A Venezuelan wacky guy living his Australian dream

Yup, Kathy and I have officially turned two years down under and what’s the best way to remember those two years than checking the balance.

This was the movie we were watching on that day... Confessions of a shopaholic – if you are a guy and your girl brings this movie to your place... Run! Run away from her, leave her behind and never look backJust RUN! Save yourself while you can, it was too late for me! I think my testicles shrank twice while watching it

To my mom, anything that is not America or Europe is far far away.

There is always a bright side.

• Start different projects and studies. Kathy has been back to her belly dancing, and I have been reading different types of articles and magazines, most of them related to photography and how to improve the image composition and general appearance.
• Buy the camera we always wanted (and now we are fighting to get a chance to use it... and highly probable we will have to buy another one). I was not going to include material things into the list, but the camera (for me) isn’t part of those material things. The camera give us the opportunity to show to our families and friends how we perceive and appreciate Australia (and our lives).
• Establish our home. With all the crap need it for it.
• Make friends, very dear friends.

Say whaat? Two years?

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.
  

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.

• 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.