Thursday, September 25, 2008

Part of migrate, is the constant wondering of: “How my family or mates are going to visit us?” or “Do they want to visit us every now and then?”

Well, obviously it will be more frequent the other way around. You having to visit them every now and then, planning your family holidays to go back and meet the old buddies and catch up. But, in my family this Australia life is causing some kind of curiosity. My mom is asking about the weather or what kind of goods she could buy, presents and stuff, or even how do the people look like...

So I decided to look deeper into the requisites for anyone who wants to go for visit and the result was a bunch of different visas or permits that anyone could get easily and I break it into three (3) different posts (each according the type of visa provided by the department of immigration.)

The sponsored family visa is designed to allow people overseas to visit their family living in Australia. The applicant for this visa must be relative of an Australian permanent resident or citizen willing to sponsor them. The sponsor must ensure the Australian government that their guest will leave the country before the visa expires. Support is provided to the sponsor by the visa decision-maker. This visa costs US$100 and has to be lodge by the sponsor.


The requisites for this permit are:
  • Be outside of Australia.
  • An adult (over 18 years old) permanent resident or citizen has to be the sponsor settled in Australia, with no unsuccessful attempts records in the last 5 years.
  • Applicant must be healthy. So medical examination is required. Health insurance will be requested but isn’t mandatory.
  • Applicant financial status proves.
  • If the applicant is underage, must present a parental permit.
  • Fill and send the required forms. [More info]
Does this visa have any other benefit?

The granted visa could provide a stay up to 12 months (several circumstances may apply), and it is highly possible to be granted because your sponsor acts like a backup in some cases (and has the obligation to make you leave the country). The visa should be granted faster than the tourist visa.

Cons?
  • The visa can’t be extended, so you will be requested to leave the country at the end of the maximum allowed term.
  • Is valid for one entry only.
  • If you want to apply for the visa again, you must be overseas.
  • Can’t work. Can’t study. Only visiting.
  • Medical insurance. If you are at a risky age, make sure you buy a health insurance before travelling Australia. Otherwise you might pay the full price of a good health system.
  • A security bond may be requested if there is a possibility that the applicant do not leave Australia when the term is done. The bond will be refunded once the visitor leaves the country and it variates from US$ 5,000 to US$ 15,000 or (depending on the case) any other amount.
For further information read this: Immi web site.

Links to the other posts
Main post “How to: visit Australia.”
How to: visit Australia (tourist visa).
How to: visit Australia (ETA permit).

The tourist visa is the one you want to use when you are visiting Australia for a holiday, recreation studying (up to three months) or even visiting family. With this visa you may do anything in the term of 3 three months except working and it cost US$ 100.00.
The requisites for this visa are:
  • At the moment there are no health requirements to request this visa.
  • Character requirements. You got to request the police checks as prove of your good behave.
  • Financial requirements. You got to prove you have enough money to go back and forth.
  • Children of underage. You need to have the common permits from your parents to travel.
  • Passport.
  • Plus a form, which you may want to take it online or if you prefer send it by standard mail.
Does this visa have any other benefit?

Well yeah, in case after a couple of months in Australia you want to stay a little longer, an extension can be requested to the migration department, in some cases the extension could be up to 6 months.

Cons?

There are some remarks which you have to review just in case you are sure you want this visa to be the one to use.
  • You can’t work. At least not a paying job. Voluntary is accepted. It’s ok; you surely don’t want to use a recreational visa for working, are you?
  • Medical insurance. If you are at a risky age, make sure you buy a health insurance before traveling Australia. Otherwise you might pay the full price of a good health system.
  • If you are planning anything longer than 3 to 12 months (case to by studied) you should start thinking about this visa doesn’t fulfil your requirements.
  • Takes a couple of weeks to be approved. The visa requirements are checked at Howard, Tasmania, so it might take a while before you know if you get on of these. If your country belongs to the common wealth or to the European Community you should check the ETA permit which is way faster and cheaper.
For further information read this: Immi website

Links to the other posts
Main post “How to: visit Australia.”
How to: visit Australia (ETA permit).
How to: visit Australia (Sponsored family visa).

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

The ETA permit is a visitor permit designed for those who are outside Australia and wants to visit Australia for holidays, tourism, recreation and some studies or training, but it is exclusively for citizens (or passport carriers) or the following countries [click here]. You will be charged for US$20.00 to cover the service use.

The requisites for this permit are:
  • Be outside of Australia.
  • At the moment there are no health requirements except if you are going to have studies at a class-room environment in which case you will requested to get a chest x-ray examination.
  • Have a valid and listed passport.
  • Each family member must request their permit.
  • Fill up the online form.

Does this visa have any other benefit?

Except that the permit is valid for multiple entries and almost instantly approved... No. This visa is pretty much flat. You get it quickly, and you get it for visiting, that’s it.

Cons?
  • The permit can’t be extended, so you will be requested to leave the country at the end of the maximum allowed term.
  • Can’t work. At least not a paying job. Voluntary is accepted with some limitations.
  • You may be requested to have medical examination.
  • Medical insurance. If you are at a risky age, make sure you buy a health insurance before traveling Australia. Otherwise you might pay the full price of a good health system.
  • Even if you are from the list of allowed countries, you got to be legally clear. If you have convictions then you have to apply for a tourist visa, the ETA will be automatically rejected.
For further information read this: immi web site

Links to the other posts
Main post “How to: visit Australia.”
How to: visit Australia (tourist visa).
How to: visit Australia (Sponsored family visa).

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

In the most retro wave possible ever, I was trying to find the perfect theme for this waiting stage for the Australian Visa… What a perfect and depressing song as John Secada's “Just Another day”…


< John Secada - Just Another Day >


But as a good thing, we were able to spot the thing that keeps us to the expectation, which is you don’t know for sure when your case is being on the lookout or when you are just in the pile of files waiting to be assigned to a case officer. Anyhow, I am taking things more slowly, trying to enjoy every moment with my family members. As told before, the new date for arriving Australia will be the very end of January (if god permits), maybe will be a nice season to get there (summer), kind of sunny kind of hot… It will be perfect to be active and adapt better to changes… What do you think? Any better idea?

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