If I get my 139 visa,( still waiting for CO ..cough cough !!) I know to validate it properly all my family (partner/kids) must enter Australia with me...I was thinking of doing a 'reccie' though to help me get my electrical license before we emmigrated..To get my license I must first have a valid visa, so if I enter Australia alone on my visa on a reccie, will it cause problems for when I return with my family at a later date?

On the assumption that you are the main applicant for the 139:

1. You may validate your visa together with, or before everyone else in your family granted a 139.

2. You must validate your visa before the initial entry date.

3. Everyone else in your family who is granted a 139 must also validate before their own initial entry dates, be it when you validate, or after your validation trip.

Peter

John

It's my understanding that you all have to validate by the given date but that the primary applicant has to enter first. Didn't think you all had to enter together necessarily.

Lou
xx

I agree thats my understanding to. If not I'm buxxxed as the teenage daughter is wanting to follow us over once she has finished college.

Tracey

As Peter says, so long as you are the main applicant you can enter Australia prior to the rest of your family so long as you all enter at least once prior to the initial entry date on the visa. The only issue that could come up might be if your wife was the main applicant for the 139. If she was the one with the relative in Australia then even though you might have had the skills, she would be considered the main applicant and she would need to enter Australia before you do. This will be clearly stated on the visa stickers with wording something like "No entry before <main applicant name>" right on the visa. If you do have this condition then you will not be able to go with your plan.

Cheers,
Brian

Thanks for the replies..yes Im the main applicant so looks like I get a 'hol' in Australia!!