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| Dyllan's passport photo, haha. |
I have been pretty busy lately, working on my my visa application. It is quite a bit of work, and it just doesn't seem to end. Fortunately, I was able to get Dyllan's application for Australian citizenship turned in last week- so that at least one of us is legally here for more than 3 months. See, Dyllan and I came over here as "tourists" with the intention of applying for our visas/citizenship once we arrived. Dyllan's was easy- a little paperwork, certified copies of her birth certificate, passport, photo, and $120. Mine, however, is much more complicated. Before we left the US, I had to get FBI police checks and finger prints- and wait 6 weeks for the results. Luckily, Dad was able to mail them to me, because we left before they arrived. On top of an FBI clearance, I need to have a full health check (blood tests, xrays, the works- not to mention $310), 2 statutory declarations from Australian citizens
Oh, but it doesn't stop with the FBI clearance and health checks, the list goes on...
Here is my check list...
- Form 47SP- Application for migration to Australia by a partner (Me)
- Form 40SP- Sponsorship for a partner to migrate to Australia (Dan)
- Evidence that Dan is 18 or older- certified copy of birth certificate and passport
- Evidence that Dan can support me - pay stubs from the last 2 years, letters from employers, tax assessments
- Certified copies of all of our passports and birth certificates
- Certified copy of our marriage certificate
- 2 recent passport size photos of all of us- with certification on back
- Evidence of a genuine and continuing relationship
- At least 2 statutory declarations bu a supporting witness relating to a partner visa application- basically 2 Australian citizens supporting our claim that our relationship is genuine and continuing.
- Form 80 - Personal particulars for character assessment
- $2, 575 (yikes!)
Thankfully, on Wednesday- Yunny offered to take Miss Bug off my hands for a few hours so that I could get some work done. For as long as I have known Dan, his mom has taken her parents out every Wednesday for "Wacky Wednesday". "Wacky Wednesday" happens every week without fail- and usually consists of sitting down at a cafe for coffee and conversation, and many times followed by a little shopping at the "op shops" (second hand stores). Over the years several people have tagged along on Wacky Wednesdays- good friends, other family members... so it was only fitting that the newest member of the family come along. Dyllan had a ball. She got her own seat, a "babychino" (milk), and lots of attention! After coffee, they took Gaga (Marianne's dad) to the op shop for a new shirt. I didnt see the one he came in.. but the new one looks pretty sharp! It even had the tags on!
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| Gaga, Dianna (a good family friend who usually joins Wacky Wednesdays, Dyllan, Yunny, Granny) Notice Dyllan's purse on the table.. full of snacks. |
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| Just learned to wave to people. Cant stop her now... |
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| Playing with Granny. |
Wow Erica - I thought the Canadian passport process was difficult. This blows that process away!
ReplyDelete"Evidence of a genuine and continuing relationship"....now that is interesting...wonder what is on the list of acceptable evidence.
Sounds like you have done your homework though and your visa will be in your hands soon!
Keep up the great posts - you are keeping us up to date here in San Clemente :D
Thanks Claire! Yeah, it is a crazy process!! It seems kinda ironic that they are making it so difficult to immigrate when this is the same country that welcomed British convicts in the 19th century! Haha.
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