[alexthewhovian]

I'm an Australian citizen who lives in Adelaide, and my girlfriend is an American citizen who lives in Texas. We've both done the long-haul flight each way to visit each other, and she's decided that she wants to move down here to settle down and live with me.

Our original plan was to get her into the University of Adelaide to do her music degree in Semester 2 of this year, and get her the Student Visa (subclass 500). However, it soon became clear that we wouldn't be able to afford the Uni fees straight away. (Her University acceptance fee is AU$9K; don't even get me started on the fees for moving her cat down here too.)

We've decided that the best way to still get her down around the same time, middle of this year, is to apply for a Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) for her, so that she can live here and also work to save up. We've already done 95% of the online application, we just need to attach proof of funds (the funds of which I'll be providing later next month), then we can submit it. We do still plan to get her into her music degree, but not until Semester 1 of 2019.

So...

1) We know that she has to be outside of Australia when her Work and Holiday visa is given, but does she have to be outside of Australia to then apply for her Student visa next year? Can she apply for the visa and go between the two visas while being in Australia?

2) For her Student visa, it was compulsory to obtain overseas health insurance to apply for her visa. Is this also the case for her Work and Holiday visa application, or can we look at getting it at a later time?

3) We've already partially done part of her application for the University of Adelaide degree through SATAC - can we defer this until the end of this year, and continue the application later to get her in next year?

4) Once her degree is complete, and her study visa is over, or when she's at least a couple of years into her degree, we plan to apply for her Partner visa (subclasses 820 and 801). Is there anything recommended for this?

 

[Jeremy Hooper]

She can apply for her student visa in Australia.

 

[CollegeGirl]

I'm an Australian citizen who lives in Adelaide, and my girlfriend is an American citizen who lives in Texas. We've both done the long-haul flight each way to visit each other, and she's decided that she wants to move down here to settle down and live with me.

Our original plan was to get her into the University of Adelaide to do her music degree in Semester 2 of this year, and get her the Student Visa (subclass 500). However, it soon became clear that we wouldn't be able to afford the Uni fees straight away. (Her University acceptance fee is AU$9K; don't even get me started on the fees for moving her cat down here too.)

We've decided that the best way to still get her down around the same time, middle of this year, is to apply for a Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) for her, so that she can live here and also work to save up. We've already done 95% of the online application, we just need to attach proof of funds (the funds of which I'll be providing later next month), then we can submit it. We do still plan to get her into her music degree, but not until Semester 1 of 2019.

So...

1) We know that she has to be outside of Australia when her Work and Holiday visa is given, but does she have to be outside of Australia to then apply for her Student visa next year? Can she apply for the visa and go between the two visas while being in Australia?

2) For her Student visa, it was compulsory to obtain overseas health insurance to apply for her visa. Is this also the case for her Work and Holiday visa application, or can we look at getting it at a later time?

3) We've already partially done part of her application for the University of Adelaide degree through SATAC - can we defer this until the end of this year, and continue the application later to get her in next year?

4) Once her degree is complete, and her study visa is over, or when she's at least a couple of years into her degree, we plan to apply for her Partner visa (subclasses 820 and 801). Is there anything recommended for this?

Re: #4 - Just be aware that when you apply for the Partner Visa 820, she will be issued with a Bridging Visa A - but it won't come into effect until her student visa expires on its own. If you cancel the student visa, or do not maintain the requirements of the student visa (ie, if she doesn't keep studying and limiting her work hours per the student visa requirements), not only will her student visa be cancelled, but her Bridging Visa A will be cancelled along with it. Also, she shouldn't wait to apply until AFTER her student visa expires - that would be a problem as she would no longer be in Australia legally. And while it's possible, it can be difficult to get another kind of temporary visa after a student visa because Immi doesn't like people using temporary visas to essentially live in Australia. So your best course of action is to apply for the 820 AT LEAST a couple of weeks before her student visa expires. You can apply for it earlier, of course! Whenever you have enough evidence and have the money saved. The sooner the better as the wait times for the partner visa are ridiculous. Just as long as you're aware, as I said before, that she'll have to keep studying until it expires and her Bridging Visa A activates.

 

[Skybluebrewer]

And start saving. Just the partner visa application fee is $7000. Then there are other costs such as police checks, medical, and acquiring other necessary documents if you don't already have them.

 

[ampk]

How many kidneys do you have?

You might need to sell 3 of them.

That's a very expensive plan you have.

 

[alexthewhovian]

How many kidneys do you have?

You might need to sell 3 of them.

That's a very expensive plan you have.

Both of us with jobs, a lot of saving up, scholarships for her study, and I do the odd clinical trial every now and then to get a good amount of savings.

Thanks all for the replies.

 

[ampk]

Both of us with jobs, a lot of saving up, scholarships for her study, and I do the odd clinical trial every now and then to get a good amount of savings.

Thanks all for the replies.

We were all in for about $80K but that's school kids and not uni and only my income and no cat.

 

[Skybluebrewer]

We were all in for about $80K but that's school kids and not uni and only my income and no cat.

Yeah, we were out easily $30-35k with a kid, partner visa costs, flights, and importing the dog. It ain't cheap!

 

[ampk]

Yeah, we were out easily $30-35k with a kid, partner visa costs, flights, and importing the dog. It ain't cheap!

Low risk countries have advantages.

I could have reduced costs like leaving 3 kids and myself in Australia when only the 3 applicants needed to go offshore for a week, but it was not practical that I not go so the 7 of us went to Vietnam for a stress free as we could have week, that was $10K and that is not spending money on the clothes required as it was cold and none of them took warm clothes. Simply airfares accom and food.

 

[alexthewhovian]

Luckily, we don't have any kids (yet), it's only her, and it's the one cat we're (eventually) bringing down. When she starts her second year of Uni, I'll have already finished my own degree and should have a job as a teacher, meaning a stable income to save a lot more for the future. The partner visa won't be until her third/fourth year of Uni, definitely.

 

[ampk]

Luckily, we don't have any kids (yet),

** as that's a big cost

it's only her,

Still lots of $'s

and it's the one cat we're (eventually) bringing down.

** seems only a few thousand $'s

When she starts her second year of Uni,

** Student visas have work restrictions, normally 40 hrs per 2 week during class.

I'll have already finished my own degree and should have a job as a teacher,

Should's don't pay bills.

meaning a stable income to save a lot more for the future. The partner visa won't be until her third/fourth year of Uni, definitely.

** Partner Visa fees have increased by far more than 100% in 1 year in recent past - think it was $160% from memory.

This is FYI so you can understand and plan, I've been down these paths more than once and over a long period but if you think you know better, that's fine.

 

[alexthewhovian]

Thank for for the short and snippy reply, it's greatly appreciated.

As I said, we're eventually bringing her cat down. Whether that's as soon as we can, or next year, it doesn't matter.

Yes, the limit is 40 hours each fortnight, and unlimited during scheduled breaks. It'll still be enough to live by and save up on.

"Should's don't pay bills." Couldn't have put it more passive-aggressively myself. The Uni provides steps and opportunities on gaining a teaching job once we've graduated. Should I say "I'll have already finished my own degree and will have a job as a teacher" instead?

"$160%" makes no sense. Is it $160 or 160%? From 1 July 2017, it raised $135, which is 1.02%.

As can be seen, I have clearly already understood and planned. Thank you for your concern.

 

[ampk]

It was meant as 160%.

As this article says increase by almost 400% in recent years. It is easy money and no one complains that is not affected.

https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/life/...cost-australias-massive-partnership-visa-fees