| Welcome to Yanks Down Under! You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customising your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
| On Shore Spouse/Family aka Roller Coaster Ride | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Mar 9 2010, 09:48:35 AM (765 Views) | |
| AmbroseChick | Mar 9 2010, 09:48:35 AM Post #1 |
True Blue Mate
|
Hi everyone - I'm a newbie here. I just thought I would share my story in the hope that it may save another family the shock and disappointments that we've had during our immigration process. My husband (the Aussie) and I (the Yank) have been married for 12 years. During the 12 years of our marriage we have lived over in the US. Around March last year we decided to move to Australia. I have been a stay at home mom during the last 10 years and my husband has been the sole financial provider for not only myself and our shared child but also for my 2 children from my previous marriage. My older daughter who will be 20 soon did not want to move to Australia so she is still back in the US. My other son will be 17 in April. After visiting the Australian immigration web site and doing a lot of reading and researching we decided that it would be best for planning and for the boys if we did an onshore application - we could then determine when we were moving, etc. and I wanted to move during the Australian school holidays. It was a bit more expensive but we thought it was worth it. So we arrived in December on our visitor visas and waited until after the Christmas holidays to lodge our application. The people at the immigration office were fantastic. We had done a lot of the paperwork before we left the US so we had all of the FBI checks done and the local state checks done. We had our family statements done. We were organized and ready to go. The immigration agent advised us not to do anything with our health checks until we heard from the immigration agent who would be handling our application. We left that office feeling pretty good. This was definitely a short lived feeling. The kids were pretty excited about starting school. Prior to leaving the US I had done a lot of research on schools as my older son is very musically inclined and we were in a nationally recognized music program. We knew it would be hard to duplicate that experience here in Australia but we found a state school that had a solid program. Of course the school offices did not open until the Friday before school began. We went in with our eldest son's school records, etc. to sign him up for school. This is when the troubles began. Even though we were legally in Australia, the state of Queensland does not recognize families who are on bridging visas. If a student is on a bridge visa they are considered to be an international student and thus subject to the fees of an international student. Had we moved 50 minutes further south into the state of New South Wales, this would not be an issue as NSW recognizes families who are in process of their immigration application. The international student fees in Queensland are $250 PER WEEK. Immigration had already told us that our immigration application could take anywhere from 6 to 8 months! We were completely devastated. As an American it was difficult to fathom that you could legally be in a country but the state government did not have to recognize that and in fact penalize us for it. We had a very stressful weekend as we contemplated what our options were - 1st option: we could send our son back to the US to live with a father who was financially and physically incapable of caring for him; 2nd option: we could break our lease (lose all of our deposits, etc. plus the expense of moving less then 2 months after we arrived) and move to NSW; 3rd option: we could all go back to the US. We didn't know what to do. I went to church on that Sunday feeling like my world was just collapsing. I thought we had done everything right and we did not expect this at all. I felt so angry because I naively believed that if we were in the country legally then that would be enough for any government agency. I spoke to our Pastor and he recommended that I speak to a member of our congregation who is the Head of a local private school - hoping that she might know of some loophole that our family wasn't aware of. I spoke with her after church and she was so kind. In the end, her college offered my son a scholarship to attend school at their college. It was a cheaper option then sending him to "public" state school on the international student fees. I appreciate the school more then you know but its still been a struggle to even pay what they require as you are all aware - the cost of living in the Australia is so much higher then it is in America. Plus because of our immigration status of the "bridge" visa, I am still unable to work to assist with these unexpected expenses. So in the end - it did work out for us but if I can make any recommendation to anyone who is thinking of emigrating to Australia - please check out the situation with schools. This is part one of the story... part two of the story will come later. We are now into 2 months into our immigration process and we are still waiting... I'm simply amazed at the complexity and difficulty of this process given that when my husband emigrated to the US, his residency was granted in 2 weeks. |
| Check it out! Facebook page: Americans Living in Queensland | |
 |
 
|
| blarg | Mar 9 2010, 12:45:18 PM Post #2 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
I can't help with the schooling aspect, but if you're interested in being able to work while they're still processing your application, you can file a Form 1005 to amend the conditions on your bridging visa to give you permission to work. You basically are claiming that you have financial hardship and need to work, and that you don't need the main visa sooner, but you do need the ability to work while they take their sweet time processing the application. |
|
|
|
| AmbroseChick | Mar 9 2010, 01:26:18 PM Post #3 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
Wow - awesome - I had no idea. We went into immigration to ask if there was anything they could do to help us and they basically said no... if it weren't for this school "thing" in Queensland we would be doing okay! |
| Check it out! Facebook page: Americans Living in Queensland | |
|
|
|
| AmbroseChick | Mar 9 2010, 01:33:07 PM Post #4 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
By the way Blarg - I lived just 45 minutes north of Portland, OR 
|
| Check it out! Facebook page: Americans Living in Queensland | |
|
|
|
| CheekyOne | Mar 9 2010, 03:19:08 PM Post #5 |
True Blue Mate
|
Hey Ambrose Chick I had the same problem with my twins while I waited for my spouse visa to be approved here in Brisbane.I ended up enrolling them in a catholic school instead and paid 200 a month for the both which as you know i'm sure was a HUGE savings over what public would have cost me. Michelle |
|
| |
|
|
|
| AmbroseChick | Mar 9 2010, 03:59:55 PM Post #6 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
Ah well... private school for my son isn't nearly that affordable! Maybe because he's in Grade 11? I just wish I had known - I had time to do an offshore VISA but took convenience instead - I definitely would have made other choices and the most likely choice would have been to avoid QLD altogether. I guess the main point of my post was to make other people aware as we went into the situation very clueless! 
|
| Check it out! Facebook page: Americans Living in Queensland | |
|
|
|
| blarg | Mar 9 2010, 04:38:56 PM Post #7 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
Yeah, I used that trick when I applied for my 457 and they were taking their time. One of the reasons you can request a change of conditions is because you're applying for a 457 and you have the skills to be granted the visa. So I didn't even have to play the poor card and just got to tick the, "Please let me work because I'm qualified" box. The end result wasn't that they actually changed the conditions on my bridging visa. It made them take my file out of the pile, and once they had a look, they obviously went, "Yup, he's qualified. Let's just grant the whole visa instead of messing about with the conditions on his bridging visa." So I got the whole visa a few days after lodging the 1005. Of course that's a 457 and not permanent residency, so I don't think it'd do the same in your case, but you're certainly entitled to ask for permission to work if you are experiencing financial hardship. And it's good to see another pacific northwesterner on the boards.
Edited by blarg, Mar 9 2010, 04:51:04 PM.
|
|
|
|
| CheekyOne | Mar 10 2010, 03:25:03 PM Post #8 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
Yeah maybe so.It was for a Catholic primary school.I would (and have) suggested that option to anyone whenever the subject has come up.I would have avoided QLD alltogether as well.Different reasons though i'm sure. 
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| Janda | Mar 11 2010, 09:46:02 PM Post #9 |
True Blue Mate
|
Did any of you ever consider Homeschooling? For anyone who is in that same situation and not being able to afford the school fees it would be an alternative that could work for you until your visa paperwork gets sorted. I didn't have that problem because I had already been homeschooling my children for a number of years in the states. We just continued that with my son when we arrived here. I didn't actually register my son as a homeschooling with the state because when I started looking in to it I was told my a number of other homeschoolers that even though you were expected to register that not a whole lot of people actually do. I was never questioned at all. My older son once he got over here was already done with his homeschooling credits and so we didn't have to worry about that. He waited a while to get a job and then once he did he requested a traineeship program with his work where he earning a certificate III in business management while he works. That is all paid for through his work and is all done on the job. In the end schooling is so different here in Australia and from what I have read and heard, certificates are looked upon highly when looking for upper level jobs. Maybe this info will also help someone who is heading in this direction. |
 "I tried sniffing Coke once, but the ice cubes got stuck in my nose" www.JandaDesigns.com.au - Custom Web Design, Web Site Hosting, Cheap Domain Name Registration. | |
|
|
|
| AmbroseChick | Mar 12 2010, 05:41:07 PM Post #10 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
I have homeschooled both of my boys in the past and we had considered that but everything we heard from educators and friends was that year 11 and 12 are very crucial years for university plus he is very involved with music and there is only so much that I can do to provide those opportunities for him. So yes that was part of the consideration but given where we are right now it wasn't one that was viable. If he was younger then it would have been the option we would have chosen as a stop-gap during the interim. |
| Check it out! Facebook page: Americans Living in Queensland | |
|
|
|
| AmbroseChick | Mar 12 2010, 05:45:31 PM Post #11 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
Other then that schooling "thing" I have been very happy in Queensland. It would be interesting to see other people's pros and cons for the areas that they live... I'm sure thats been a thread here before. My only other "issue" would be that on the Gold Coast it seems like the locals are very stand-offish especially for Australians. My husband has a dear friend who lives in Brisbane and he & his family came down to visit during school holidays. When I spoke to this friend's wife about how unfriendly the neighbors are - she looked a bit confused. So I said - well normally when we have moved to a new place or we have had new neighbors, we generally go over and introduce ourselves and bring them a plate of goodies. She looked at me and said "Well we don't live in each other pockets the way you Americans do."... I had to swallow my words in order to maintain harmony hehe
|
| Check it out! Facebook page: Americans Living in Queensland | |
|
|
|
| koalamama | Mar 12 2010, 07:03:37 PM Post #12 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
Grrrrrr.  Yeah 'cause you wouldn't want to get to know your neighbors.
|
| |
|
|
|
| CheekyOne | Mar 12 2010, 09:06:50 PM Post #13 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
Yikes! That was a bit rude! I'm not sure if i'd have been able to be as polite as you are.My experience with QLD is its a nice enough place but for me personally,I hate the humidity and find Melbourne to be a much better fit for me in many ways.I spent a couple of months there in 2006 and before we were married my husband promised we could move there and now he's changed his mind so i'm a little crabby about it. 
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| michaelavelli | Mar 12 2010, 09:46:56 PM Post #14 |
True Blue Mate
|
It may have been dangerous to enter Australia on a tourism visa fully intending on applying for a permanent visa after you got in the country. I think technically one of the conditions of the tourist visa is that you have to agree that you are just coming as a tourist. Doesn't sound like anyone you ran into cared, so good on you, but from what I've heard it can be a problem. |
|
|
|
| AmbroseChick | Mar 12 2010, 09:51:24 PM Post #15 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
It wasn't an issue at all and when we did our research ahead of time it didn't appear to be an issue to the Australian government. It would have become an issue if we had overstayed our tourist visa and applied for the permanent residency after that overstay but we applied shortly after we arrived so that wasn't a problem. Immigration has been very cooperative and helpful. |
| Check it out! Facebook page: Americans Living in Queensland | |
|
|
|
| michaelavelli | Mar 12 2010, 09:59:03 PM Post #16 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
I had a similar issue, and when I spoke to immigration they said that it wouldn't be a problem, but then an immigration lawyer advised against it as technically you're entering the country on a visa with an intent that violates the purpose of that visa. The tourism visa is meant for just that - tourism. Not for entering the country to apply to stay permanently. It's true that it's a relatively minor issue, and they may not even pick up on it, or if they do they may not care, just saying, if an official looks at it the wrong way it could look like you're "sneaking" in under false pretenses. In any case, good luck to you, looking forward to hearing about Part 2. Edited by michaelavelli, Mar 12 2010, 10:00:04 PM.
|
|
|
|
| TerritorianTori | Mar 13 2010, 12:07:05 AM Post #17 |
Dance to disco
|
I have to say that michaelavelli is right - it really is technically illegal to come in on a tourist visa with the intention of applying for onshore residency, and you can be refused entry at the border if you're caught trying to do it. It's not an avenue I would ever recommend to anyone unless they have a very, very good reason for not wanting to wait on an offshore visa. That said, though, most people seem to do it without any trouble, so... take that for whatever it's worth to you. Anyway, welcome AmbroseChick and thanks for sharing your story! I've never been to the Gold Coast, but it strikes me as a very touristy type of place. In my experience, people in touristy towns tend to be extra reserved when it comes to newcomers. Perhaps they're waiting to see if you stick around awhile? Although, now that you mention it, the only people that have ever introduced themselves upon moving in were people from other countries: our next-door neighbours from Fiji, our other neighbour from Sri Lanka... I had to LOL at the "not living in eachother's pockets like you Americans do" - clearly this woman hasn't met my in-laws!   and best of luck with the rest of the process! |
 South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys | |
|
|
|
| blarg | Mar 13 2010, 03:37:20 PM Post #18 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
It's all about what your intention is when you get here. If you intend on coming for a tourism visit and then a job materialises out of thin air and you apply for a 457, that's exactly why onshore visas exist. If, on the other hand, you arrange a job with an employer, then come in on a tourist visa and apply for the 457 once you're here to get to stay here while they process, that's a different matter. |
|
|
|
| michaelavelli | Mar 13 2010, 04:45:53 PM Post #19 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
Didn't mean to be a bubble-buster, sorry. It probably won't matter. |
|
|
|
| TerritorianTori | Mar 13 2010, 06:03:37 PM Post #20 |
|
Dance to disco
|
|
|
South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys | |
|
|
|
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Immigration & Visas · Next Topic » |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
7:16 AM Feb 8