Why not Australia??
I guess everyone has places they want to visit. Ever since college, I had this idea of traveling to New Zealand. This idea went on the back burner for a while as I transitioned into the real world, working around my Recreation Degree, and eventually moving to Jackson Hole on a ski bum journey with my two side kicks, Amanda and Lauren.
After 6 years in the Hole, the thought of New Zealand came back up as I was thinking about big things in life; "What am I doing with myself?" "Where do I see myself in 5 years?" "Is Jackson Hole where I want to stay?" "What about traveling?" These questions arose in me and with support from my best friend in the whole world, Lauren...I decided to pursue a Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand. Well I was ingnorant, and before I was ever ready for something so great, my visa expired. So then I thought, well I don't really want to work in New Zealand but more just travel it. How will I have the funds?
Well Australia is near by and their wages are excellent. Ok, let's apply to work in Australia, then travel NZ. Overnight I was accepted to work in Aus and now the wait was on for a good price to buy a one way ticket. Now, keep in mind, I have not told anyone at this point I was considering moving to AUS. This was all on me, and I wanted to make sure I felt right doing it without any opinions of others. I ended up buying my ticket, and afterwards I felt so alive, I felt like wow, this is my next big adventure! I am going to be doing something most people only dream about, and it is so surreal!
Update 12/3/2016
I said goodbye at the security checkpoint...here I sit with a mimosa at the expensive airport bar in Spokane awaiting my departure. The nerves are settling down, my heart isn't racing as bad, and the tears are starting to dry. This is only going to get better :)
Update 16/6/2017
Well I did it....I fell in love in Australia. I kept an open heart and mind going into to this journey and it led me to meeting someone that is inspired by my travels. I have found him to be my anchor over here. Not that he holds me back but more of like the anchor that is in my boat and when I want to stop floating, he is there for me. I enjoy his companionship and how he is able to make me laugh. I went into this trip alone, not thinking about having someone to share the memories with. But now I have a hand to hold while running in a field of kangaroos :)
I guess everyone has places they want to visit. Ever since college, I had this idea of traveling to New Zealand. This idea went on the back burner for a while as I transitioned into the real world, working around my Recreation Degree, and eventually moving to Jackson Hole on a ski bum journey with my two side kicks, Amanda and Lauren.
After 6 years in the Hole, the thought of New Zealand came back up as I was thinking about big things in life; "What am I doing with myself?" "Where do I see myself in 5 years?" "Is Jackson Hole where I want to stay?" "What about traveling?" These questions arose in me and with support from my best friend in the whole world, Lauren...I decided to pursue a Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand. Well I was ingnorant, and before I was ever ready for something so great, my visa expired. So then I thought, well I don't really want to work in New Zealand but more just travel it. How will I have the funds?
Well Australia is near by and their wages are excellent. Ok, let's apply to work in Australia, then travel NZ. Overnight I was accepted to work in Aus and now the wait was on for a good price to buy a one way ticket. Now, keep in mind, I have not told anyone at this point I was considering moving to AUS. This was all on me, and I wanted to make sure I felt right doing it without any opinions of others. I ended up buying my ticket, and afterwards I felt so alive, I felt like wow, this is my next big adventure! I am going to be doing something most people only dream about, and it is so surreal!
Update 12/3/2016
I said goodbye at the security checkpoint...here I sit with a mimosa at the expensive airport bar in Spokane awaiting my departure. The nerves are settling down, my heart isn't racing as bad, and the tears are starting to dry. This is only going to get better :)
Update 16/6/2017
Well I did it....I fell in love in Australia. I kept an open heart and mind going into to this journey and it led me to meeting someone that is inspired by my travels. I have found him to be my anchor over here. Not that he holds me back but more of like the anchor that is in my boat and when I want to stop floating, he is there for me. I enjoy his companionship and how he is able to make me laugh. I went into this trip alone, not thinking about having someone to share the memories with. But now I have a hand to hold while running in a field of kangaroos :)
7 Helpful Sites for the Aussie Traveler
These sites range from buying the plane ticket to getting an discount adventure packages...
These sites range from buying the plane ticket to getting an discount adventure packages...
- statravel.com
- Bought plane ticket and gives great advice for packing, Visa applications, reserve room accomodations and destination information
- www.border.gov.au
- applied for Working Holiday Visa and registered with the US Embassy in Australia
- travelx.com
- you can purchase currency in advance!
- keepcalling.com
- info on calling cards and other contact options
- greyhound.com.au
- bus travels from sydney-->Cairns, hop on, hop off pass for up to 6 months
- indeed.com.au
- review current job positions and upload resume
- Bunac.org
- Pay to get a year's worth of help with job hunting, resume building, tax identification and mailing address setup, and have a "hub" to go to in Australia
- Onestopadventures.com.au
- Discounted adventure packages!
Dual Citizen Here I Come!
Defacto Visa 801/820- the application from hell
Well after one year of collecting paperwork for my visa application to become a permanent resident, I finally handed over 100+ documents, $7,226 from our joint bank account and all my stress. I sent in my application on 26 November, 2018. I have had to track down police checks in both countries, get a health check for things I've never gone to my personal doctor for, make a chronological photo collage of over 20 months with Chris and push friends and family to get me witness signed statements for proof of relationship. Oh, and did I mention I have been making folders and bought all the stuff I need to mail this all in and low and behold it has to all be done online?! Ya, luckily I was reading a recent blog from another visa applicant and came across this small note. And another thing....it will take up to 2 years to get any response...fml
My overall experience with this process is completely a hassle and way too much time and money. I mean, what happened to an interview with the partner and sponsor and filling in an application with bare essentials?? I understand the police check, that makes sense, but why will it take them up to 2 years to look at my documents and figure out if I can be a permanent resident?? And where did they come up with $7,000?! On top of that amount, out of pocket expenses included the printer, paper and ink I thought I needed to print all documents; I had to pay $350 for this health check up that I didn't even get the results for, so hopefully no news is good news. I also paid for both police reports totaling $60 and relationship certificate with the state which was over $200! As you can see I am venting over this whole process. It has just been a long year regarding this application and has taken all my money and my energy. Word to the wise ones who are applying for this visa: Start early and read through everything!
Before I realized I had to submit everything online (I scanned over 100 documents and saved to flash drive in folders), I made the following folder table of contents. I hope this helps get an idea of organizing your files and understanding what you need at time of applying.
Table of Contents
Folder 1- Forms
1.1 Form 40SP-Sponsor
1.2 Form 80 -Character Assessment
1.3 Form 47SP-Applicant
Folder 2- Statutory Declarations
Folder 3- Personal Documents of Applicant
3.2 Australian Police Report
3.3 Completed Form 80
Folder 4- Personal Documents of Sponsor
Folders 5-8, Evidence of Relationship
Folder 5- Financial Aspects
Joint bank account statements and details, joint trip flights and tours
Folder 6- Nature of the Household
Chore list, joint utilities, lease agreement, rental reference letters, joint address proof
Folder 7- Social Context of Relationship
Social Media Timeline, Text messages, emails, photo timeline and friends and family, trip itineraries
Folder 8- Nature of Commitment to one another
Relationship Certificate(NSW), letters, cards, photo timeline of gifts, photo timeline of relationship, call logs, joint address proof
* The applicant can only upload 100 documents, so I combines some files. i.e. I scanned all my photos into one file. Just keep in mind they have a ridiculous 5mb rule so make sure your files are that or smaller, otherwise you will have to photo shop some to fit, like I did.
* Some folder uploads will be repetitive, keep that in mind (i.e. commitment of relationship and nature of household has a lot of the same files). See photo for idea of the folders you will be uploading documents to online.
My overall experience with this process is completely a hassle and way too much time and money. I mean, what happened to an interview with the partner and sponsor and filling in an application with bare essentials?? I understand the police check, that makes sense, but why will it take them up to 2 years to look at my documents and figure out if I can be a permanent resident?? And where did they come up with $7,000?! On top of that amount, out of pocket expenses included the printer, paper and ink I thought I needed to print all documents; I had to pay $350 for this health check up that I didn't even get the results for, so hopefully no news is good news. I also paid for both police reports totaling $60 and relationship certificate with the state which was over $200! As you can see I am venting over this whole process. It has just been a long year regarding this application and has taken all my money and my energy. Word to the wise ones who are applying for this visa: Start early and read through everything!
Before I realized I had to submit everything online (I scanned over 100 documents and saved to flash drive in folders), I made the following folder table of contents. I hope this helps get an idea of organizing your files and understanding what you need at time of applying.
Table of Contents
Folder 1- Forms
1.1 Form 40SP-Sponsor
1.2 Form 80 -Character Assessment
1.3 Form 47SP-Applicant
Folder 2- Statutory Declarations
Folder 3- Personal Documents of Applicant
3.2 Australian Police Report
3.3 Completed Form 80
Folder 4- Personal Documents of Sponsor
Folders 5-8, Evidence of Relationship
Folder 5- Financial Aspects
Joint bank account statements and details, joint trip flights and tours
Folder 6- Nature of the Household
Chore list, joint utilities, lease agreement, rental reference letters, joint address proof
Folder 7- Social Context of Relationship
Social Media Timeline, Text messages, emails, photo timeline and friends and family, trip itineraries
Folder 8- Nature of Commitment to one another
Relationship Certificate(NSW), letters, cards, photo timeline of gifts, photo timeline of relationship, call logs, joint address proof
* The applicant can only upload 100 documents, so I combines some files. i.e. I scanned all my photos into one file. Just keep in mind they have a ridiculous 5mb rule so make sure your files are that or smaller, otherwise you will have to photo shop some to fit, like I did.
* Some folder uploads will be repetitive, keep that in mind (i.e. commitment of relationship and nature of household has a lot of the same files). See photo for idea of the folders you will be uploading documents to online.
A few pointers from my experience with the entire application process for defacto visa 801/820 for at least and American...
For even better information on applying for a partner visa 801/820 check out my friend Brooke's blog here
Hope this helps! Now, all I have to do it wait...forever! I will report back once I get any news.
- Start Early! Give yourself plenty of time to gather everything
- Save everything! Receipts, text messages, photos, social media.
- Start saving money now! This visa is spendy so put money in savings now and don't touch it!
- Get your police check and health check! Police check is through the FBI and costs $18 and police check in AUS you can get at the Post Office or I got mine online, costs $42! And your partner needs a police check as well. And the health check is applied for a Bupa Health and costs an arm and a leg!
- Buy a flash drive and be prepared to upload/scan/take pictures of all your documents. I put all my documents in organized folders on the flash drive so it was easier to find them.
- Ask your witnesses early to fill out statutory declarations. I had procrastinator as witnesses and waited until the last minute to get them back to me.
- If you need call logs, they cost money to get from your phone company (Telstra, anything over 6 months old it cost us $40), plus it can take up to three weeks, so get them early.
- IF THE WAIT TIME IS UP TO 24 MONTHS, WAIT TO GET YOUR HEALTH EXAM AND POLICE CHECKS, AS THESE WILL EXPIRE AFTER ONE YEAR!
For even better information on applying for a partner visa 801/820 check out my friend Brooke's blog here
Hope this helps! Now, all I have to do it wait...forever! I will report back once I get any news.
Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen. – Michael Jordan