Kayleigh333 Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Hello I have been in Australia for almost two years on my WHV. I met my Australian partner here, we are now engaged and life is good. The only problem is that he had an ex girlfriend from Brazil and they had a partner visa together, which means we can't apply for a new partner visa until 5 years after he applied for the one with her (there are nearly two years left). So my question is... should I stay here on a student visa or should we go and wait it out in the UK? The international student fees are very expensive so I can't afford to study anything I am actually interested in, just an online Business course (the cheapest option). It will be a struggle for me to get by, but it is doable. However, would it be easier to go to the UK? What is the work situation like at the moment? Any advice for an Aussie settling in the UK (I feel like the drop in wages and weather could be issues for him). Any experience on the process of getting a spouse visa for the UK? Thanks for any opinions / advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddball Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 There are minimum earning requirements for UK spousal visas (I think). Have you considered having your partner come over on a 2 year working holiday? Is he eligible? My partner is an Aussie in the UK, and he is really doing it tough at the moment. He makes less and the weather is horrible (compared to where his from from in Australia). I'm not advising against bringing him here, but it is a big adjustment, in my personal experience. I know that there are Aussies who just love it in the UK as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Would an online course be enough to get you a student visa? I know I have done a couple and I had to finish them within a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
engaus Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Don't believe that they give students visas to people who study online - you have to have face to face teaching and class time. What does your partner do? I am Australian and moved to the UK for two years on a youth visa and loved it - weather wasn't great but I wasn't going to complain about that when I have the chance to live in another country temporarily. UK spouse visas are complicated. You would need to have a job offer paying £18,600 or more starting within 3 months of your arrival and be earning that amount in Australia for the previous 6-12 months (I can't remember if it's 6 or 12 months). You spouses earning count for nothing. Oh and you have to have lived together for 2 years or get married. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 For a student visa the course has to be a physical one, with you making at least 80% attendance rates. There is always NZ to consider going to together. You can get a whv and as an Aussie they can work there. At least for a year, I'm not sure if you can get a second year visa for there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozmaniac Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 (edited) I agree with @blossom79 that if you're under 31, New Zealand would be a good option. British citizens can get a 23 month working holiday visa and your partner is able to work there without any restrictions. Or of course, if he is under 31, a 2 year YMV for the UK is another option. Edited January 27, 2015 by Ozmaniac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kayleigh333 Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Thanks for your replies He is too old for a working holiday visa unfortunately. When I say an online course, it's actually a college close to me that runs it and the majority of studying is done online. I know it must be eligible for a student visa because I know a couple of people who are doing it. I'm going to see a visa agent about it tomorrow after work so I'll know more then. My partner works in the mines as a concreter / operates machinery (hence why the pay in the UK would be such a shock to the system!) My dad is a project manager for a civil company in the UK and could hook him up with a job as soon as he arrived. We were seriously considering New Zealand at one stage, I love the country and would probably have gone there next if we'd never met. My partner has been turned off the idea though by the kiwi guys at work getting in his ear about the reasons why so many of them come to Australia (lack of work etc) and it's put him off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozmaniac Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 He should reconsider NZ. Things have changed over there just in the last year or so and their economy is in great shape with lower unemployment than Australia. And their dollar is VERY close to parity with the AUD and there must be a reason for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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