Monday 2 May 2011

Some useful tips for filling out a Visa application and in particular a 309.

Well we've finally completed the last stage of our 309 visa application and we've learnt a few things on the way. Here's a few tips which will speed up the process quite a bit. This applies for a 309 and will also account for many other types.
  • Complete your Police checks before the application as this can take up to three weeks.
  • Book your medical asap. Don't listen to them when they say 'you can can an appointment next day.'
  • Gather evidence if you're doing a 309 partner visa. Make sure this at least covers every three months you've been together. Otherwise you're going to get the embassy requesting more info constantly.
  • The best evidence is official documents. I.E. council tax, banks statements, mortgage statements. They do not seem to take account of less formal evidence, such as photos etc...
  • The Australian embassy doesn't accept documents certified by civil servants. Here is a good link http://www.uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/certification.html
  • The visa only lasts 12 months from the time you have your medical or police check. Whichever comes first.
Oh and one thing more, don't pay some agent to complete this for you. Waste of money. It's really not that hard. Just make sure you read everything over a couple of times. This is essential. I'm a business travel consultant and I could slap myself for not reading the application thoroughly!!!!

Monday 25 April 2011

Past to present and a little on the 309 Partner Visa.

I’m a regular Aussie bloke that’s had the travelling bug ever since I can remember. I always wanted to get away and see the places that my folks and Grandparents always banged on about. I think growing up as a first generation Aussie does that to you, well it definitely did in my family. One occasion sitting with my Grandfather whilst he flipped through his note book has particularly stuck with me over the years. He was a Royal Engineer in the UK forces and got to see things that most people of that day and age would only dream about, he was so enthusiastic and I was hooked! I wanted and needed to travel, nothing was going to hold me back. So after finishing my VCE (Australia’s final school year) I packed my bags on an adventure to the Motherland – the UK. I was not disappointed and I loved every minute of the year I spent both in the UK and in Western Europe.

The year went too fast and it wasn’t long till I was off travelling again, back home again and then travelling again. It is on my last travels with one of my best mates that I ended up back in the UK.  I Stayed when I thought I wouldn’t, met a girl, we bought a house, we’re getting married and we’ve decided to pack it all in and go back to my homeland, Australia, later in the year.

Tina's a UK national which is one of the reasons I decided to do this blog. Finding out what visa's we needed was a nightmare. As we weren't married when we started the process we found out that we needed to start applying for a 'Partner temporary visa (subclass 309).' This visa is basically for anyone of Australian citizenship who is going to bring a partner back with them. It turns out it's quite a process! I will expand further on this in my next post. But for now, one point which I would suggest to anyone even contemplating the move is keep hold of every document that has both your full names on over the past two or so years. i.e. like travel itineraries, bank statements, council tax etc... Sort them into the months and keep them in a file. Believe me this is a life saver!

Wednesday 20 April 2011

The first post of many........we hope.

Whilst sitting on the thinking throne, probably the best place to let the ideas flow. I decided it would be a good idea to start a blog about our upcoming move to Australia and to also keep the blog going whilst we’re out there. I know I know, ‘just another blog’ I hear you say, but I’m hoping that this one will provide an insight into what it takes to make the move to Australia from the UK and hopefully someone out there will find this useful. I’ve trawled through loads of web pages, blogs and videos trying to find out the details I needed. And I'm going to list a whole load of resources you can use. One really good site I've found so far is the Poms in Oz forum, it's quite simply awesome.  I’m also going to go through some of the reasons we are making the move on a personal level. So sit tight this could be the start of something beautiful.




                       Ah the mighty thinking throne! Oh ye shall be missed.