Pollyana

You should be able to just walk in and get it done there and then

roaringmouse

Have DIAC started to charge for having a visa label put into a passport, or is this still on their "to do" list?

Qantasflyer

Does anyone know if there are any implications travelling overseas whilst waiting for grant of the PR?

We have a few overseas trips planned for the next few months. Do I have to at least notify DIAC of my planned absences?

The provisional visa remains valid until the PR is granted, so I'd assume that all my SC 820 entitlements, including travel and re-entry, remain in place until grant. But does anyone know if there are any special provisions that I ought to be aware of once I'd lodged my 2nd stage documents?

roaringmouse

As you originally applied for your spouse visa on-shore, then you also need to be on-shore for the grant of PR. So yes, you should notify DIAC of your planned absences.

If the original spouse visa was granted off-shore, then the PR can be granted when the person is either on or off shore.

Prudi

I'm pretty sure the deal is that you just need to tell DIAC about your travel plans. I went overseas after lodging my second stage paperwork and sent them an e mail at the very last minute. I got an e mail and I think a text (I say "think" because it wasn't clear who the text was from) just to say that they acknowledged my e mail. I was concerned because I got back the day after I was eligible for PR, and I was worried that there might be some kind of issue with my temp visa being invalid, with the PR not yet active. All was fine, though.

Qantasflyer

Fab! Thanks both. We are traveling after my eligibility date - the first trip occurs 3 weeks after the eligibility date. Sounds like an email should suffice.

Qantasflyer

So i did my thrice daily check of VEVO (I'm not OCD I swear... oh, no...) - I see that my subclass 801 visa has been granted earlier today! Officially a Permanent Resident of Australia!!

Will come back in a year's time to bother you all when I start stressing about citizenship.

SillyOldBag

Congratulations, it's a great feeling isn't it! I've had my PR for over a year now but just haven't got the money to sort out citizenship yet. Hopefully I'll be able to sort it out for myself and my daughter later this year.

Pollyana

For anyone in the application process - DIAC have in the last week updated the Partner Booklet. Make sure you are using the current one as there are changes, though I haven't tracked them all down yet

One thats been picked up on Page 18, not been mentioned on here before as far as my cobweb ridden memory goes! - Australian registered de facto relationships are now recognised.

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/booklets/1127.pdf

Qantasflyer

Cheers! A great feeling indeed. Hopefully citizenship isn't prohibitively expensive. Really want to get all immigration related stuff over and done with, then I can finally relax knowing I'm safely out of DIAC's clutches and my stay in my adopted homeland is on 100% solid ground. Though am tempted to delay citizenship until we've had a chance to visit South America which features prominently on our travel wishlist for the next year or 2 as my Malaysian passport (dual nationality not allowed for Malaysian citizens) allows visa free access to most countries there, will be a fair bit cheaper getting visas for just one of us rather than both. But that's really a #firstworldproblem I suspect.

Potentially silly question - anyone knows if I still have to update DIAC whenever I move, get a new passport etc? Do I have to fill in Form 929 everytime? My current passport is running out of pages soon and I think visas are linked to specific passport numbers?

Once again thanks to everyone on here for all your helpful guidance and advice throughout the entire process. The wealth of info on here certainly made the entirely process felt easier!

Pollyana

Congrats

Once you have PR you never have to contact DIAC again unless you want to eg to get a RRV or citizenship

If you get a new passport you can either travel with both passports or get a new label in the old passport by simply going into a DIAC office. Otherwise you don't need to update them at all.

Qantasflyer

Fab! Thanks for that Pollyana!

Green Grass

Hi. My partner has just been granted her temporary spouse visa and I was wondering what relationship detail we need to retain between now and 2nd stage processing. Do they ask for joint bills, joint bank statements, photos etc with evidence thoughout the 2 year period (between application for temp visa and eligibility date for PR) or is it a much simpler process.

Thanks

Pollyana

Its a simpler process, but the evidence they ask for seems to vary from case to case. If you have been together for several years they seem to just ask for basic proof that you're still together - couples with a much shorter relationship seem to get asked for more evidence.
Work on the assumption that they'll want evidence of sharing a home, joint finances, and if you're apart for any length of time then you'll need to show how you've kept in touch

You should get the request just before the second anniversary of the application being filed with DIAC (thats filed, not when its granted )

Green Grass

Thanks Pollyana. For the 309 visa, they seemed to want proof for every month we lived together (we applied immediately after 12 months co-habitation). Will we need to do the same for the 2 years pre 2nd stage processing, or is it the level of proof less onerous?

GG