D2d

My friend's 5 year PR visa is expiring in 2 months (Dec 2020). He is offshore and has been unable to move to Australia this year due to Covid (flights are few and far between and cost a fortune, in addition to restrictions).
He has not lived in Australia for more than 2 weeks in the last 5 years due to a job overseas, and was planning to move over in the last year of his PR which was this year until Covid messed up his plans.

Any advice so that he does not lose his PR?
Is the dept of immi showing any leniency in this case to extend the PR?

quoll

Hate to say it, but why would you expect Immigration to be lenient towards someone who couldn’t be bothered to make the move? COVID is a convenient excuse but he could have moved any time within the 4 yrs 6 months he had leading up to the situation being very tricky. Messages were writ loud and clear even back in March - when there were flights! Even now, if he were that determined he could get in before December if he was prepared to fork out for a 1sr class fare and pay for quarantine . But otherwise he’s quite at liberty to apply for another visa when this one expires, perhaps closer to when he’s prepared to actually make the move.

TeeTMI

Currently Immigration are stating:
"If you can’t return to Australia before your current visa expires you will need to apply for a new visa once the travel restrictions are lifted. Visa expiry dates can’t be extended. "
Depending upon the circumstances if he was to loose his PR there may be an option, for a person who had held PR and had since lost it, which would be considered on a case by case basis. However, with only 2 weeks in Australia during the 5 years of his PR visa, depending upon the circumstances, it may be difficult to meet the criteria?

D2d

Thanks TeeTMI, he has been advised to apply for a resident return visa which will be looked at on a case by case basis since he does not meet the criteria of having ties to Australia. Unfortunately they do not offer extensions on PR visas per se, this is usually in the form of a RRV it seems.

D2d

Not that simple, people have complex reasons for not being able to move over an entire family, let alone Covid happening unexpectedly in the 5th year of the visa. But I understand your point, let's see how they go with the RRV.

Paul Hand

If he really has no substantial ties to Australia, then the best he will manage is a three month RRV if he has compassionate and compelling reasons for his absence. So, he needs to be mindful of that eventuality.