renewing PR visas?
 

G'day,

Just wondering whether anyone knows the process of renewing PR visas. It runs out in November and just wondering what the process is here in Oz. When we went to NZ for hols, immigration there said that we could just renew it for another 5 years...should we get an extension on our PR visa or get a RRV :confused:

I have been to Australian Immigration Dept before who were very rude and unhelpful last time and I don't want to wait in line for some wishywashy answer from some idiot who knows less English than some Chinese hermit.

So far we haven't accumulated the min 2years to get our Citizenship - have about 12 months ago (as we have been in and out the country before making the big move).

If we get another 5 year PR visa, do we start from scratch on the min of 2 years required to get Citizenship?? Please not....!!!

Does Citizenship cost you??? Like most things in Oz, I gather it does??

So many questions, but people on here are more helpful than at Oz Immi!!

Thanks,

Piers

Re: renewing PR visas?
 

Piers

Citizenship costs the same as a RRV (Resident Return Visa) $120.

I think you have no choice but to queue up for the RRV. I am going for citizenship myself soon, rather than getting another RRV, as I hate the thought of applying for it again.

Can you extend a PR Visa ? other than getting an RRV ?


RRV - http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/ostravel1.htm

Citizenship - http://www.citizenship.gov.au/faq.htm

Re: renewing PR visas?
 

Here's some information I got from the very helpful immigration website:

PR visas last up to five years from the date of grant. After the initial visa has expired, if you wish to continue to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident, you must obtain a Resident Return Visa (RRV).

You may be eligible for grant of Australian citizenship if you:

• are a permanent resident of Australia;
• have been present in Australia as a permanent resident for a total of at least two years in the last five, and a total of at least twelve months in the last two years;
• are able to speak and understand basic English;
• understand the privileges and responsibilities of Australian citizenship;
• are of good character; and
• intend to reside in Australia or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia.

A fee must be paid before a citizenship application can be considered, and there is no scope to waive this fee. The current fee is $120 and it has been in place since January 1998. However, a concession fee of $20 is available to applicants who have a permanent financial disadvantage and are recipients of certain pensions from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Exemptions

There are two categories of applicants who are exempt from paying the fee.

These are:

• Persons who have served in the Australian Defence Force for a period of at least 3 months; and
• Former British child migrants who arrived in Australia under the British Child Migrant Scheme between 22 September 1947 and 31 December 1967.

Re: renewing PR visas?
 

you mean in monetary terms?
It's not that much.
Around $100 I recall.. which you submit with your application ( I submitted my payment online, along with the form) . I can't remember the exact amount I paid, but it was not expensive, and I think it was around $100. The fees are listed on their site.. I can't download the forms to look at the current costs ( I'm blocking them with my zonealarm) .

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i.htm

Can't answer you about renewing your PR visa .. I've never done it. Didn't think you could renew a PR visa for the reason of that travel expiry date.. You just get a return visa when you want to travel in and out of the country, after the expiry date. I got citizenship way before my PR multiple travel date ran out... so can not answer you on that one.

Have you tried phoning the immigration department instead of going there.. mind you last time I phoned them, I had terrible trouble getting through.. lines were always busy.

cheers

Re: renewing PR visas?
 

You can't extend a PR visa. You need to make sure that:

- you are in Australia (physically) when the time limit is up
- you don't step outside the country, not even for a holiday, after that point without an RRV.

Once you get to the 730 days mark point you can get a 5 year RRV over the counter at a DIMIA office for AUD120.

Before that point you *might* be able to get an RRV on concessional grounds as if you're *living* in Australia you should be able to show the necessary 'substantial ties'. However I'd get some professional advice on this (and it won't help you get citizenship sooner - rules are different).

I'd take a look at form 968i:
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/968i.pdf

No you don't start from scratch. See the requirements at the citizenship website http://www.citizenship.gov.au


It does cost you - AUD120 per adult (aged 16+). Children under 16 can be incuded for free.

The cost of naturalising in Australia is less than in many other countries, such as the UK.

Since 1 July 2002, the cost of a Resident Return Visa has been pegged to the same amount as a citizenship application (AUD120), to prevent long resident PRs continually preferring RRVs for financial reasons.

Jeremy

Re: renewing PR visas?
 

Thanks guys,

I think that answers most of my queries.

NZ immigration lady said we would be able to 'extend' our PR visa - I guess she just meant get a 5 year RRV.

http://www.citizenship.gov.au - just checked on there and it seems they subtract any amount of time you are out of the country even for a short 3 week holiday!!! Does this mean we have to be in Oz for a full 12 month consecutive period in order to get our citizenship??? No foreign hols for a full year then??? :eek:

Piers

Re: renewing PR visas?
 

No, don't worry, you can still have holidays, but I think you must have at least 365 days in a 2 year period.

To apply for Australian citizenship you would need to have been in Australia for at least 2 years as a permanent resident in the last five years. This time must include a total of twelve months in the two years immediately before making your citizenship application. The twelve months does not need to be continuous.

Re: renewing PR visas?
 

Link to relevant site: 6 steps to Citizenship

You need to have lived in Australia as a permanent resident for 2 years at the time you apply for Citizenship; including at least 12 months in the last 24 months.

If you've only lived in Australia for 1 year then you have another year to go before you can apply.

Similarly, to get a 5 year RRV you must have lived in Australia as a permanent resident for at least 2 of the last 5 years.

If you have lived in Australia as a PR for less than 2 years, I am fairly sure that the only option available to you is a 3 month RRV.

DIMIA state "to be eligible for a five year RRV:

you must be lawfully present in Australia for a total of at least 2 years in the 5 years immediately before lodging the application for the visa, or
you must have substantial and beneficial business, cultural, employment or personal ties to Australia and compelling reasons if you have been absent from Australia for more than 5 years....

If you are unable to meet the RRV requirements in your own right, but you are a member of the family unit of a person who holds an RRV, you may be granted an RRV with the same validity period as the family head's RRV."

Re: renewing PR visas?
 

If you read the rules you'll see that the 'substantial ties' requirement is an *alternative* to the 2/5 residence requirement.

It's quite possible for someone who is *living* in Australia to get an RRV on this basis, although they would need to present their application properly.

And applying for such an RRV does carry the risk of getting a 3 month RRV which would override whatever PR visa you have (if that visa had more than thee months remaining you'd be worse off than before).

Professional advice in these circumstances can add a lot of value.

Jeremy

Re: renewing PR visas?
 

I'll agree with getting advice. I went through getting an RRV again, after it ran out while I was out of the country !! I got back in on an electronic holiday visa :) and applied for the RRV when I was back here.

I did it myself, but it was a pain, and came close to not getting it. And my "substantial ties" were:
An Australian Wife, in full time employ of Australian Government.
An Australian daughter, under 10 years old
A House in Australia.

Imagine the difficulties, without that lot to help the application !! :)