Light at the end of the tunnel - at long last!!!

[stilletto_rebel]

I'm counting down the days and the suspense is really killing me! Although I haven't yet received my permanent residency visa (am hoping it arrives before I fly), I will be landing in Melbourne on the 28th March to start my new life! The flights are booked, the cat is flying out on the 1st March, and most of my possessions are shipping out at the end of next week.

The reason I fly before getting my visa is because I am marrying my Aussie g/f on the 10th April in St. Kilda. Once that's out of the way, I plan on getting down to the serious business of acquiring myself a white or silver NA 1.6.

[miata]

Congratulations, it's a long hard road to travel. My youngest daughter married an Irishman and he finally has residency but took a few years. Another friend married an Irish girl and they're still going through it. She even had to fly to Darwin (from Dublin) to get her passport stamped as part of the process! They arrive back in Australia in April, hopefully with residency. It's a really odd system, so easy for some but strangely difficult for those with which we have the strongest ties.

[Mr Morlock]

and Miata we seem to be in a rush to cut those ties.

[miata]

and Miata we seem to be in a rush to cut those ties.

Not this little black duck! I've been to too many republics.

[Mr Morlock]

....two little black ducks.

[stilletto_rebel]

Thanks Miata. My application has, thankfully, been quite straightforward with no unnecessary flights needed.

[miata]

Thanks Miata. My application has, thankfully, been quite straightforward with no unnecessary flights needed.

Well done and on behalf of all of us, welcome.

[BigDamo]

Congrats stilletto_rebel, its a big move but good move. I did it nearly nearly 8 years ago, I still miss family, friends and the pubs occasionally but I certainly don't have any regrets. Hopefully we'll see you at the Garage Cafe some point after you land.

[Old Dude]

You went about it the wrong way.....! all you have to do is fly somewhere close get on a boat and have a leisurley cruise to christmas Island and they will let you straight in and put you on welfare immediately... oh and tell them your from Afganistan.

And Damo we have pubs here... but we only have COLD beer

Cheers
Dale

[stilletto_rebel]

Ha! I was advised by a couple of people that it would have been cheaper and easier if I had moved to NZ and just waited a couple of years before landing in Australia proper!

Damo, PM me about the Garage Cafe. I'll definately be up for that once I'm on the road!

[Disco]

Not doubting you but this set up seems unfamiliar to me? Do you have notification that you have succeeded in your application? Is this a de facto/marriage visa or have you got it independantly?

Just being nosey and wondering whether to inject some caution/advice. I've been here since 02 and got my PR in 07 FYI.

[stilletto_rebel]

Not doubting you but this set up seems unfamiliar to me? Do you have notification that you have succeeded in your application? Is this a de facto/marriage visa or have you got it independantly?

Just being nosey and wondering whether to inject some caution/advice. I've been here since 02 and got my PR in 07 FYI.

It's a 47SP (prospective marrige) visa, which is essentially just a rubber stamp provided my health and criminal history checks are ok - which seems to be the case as I was notified yesterday that my visa has been granted!! This allows me to remain permanently in Australia until the 8th November 2010 and also allows me to work.

It took me and the g/f about six months to collect together all the required information and I submitted it all at the strand in mid-December. The application itself cost £870 (over £1k if you include costs of acquiring medicals, duplicate birth certs, background checks and travelling to the Strand) and has taken just under two months to be processed and granted.

After the wedding in April I need to apply for my PR, which must be lodged before 8th November 2010. (The g/f has already started the paperwork!)

[Fatty]

good luck, i hope it all goes smoothly for you

cheers.

[Disco]

Good luck man, that's fantastic. I guess what I was getting at is isn't your visa provisional and can be taken away in the first 3 years if for example you split up?
You'll love it here, everything (non car & driving related) is just... Better

[stilletto_rebel]

Good luck man, that's fantastic. I guess what I was getting at is isn't your visa provisional and can be taken away in the first 3 years if for example you split up?

If things went sour, we split up and she reported me to immigration, then yes I could possibly have my PR visa revoked. But that's not going to happen!