Immigration and laziness
Posted on March 6, 2007
Filed Under Australia - The land down under, Irony Anyone? |
A couple of weeks ago, I received a call from my immigration agent at DIMIA (The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) here in Australia.
She seemed a tad surprised and amused by the gross lack of evidence (of my marriage) sent with my application for PR. (Permanent residence) We chatted for a few minutes on the phone while she gave me some helpful hints on what exactly constituted “evidence.” I bantered with Brian as well, asking “Do we have this?” and “Am I on that?”
Byt the end of the conversation, she was convinced that we were in fact, a “real” couple but still needed some proof to offer a supervisor in the event of an inquiry.
The most important thing was the fact that, though I put my maiden name on my Australian police check, they had failed to include it on the clearance. So I called them back and asked for it to be reissued. I was told that they would send the request to the proper department and they would check that I had indeed included my maiden name, then call me back to let me know if they would be reissuing the document or if I had to apply again (Another $60.) A week later with still no response I called back, only to be told they had a computer failure and that they would have to start the process again. Thankfully, the gentleman I spoke to was competent and called me back within 10 minutes to let me know that I HAD included my maiden name and that he was sending the new clearance. WHEW!
Now, it may have seemed that I was lazy or lackidaisical about the application in the first place but I assure you, I was not. It was simply that I couldn’t think of anything else to send. You see, this was part THREE of my application.
Firstly, when I applied for my prospective spouse visa - having to prove relationship in the first place.
Second, the spouse visa, after marriage here in Australia - having to prove the marriage and ongoing relationship.
Lastly, The PR Visa where you have to prove…. everything above…again… with new things.
When I moved here, Brian already had a house set up. Bills, insurances, the mortgage were all in his name. Not much point in changing that - they just charge you for it! Also, I had used our joint bank account twice before - no good.
So here were the agents suggestions and what I provided as proof of continuing relationship.
1. Brian’s tax return stating me as his spouse and claiming my income.
2. Our mortgage agreement stating 2 adults live here (Because I don’t have PR , I cannot be named on the mortgage, nice twist, huh?)
3. Our car insurance listing me as a driver.
4. The amended police clearance.
5. A Family Allowance receipt that lists my kids as Brian’s dependants.
6. A statement from the bank, giving the length of time that we have held a joint account. (Same but different 
)
7. Some Christmas cards that fortunately were addressed to the whole family by name (and in some cases dogs too.)
8. Photos of us and the kids ranging from 2003 - present. There are 2 great photos of just the 4 kids, one in 2004 and one taken a few weeks ago that show the difference in ages immensely! Here they are.
So there you have it… all the proof I can find on paper that Brian and I are still together and happily married. All of this after a 5 minute conversation proved the exact same thing.
I’m off to the post office.
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You STILL don’t have PR? Takes ages in Ozzieland, huh? They should do it the Canadian way, much quicker.
Does Stephen already have PR? How does it work in Cananda?
As soon as I landed. The whole thing was completed through the application process in England (took about six months) so when the girls and I arrived we went straight to immigration at the airport handed over our immigration visa’s and immediately had our permanent resident status.
Oh, and we get to apply for citizenship this september.
Wow! That’s so much easier! Even the people who come over on a spouse visa (as opposed to a prospective spouse visa) have to wait 2 years for Permanent Residency and another 2 for citizenship. Although that’s changed now. The new legislation says you must live in Australia for a minimum of 4 years (the last 12 months solid) before applying for citizenship. The bonus for spouses though, is that they now take into account the years spent here on temporary visas whereas before they only counted the years on PR. This means that I should be able to take citizenship sometime next April (assuming my PR comes in sometime in the next few weeks, which it should as I’ve fulfilled all of the requirements as of Monday.)
SO much red tape here!
[…] Recently, I wrote a blog about my visa application progress. (Seen here) It’s been 13 days since sending off the last of my documentation and today the postman rang. […]
[…] of life “down under” « Parents should have their heads examined… I still call Australia home March 20th, 2007 Recently, I wrote a blog about my visa application progress. (Seen here) It’sbeen 13 days since sending off the last of my documentation and today the postman rang. […]