May I take a moment to show off

aMrsin09

my shiny new Australian Permanent Resident Visa!  It was approved on Jan 18 th and I just found out today (the atty was on holiday and wanted to tell me personally).

 

Now I just have to figure out what they mean by "am allowed to remain permanently  but can travel to and from Australia for only 5 years?

wise_rita

WOOOO HOOOO, congrats!

GilliC

Happy Permanent Resident Visa!!!!

That's definitely worth a toast!  

azure_azure

Congratulations!

So in 5 years do you apply for citizenship or get another 5 years?

aMrsin09

azure_azure:

Congratulations!

So in 5 years do you apply for citizenship or get another 5 years?

I need to call on Monday to get these details.  I thought I could get Citizenship in three more years (the first two being spent in Provisional Visa purgatory).  The letter says 5 years for citizenship or a RRV (Returning Resident Visa).  The latter sounds like a colossal PITA and a waste of money.

sushisamba

It's so pretty!  Congrats!

MintChocoChip

Yay, congrats!

Tofumonkey

yay!

Returning Resident visas are typically for people that got their permanent residnence at one point, moved away and are moving back. Citizenship is much easier to sort out. And why not become an Aussie in the end anyway? I hear it comes complete with a laid back yet "can do" attitude and a wicked tan.

Jigginjessica

Congrats

GibbyLod

Yay for resident visas! Congratulations!

NLfoodie

woo-hoo, congrats!

bluegirl2006

Congratulations! I just filed what is hopefully the last of the paperwork for mine yesterday. I'm eligible the end of February.

bail229

Yay! Congrats!

From what I understand, you can come and go as you please for the next 5 yrs.  After that, you can stay in the country forever, but if you want to go overseas you will need a resident return visa (I think that is what it is called).  If you never want to leave Oz again, it won't matter.  Its just another way to make you pay again.  

Just go for the citizenship before the visa is up. That is what I did, it was super easy.  The I applied for citizenship probably in about April, had the test/interview in May and had the ceremony and everything done by August.  I couldn't believe how easy it was, I was convinced I must be doing something wrong the whole time! 

chapinito32

Congratulations!

AmericanInOz

aMrsin09:

my shiny new Australian Permanent Resident Visa!  It was approved on Jan 18 th and I just found out today (the atty was on holiday and wanted to tell me personally).

 

Now I just have to figure out what they mean by "am allowed to remain permanently  but can travel to and from Australia for only 5 years?

CONGRATS!!!

that just means that the visa is good for 5 years - my dh just renewed his every 5 years (still is on that visa!!!) its for people who are overseas and can't apply for citizenship yet (cause you have to live here for 4 years consecutive) OR for people who don't want aussie citizenship at all - you can reapply for permanent residency forever if you want to dh had to reapply for it cause he JUST missed the cutoff - it used to be that you had to live here for 2 years consecutive on a perm res visa then you could apply for citizenship, they changed it 3 years ago and now you have to have 4 years living here.

and they allow you to travel in and out of Oz in those 5 years as much as you want

you can apply for citizenship after 4 years though - that's what I am doing - next year!!

AmericanInOz

technically the website says :

You must:

• have been living in Australia on a valid Australian visa for four years immediately before applying which must include the last 12 months as a permanent resident, and
• not have been absent from Australia for more than one year in total, in the 4 year period, including no more than 90 days in the year before applying.

SO I GUESS in some circumstances you can apply after 1 year as a permanent resident, as long as you've been on vaild visas and living here for 4 years

http://www.citizenship.gov.au/applying/how_to_apply/conferral_app_process/

aMrsin09

AmericanInOz:

technically the website says :

You must:

• have been living in Australia on a valid Australian visa for four years immediately before applying which must include the last 12 months as a permanent resident, and
• not have been absent from Australia for more than one year in total, in the 4 year period, including no more than 90 days in the year before applying.

SO I GUESS in some circumstances you can apply after 1 year as a permanent resident, as long as you've been on vaild visas and living here for 4 years

http://www.citizenship.gov.au/applying/how_to_apply/conferral_app_process/

Yeah, my valid visa date was Nov 2009, then we were gone for 6 months, but came back in June 2010

AmericanInOz

aMrsin09:

AmericanInOz:

technically the website says :

You must:

• have been living in Australia on a valid Australian visa for four years immediately before applying which must include the last 12 months as a permanent resident, and
• not have been absent from Australia for more than one year in total, in the 4 year period, including no more than 90 days in the year before applying.

SO I GUESS in some circumstances you can apply after 1 year as a permanent resident, as long as you've been on vaild visas and living here for 4 years

http://www.citizenship.gov.au/applying/how_to_apply/conferral_app_process/

Yeah, my valid visa date was Nov 2009, then we were gone for 6 months, but came back in June 2010

oh so you can just do 1 year on perm res then and then apply for citizenship - lucky you!!