Spouse Visa...you need to be sure about your relationship

It's easy for people to get into a relationship, but it hard to maintain the relationship and still in it. Especially the young couple. There are a lots of people using Spouse Visa as an easy way out to get his/her residency status in Australia....and I just felt that it was wrong to get into a relationship for the wrong reason. Relationship should be all about "love" and "caring", nothing else.

Spouse Visa is really for those who are in relationship for the long term. In fact, it should be a commitment for life. People should not take it lightly. Anyone who still unsure about his or her relationship. Spouse Visa is not really a good option. I really suggest people to navigate to other venue as well. Do not use Spouse Visa is an easy way out. There are many other visa categories available. They might need to consult their lawyer or registered migration agent.

Spouse Visa is a 2 years process. The couple still need to be in the relationship at least 2 years from the date of the lodgement of the application. If the relationship is real and genuine and if they still in relationship during that 2 years. Then it will be a happy ending. The visa applicant will get her PR status, to gain the right to live and stay in Australia indefinitely.

Australia is very dynamic country, we have lots of overseas students come over to study and sometime the romance starts while they attending school. As these young people fall in love in university and then want to stay together after their graduation. They really need to assess their relationship carefully. Most of the time, university student don't have a job. Financially not that stable, compare to those couples who are working in the workforce for long time. Usually, these university students, their relationship is really at an early stage. To jump into a Spouse Visa is big thing. It's a big commitment.

Whatever people choose to do, I am strongly suggest that they think carefully. Sit down together and talk it out before the make any decision. Well...it is not that I am discourage or anything. I am just think from mature & adult point of view. At the end of the day, it is all about their choice, but I just don't want anyone get hurt... :)

Interesting experience to share; new passport

I just came back from overseas trip with my family. My wife is an Australia PR and she doesn't want to get an Australian citizenship. She just get her new passport recently and have not link up her PR status into her new passport yet. Ooops....I am registered migration agent and didn't do this for my wife.....LOL. Guess that it would be just fine carrying both old & new passport when travel.

Aha... traveled out from Australia is OK. But once she wanted to checked in with Qantas on the way home. Qantas staff cannot issue her a boarding pass until her PR is linked up to the new passport which Qantas staff can get this done over the check-in counter easily. Just key in her detail electronically and send it to Canberra. Qantas staff advised us that, the waiting period is about 20-30 minutes which we didn't mind at all. We got plenty of time in our hand... :)

Surprisingly, Canberra get back to Qantas staff (either by fax or electronically  I am not sure) within 5 minutes which was quite fast.

The moral of story is "Always" update your new passport detail with the Department of Immigration before you travel, so you won't be stopped at the check-in counter at the airport... :)

visa application fee increase from 1 Jan 2013

Changes to visa pricing announced in October take effect from 1 January 2013. They include:

• Partner visas allowing for people already in Australia to enter or remain on the basis of their married or de facto relationship, to increase from $3060 to $3975
• Partner visas for people outside Australia who want to join their partner in Australia will increase $2060 to $2680
• Skilled Graduate visas to increase from $315 to $1250 for the highly-valued post-study work rights for people in Australia on a student visa
• The 457 temporary skilled worker visas to increase from $350 to $455
• Working Holiday maker visas will increase from $280 to $365.

Longer Tourist Visas for Parents of Australian Citizens & Permanent Residents

The proposed Longer Tourist visas for parents of Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents which was announced by the Minister on 4 September 2012 will probably be one of the changes to commence on 24 November 2012.

Towards the end of 2012, parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents will be able to apply for Tourist visas to visit Australia for longer.

Under this arrangement recently announced by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, the department will consider granting on a case-by-case basis:

• Tourist visas of up to five years' validity which provide a stay of up to 12 months on each entry to those parents who are outside Australia and are in the Parent (subclass 103) visa queue
• Tourist visas of up to three years' validity with 12 months' stay on each entry will be considered for parents who are outside Australia and are not in the Parent visa queue.

These changes will allow parents who meet the criteria for a Tourist visa to have regular extended visits with their family in Australia without needing to apply for a new visa on each visit.

Under these more flexible arrangements, in addition to meeting all other Tourist visa requirements, parents will be expected to hold health insurance to cover any healthcare costs during their stay and will have a visa condition limiting applications for further visas while they are in Australia.
Like all tourists, parents granted Tourist visas are expected to maintain extended periods of absence between visits to Australia.

The department is making changes to implement these arrangements by the end of 2012.