks over the summer. We talk on the phone for a couple of hours a day. It's early days but we both feel the relationship has real potential. Because he has two school age kids he has joint custody of leaving Melbourne is not an option for him until his girls are older and although he has some holiday a lot of it is already commited to his kids. The only way for us to spend more time together is for me to get out there and I'm just trying to get my head around how it could work. I am a journalist but my profession isn't on the Skilled Migrant list and too old for working holiday. Here are my queries * I'm very close to my family and an only child so the thought of moving permanently is heart breaking. The original plan was for us both to put in some cash for my living expenses and flights as I can't work and for me to fly out for three months in Oct on an ETA, fly back for Xmas, fly out February - April on another ETA and then work the summer in London to raise cash to do it all again the next year. Can I just go out and back two or three times a year on an ETA like this or will it be picked up and stopped. Also my ETA runs out in February while I'm there - do I just apply for a new one before I go a couple of weeks early. Can you apply for an ETA year after year. I know there are longerr VISAs but I'm happy to come home every three months for a while and concerned about the no further stay. I'd rather save alonger VISA in case I need it. * Obviously as time progresses and if the relationship works out we'd need to look into me being able to work there and put the relationship on a firmer ooting. I assumed getting married would solve that if that's what we wanted to do but now realise it isn't the case. By then we'd have a joint bank accounts, plus some joint bills and a long well documented history together but we wouldn't have lived together for more than three months at a time and I would always have to spend periods in the UK to make cash. Would we have a good chance of getting the spouse visa or fiance visa under these circumstances. I know you can get longer visas but don't see how I could stay longer without being able to work. * Finally obviously way down the line, if we did end up wanting to get married and got the VISA and PR could I apply for citizenship when I qualify if I'm over 45? If we got that far there's a possibility of returning to the UK for some time depending on what happens to my folks/his kids and I'm concerned I won't be in OZ for long enough to qualify for the RRV. All way down the line I know but I'm trying to make some big decisions and as it's me who'll be leaving everything - career/home/family I'd just like too know if I'm going to be faced with endless VISA hassles and long periods of time in the UK on my own before I make the leap. Thanks in advance for any help or advice.