tofster

Hi Folks,
New to this, so please bear with us while we learn to drive this thing.
We are currently "mid application" thru' an agent and can only get in on SIR visa. Wife is the applicant (primary school teacher). Anyone know what the chances of permanent residency are after initial 2 year period on SIR ?. We don't know whether to sell or rent out our UK house in case we get booted out of Oz after 2 year SIR visa period.
Any advice greatly appreciated. We are looking at Geelong, Vic.
Cheers.

Dianne

Hi, we are In Geelong on an SIR visa (been here since Jan). We are getting conflicting info re what happens after the qualifying period but the last I heard from DIMIA is that you have to apply for another visa, 3 of which you get concessions for (and reduced charges):
- Regional Sponosred Migration Scheme (sponsored by an employer)
- State/Territory Nominated Independent
- State/ Territory Sponsored Business Owner

Check out the following link
> http://www.immi.gov.au/migration/ski...prpathways.htm

tofster

Thanks Dianne,
What's it like in Geelong ?
Regards
Peter

Ozzidoc

Lots of info about Geelong generally here...

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...hlight=geelong

mand8002

I came on a student visa and we decided that we would not sell our house as if I wasn't allowed to stay then we would need something to go back to. As it happens I now have PR (long story) so we now have the house on the market.

Dianne

Depends what you're after, its close to some great beaches, only about an hour from melbourne, has one or two bars (not many) so most entertaining is in peoples houses. It seems to go from surburbia to rural but has most things you would need in a fairly small space. Weather , as in most of Victoria, is very changeable so you feel right at home!

So far people have been very friendly and helpful. There is also a growing expat community so there will be plenty of people to give you help and advice once you get here. The only negative thing I would say is that the job situation is not great so depending on what you do you could be looking for work longer than you think - make sure you can fund yourself for at least 6 months.

tofster

Thanks for that - we also are in limbo ref selling/renting the house. (that said, we aren't in to Oz yet !!)
Would appreciate some feedback regarding process from arrival on SIR to permanent residency - timescales/applications etc..

Regards
Peter

Bix

I doubt that is correct.
You could probably have qualified for a sponsored visa but of course would have needed to find a sponsor and that is not easy but doable.
For example the RSMS visa is a sponsored PR visa.

tofster

Thanks for the info.
Wife is primary teacher so I guess we would need sponsorship from a school - not so easy??
Whats an RSMS?

Cheers
Peter

Wendy

It's Regional Sponsered Migration Scheme, but will be a temporary visa from 1st July.

If you are going to go down that route then you would be better with ENS - Employer Nominated Scheme, which is a permanent visa.

You can read about it here

raven

WE ARE GOING ON THE SAME VISA SO LONG AS YOU WORK FOR1 YEAR OF THE 2 YEAR PERIOD U WILL GET YOUR PERM VISA AND ANYHOW POSSESSION IS 9 TENTHS OF THE LAW CANNOT SEE THEM KICKING US OUT AFTER 2 YEARS IF WE ARE WORKING AND PAYING TAXES
RAVEN

tofster

Good Shout, my sentiments entirely.
Thanks for the input.
Cheers
Peter

JAJ

RSMS is not going to be a temporary visa from 1 July.

There's confusion here I think, because the one that is likely becoming temporary (for new applicants) is Skilled Designated Area Sponsored.

Different visas, different rules.