Me Here

When you get your visa, does it have a reference number on it. Mine seems to have so many numbers I'm not sure which one is the correct reference number, if indeed it has one.

Also, has anyone managed to get the 2 year waiting period between temporary spouse visa and permanent spouse visa waived?

Thanks

moneypenny20

My spouse visa is a Permanent one. If you have been together for two years and more and have children, they are likely to give you PR. If you already have your visa, I don't think the temp status can be waived. It is something they automatically do when you apply depending on your circumstances.

JAJ

Visa number should begin with V, if that's any help.
Other than that, visit http://www.immi.gov.au - if you look hard enough (under information for employers) there's information on what all the numbers mean.

It doesn't happen other than in specified circumstances (eg death of a spouse). If you've reached the mark for being a 'long term relationship' since getting the temp visa, there is nothing stopping you applying for a spouse visa and then they will reassess you for the permanent visa before the 2 year period. However, it will cost you another full visa application fee.

Jeremy

mlbonner

Or 5 years with no children.

People have tried in the past without success to get the waiting period reduced/waived.

Trevglas

On a slightly similar vein, is there likely to be any change for the 2 years in australia as a permanent resident requirement for those who entered initially on a spouse provisional visa?

edit

sorry to be vague, I mean the 2 year period in Australia that is required to qualify for citizenship. Currently, the period spent here on a provisional visa does not count

mlbonner

Haven't heard of anything!

bondipom

Tried and failed when I met the requirements whilst in Australia on the temp spouse visa. When I applied initially in the UK we were under the 5 years.

Big Galah

Called DIMIA today about this very thing - a temporary spouse visa is a bit of a problem in the ACT when applying for IT-related jobs as nearly all such jobs are in some way related to government departments/agencies and in a lot of cases require permanent residence as a minimum - if not citizenship - even for contractors.

As our baby was born a couple of weeks ago here I wanted to know if I now qualified for PR immediately (as I would if we were outside Australia having lived with my partner 2+ years) but they said as I was here already on a temp visa I couldn't 'upgrade' it due to this change in circumstances.

Someone has said I could apply for a PR visa here separately, but presumably that would involve going through the whole process again - something I'd rather not do twice in nine months.

Big.

wmoore

I'm sure there was something from JAJ recently saying the rules were changing so that you could use 1 year from any temporary visa towards the 2 year mark. If I find it I'll stick a link up (or if I wait long enough, somebody else will find it and do it for me ).

wmoore

Damn. Had to go and find it myself

Australian Citizenship Reforms

JAJ

This is correct. You should be able to reapply for a spouse visa and be reassessed against the 'long term relationship' criteria again.

It does involve 'going through the process' twice but it will save you the hassle in two years time when DIMIA would otherwise come back to assess you for the perm visa.

The more important question is the application fee which you would have to pay again. It is your choice in the matter.

Jeremy

Pollyana

Don't know why but I can't get your link to work.......is this the same thread (I knew it was there somewhere buthad some housework to do before I could go looking...us spouse visa holders have to earn our keep )

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=240972

wmoore

Yep that's it. Had a 'link overboard' situation there but fixed it now

Trevglas

Thanks for that:

The 2 year provisional stint with many spouse visa's is a real pain: it prevented me from getting at least one permanent position here, since the likelyhood of me getting citizenship at the time was probably 4 years off: the department in question told me they could have waited 2 years, but 4 was out of the question.

It also helps with my current position: I work for an o/seas based company, and maybe spend 1/3 of the year outside of australia, which again makes the day I clock up 2 years PR in australia seem way off in the distance

JAJ

Although DIMIA normally just look at 'plain vanilla' physical presence, there is scope for some flexibility on the residence requirement if you are plainly *living* in Australia and travelling on business overseas.

When you've got 2 years as a PR (excluding vacations overseas) it's probably worth applying for citizenship anyway. With a supporting letter from your employer.

The worst that can happen is that you will be refused and will need to apply again later on. Although the application fee is not refundable, there is a concession in that if you are refused for solely for not meeting the residence requirement, you do not need to pay the fee again if you apply within 3 months of becoming residentially entitled.

It would be worth talking to a migration agent with experience in citizenship matters (not all agents know a lot about this area so choose well).

Jeremy