lammetje

Does this mean it is possible?

www.immi.gov.au/extend/permanent-spf.htm

Just make sure the "No further stay" condition (8503,8534 and 8535) is not on the holiday visa?

hmmm, can it really be that simple?

JAJ

If he has an ETA eligible passport then he normally doesn't need a normal tourist visa.

Wrong! They're people who are entering as tourists when they plan to stay longer, whether they have an ETA or regular tourist visa is irrelevant.

Jeremu

JAJ

Simple? Well maybe if you run the risk of getting refused entry on arrival in Australia, then make sure you apply for a new visa while still legal (big mess otherwise), and also make sure you understand the limitations of tourist visa status which you're stuck on until the onshore application is decided.

Which may not be quick.

So for example, it's no work and possibly no medicare coverage.

And then you have all the issues on bridging visas and the need to apply for special permission every time you want to leave Australia before your visa is approved (and abide by such permission to the letter).

Jeremy

podgypossum

Jeremy, once i had submitted my PR application, i was granted an interim medicare card. I was then entitled to the same medicare as everyone else. I even had an operation in hospital and also saw specialist consultants on the same basis as normal residents.

When my father in law was dying in NZ, i still hadnt been granted PR, but was told by the manager at ASPC, that all i had to do to get a bridging visa was go to their office (i live in Adelaide) and get a bridging visa over the counter.

I was not allowed to work though, until visa was granted.

Badge

The anectodal evidence and legal situation points to you CAN go on an ETA and then apply...BUT BUT BUT (my analysis)

poker face!!!

...don't go in the queue with your partner like JayDee..

...stick to a story you are a visitor, plan that you aren't planning to stay - at this point the case may be that you weren't even engaged...

..you then need luck and an agent who is not scrutinising..millions of tourists arrive every year remember..

PP, there is nothing wrong with arriving on an ETA and saying that in your PR app - because you may not have planned to engage or marry when you were a genuine visitor..whose is to say *when* you comitted to each other?

BM

lammetje

I agree with you Badge!

But, knowing what I know now, I would not recommend to anyone to do it this way, but advice them to try other ways to get the visa offshore first. That's completely legal and also, you can get a visa in one day if you visit Berlin and it is $ 500,- cheaper.

I'm still going through my options... I like the legal way better

Yes, Dimia told us it's no problem putting in your PR that you arrived on an tourist visum. On a tourist visum, it is allowed to go offshore and come back 3 times, a total of 12 months. You might not have planned to stay, but things can change.

wmoore

I didn't think you could get a WHV if married ??

JAJ

Yes you can get a WHV if married. Although this also requires that you intend to leave Australia at the end of the visit, it's a little more flexible in that people who just want to 'check out Australia' can come and then switch to a spouse visa onshore if they like it. And make up their minds to stay _after_ arriving.

Wmoore - you may be confused with the rule that says that spouses must qualify for WHVs independently if they both want to visit Australia. And that you can't have one if you've got dependent children.

Jeremy

wmoore

That must have been it. Cheers.

lammetje

Podgypossum was right, no problems at all!

jaf

Hiya!

I came in on ETA - I was pulled over at the airport and asked a few Q's but just said I was visiting my folks (which I was!). I started the visa process through an agent from here and they arranged a bridging visa after the three months with no probs - didn't have to do a thing! Good luck