astera

I take it "Last Date to Arrive" is the 5-yr time-frame that they expect one to become a citizen?

So what happens after that if you don't meet the requirements yet, what are the options? Cannot leave Australia without a bridge-type visa to extend the time? Any other long-term solution to maintain PR status or is it "become a citizen or you'll revert to being a tourist the next time you leave?"

Pollyana

You apply for a Resident Return Visa

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Reside...Visa-Australia

NickyC

You get an RRV:

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Reside...Visa-Australia

Pollyana

Snap

Brisbane bound

May I just pop in on this chat please.
What happens if you don't apply for it though? So you leave Australia. Can you apply for an RRV from outside of Australia?

I ask because myself and my defacto are splitting up. He is booking his one way flight early next week. I am buying him out and staying here. He is returning to Ireland. Our RRV has expired. Will he be able to apply for an RRV in time to come from outside of Australia? Or must he get one beofore he leaves? Will his PR just lapse in time if he doesn't get one?? Can he just return on a tourist visa? What's the story on it?

Incidentally, he doesn't know any of this. He has no idea yet, that once he leaves, he can't get back without this RRV and I shan't be enlihghtening him!

I only ask out of curiosity. He will still have his current a/c here with funds. I doubt he will ever want to come back (to Australia) but what if?

commonwealth

oh dont be too nasty. i know the breakup could be bad exp but at least tell about these rrv issues.

louie

Yes.

Pollyana

Under certain circumstances he can apply from offshore - depends on what links he can show to Australia, how long as has been away etc. If you browse recent threads on here you'll see a lot of discussion between people who have applied offshore and been granted RRVs.
If he returns on a tourist visa then that effectively will cancel his PR and then he can't get a RRV, as it needs to be "attached" to a PR visa.

Brisbane bound

Thank you all.
That's great, if he can apply from offshore. He's leaving next week so no time for applying beforehand.

JAJ

If he has 2 years residence (as a PR) in the last 5 years, he can get a 5 year RRV over the counter at a DIAC office.

astera

"5 year absence rule" is applied differently if you apply onshore or offshore.
- If offshore, and you have continually held a permanent visa, you are ok provided no more than 5 years has passed since most recent departure from Australia. For this purpose, short visits to Australia are ok.

Hmm, so if you leave Australia just before the PR/100 visa expires in 2018 for example (I take it the expiry date is the "last date to arrive" listed), then you can apply offshore for the 1yr RRV up until 2023? And if it goes through then you can come back and reside in Australia?

Pollyana

I would hate to hazard a guess at the rules that far ahead. Anything could happen to RRV rules between now and 2023!

The PR doesn't expire, by the way. What expires is the ability to re-enter Aus on that visa. The RRV provides permission to return and take up residence. Your right to live here permanently remains, its just a case of getting permission to come back once you've left.

astera

Oh I see, and I take it an e-visitor cannot be granted afterwards or if it can it will somehow wipe out the PR visa in the process?

Pollyana

If a visitor visa/evisitor etc is granted it cancels out any other visa - including PR - as you can only hold one visa at a time.

astera

Right, and then reinstating the PR visa would mean going through that process all over again?

Is there a way to keep prolonging the right to return as PR, maybe visiting Australia annually and getting the onshore concessional 1 year RRV each time?