Pollyana

Spouse visas offshore have gone up horribly in the last few years and are nw as expensive as onshore.
If she enters on a student visa (assuming she gets the course lined up and meets all the requirements) then she can certainly apply onshore for a Spouse Visa but the cost will be the same - plus she will already have forked out for the student visa and associated costs with getting that. So more expensive in the long run, but it would mean she could apply from Aus instead of offshore.

ando88

Okay thanks for that. It's a pity the spouse visa has gone up so much in price. This will surely make it difficult for many Australians who don't have 7k lying around. I understand the need for heavy scrutiny in these situations, but the price is a right smack in the face to the Australians who have spouses who are not.

The student visa may be the better option as it is, and we can cross the residency later down the road

Pollyana

The price has been steadily going up over the last few years, bo-one likes it but we have to pay it. Its still cheaper and easier than many countries, such as the UK.

Bermudashorts

Getting a student visa first seems to be just adding to the expense overall. Not just the student visa, but the cost of studying which would be considerable for an international student. In the meantime the cost of spouse visa only going t increase. I would bite the bullet.

ando88

Good information. Would she be able to get commonwealth support as an Australian resident, or would it just mean we will need to pay domestic tuition fee instead of the International fees?

ando88

Also we want to put away any reasonable doubt about her rights having been born there in 93'. Her dad worked for 6 years there, but he was not a permanent resident. But by being born there, is there a process of naturalisation or is that for years spent before turning 18 years old?

msmyrtle

If she was in Australia for the first 10 years of her life, then possibly she might eligible for citizenship. How long was she in Australia?

ando88

Probably no longer than 1-2 years.

msmyrtle

My understanding:

Student visa
-International fees

Permanent resident
-domestic fees
-eligible for commonwealth supported place
-not eligible for HECS

Citizen
-domestic fees
-eligible for commonwealth supported place
-eligible for HECS

msmyrtle

I wouldn't think she is eligible for citizenship by birth if she was only in Aus for 2 years. The threshold is the first ten years of the child's life.

Bermudashorts

If she is there on a student visa, then she is by definition an international student. International students pay international fees and there is no help.


Being born in Australia does not make one a citizen, I think it did at one point in the past but not sure how long ago it changed.

msmyrtle

People born in Australia prior to 20 August 1986 were automatically citizens at birth. People born on or after that date require at least one parent to be a Permanent Resident (or Citizen) to receive Australian citizenship at birth.

ando88

Thanks for the clarification everybody. Looks like we will go for Spouse visa off the bat then

BritInParis

Short (financial) term pain for long term gain.

ando88