Riding on the coat-tails
Posted on Monday 1st February 2010
As you will all remember, I’ve been thinking about ways to remain in Australia at my discretion, rather than being beholden to the immigration department every couple of years. So far, my plan has always been to gain specialist status and then use that to request permanent residency on the grounds of being indispensable.
But, having talked to a few of my colleagues, it would seem that there is an easier way. Getting in under my own steam requires scoring enough “points”, based on a usefulness-vs-demand principle which is dependent on the fickleness of the assessor. So, instead, I’m going to use Regan’s citizenship as a springboard to apply for a spouse visa.
Most countries require that couples be married for this type of visa, but the advanced free-thinking society in Australia considers any co-habitation for more than 6 months as eligible for de-facto status. This means we get the same rights and recognition as a formal marriage without needing a certificate to prove it.
Of course, this isn’t going to be a walk in the park, and there is a plethora of forms to fill in. Then, we have to prove that we’re financially self-sufficient, and need character witness statements to confirm that I haven’t just stepped off a plane and am a con artist.
After all this, the visa is still temporary for 2 years, and which time they reassess us before conversion to permanency. However, it still beats the amount of hassle associated with an independent migrant visa.
It shouldn’t be at all difficult proving our relationship as were due to celebrate our 10th anniversary this year and have more paperwork with both our names on it than even a government department could cope with.
Righto, off to fill in some forms.
Getting married sounds easier… you only need the 1 bit of paper, and you get to have a drink afterwards!