New Zealand Citizen Australian Permanent Residency

ay-papii on 25/03/2020 - 10:16
Last edited 25/03/2020 - 17:36

Hello,

I am a New Zealand citizen who arrived in Australia in 2012 and am interested in applying for Permanent residency then citizenship. I have been living in Australia for the past 8 years permanently and am in a de facto relationship for 7 years with my partner who is an Australian citizen.

I have been looking into which visas I would be eligible for and am a bit stuck in making a decision.
I looked into the subclass 189 New Zealand Stream but found that I do not meet the income threshold criteria.
I have also looked into the partner visa but my understanding is that I would have to apply for the subclass 820 (temporary) and then apply for the subclass 801 (permanent) which seems like a very long process.

I would like to be enrolled in the Airforce and have to obtain a PR and citizenship first.

So I would like to ask if you or if you know any NZ citizens who have gone to get the PR are able to provide guidance on which visa options would be suitable for me.

Cheers

Financial

Comments

  • HighAndDry on 25/03/2020 - 10:23
    +7

    How old are you?

    but found that I do not meet the income threshold criteria.

    That's only around $50k per year over the last 4 years - how are you planning to support yourself here once you get PR?

    More to the point, are you making this move because the Australian government cut off New Zealanders like you from our welfare system?

    • ay-papii on 25/03/2020 - 12:36

      I'm currently completing my AME (Aircraft maintenance engineer). Once I am qualified which will be soon I will be above the threshold set at $55k but don't want to wait another 3-4 years.

      No I'm not making this move because of the welfare system. I want to.

      • HighAndDry on 25/03/2020 - 14:32

        but don't want to wait another 3-4 years.

        Other than welfare entitlements, I honestly am not aware of any differences between being an Australian PR and being a New Zealand citizen living in Australia, especially as it would apply to the next 3-4 years when you've already been here for 8.

        Given that's the most straightforward route, with the other methods generally at least costing much more money, not to mention requiring more documents, I just don't understand the sudden urgency.

        • ay-papii on 25/03/2020 - 16:33
          +1

          Ahhh woops, part of my sentence cut off and didn't send.

          EDIT: No I'm not making this move because of the welfare system. I want to be enrolled in the airforce and have to be an Australian citizen.

          • HighAndDry on 25/03/2020 - 17:09

            @ay-papii: Oh. That makes a lot more sense. Carry on.

            (Might want to edit that into your post, very relevant information.)

  • kolorijo on 25/03/2020 - 10:34
    +2

    If you are desperate enough, you will take the long process spouse visa route. Your choice really. Nothing easy in regards to migration and from my experience, it tends to get harder the longer you postpone.

  • GG57 on 25/03/2020 - 10:38
    +10

    If I were you, I would be convincing my partner that NZ is a better place to be.

    • brokenglish on 25/03/2020 - 12:00
      +1

      Agreed. Oh so dreamy. 1Gbps Fibre. Unlimited Netflix. The sheeps…

      • Cave Fire on 25/03/2020 - 12:11

        netflix is unlimited already…

      • OzCheapo on 25/03/2020 - 12:36

        There's actually more cows than sheep in NZ… But cow-sXXXXXr doesn't have the same ring to it.

    • ay-papii on 25/03/2020 - 12:38
      +1

      We actually spoke about this the other night and turns out her dad is a NZ citizen so she can get NZ citizenship by descent

  • Ocker on 25/03/2020 - 11:07

    Why not just go straight to the citizen status?

  • mshanann on 25/03/2020 - 11:23

    All Blacks or Wallabies?

    • ay-papii on 25/03/2020 - 12:38
      +1

      AB's of course

  • chcse on 25/03/2020 - 11:30
    +2

    A few options but unless you have money, they are all fairly lengthy. You can go:
    1) New Zealand stream (minimum income required);
    2) Spouse (easiest);
    3) Skilled migration (points-tested or sponsored - depends on occupation, this one is high demand); or
    4) Investment (very pricey).

    I just went through the points-tested skilled migration myself and it took some time. You should not delay since the trend is that it'll only ever going to get harder and longer.

    • ay-papii on 25/03/2020 - 12:42

      Oh yes I did start looking into the skilled migration and have found my career is listed as skilled but also stated that you have to be invited, is that correct?

      • zonra on 25/03/2020 - 13:56

        Correct, you need to be invited and meet the point requirements.

      • zonra on 25/03/2020 - 13:57

        edit: dupe.

      • chcse on 25/03/2020 - 15:28
        +1

        Yes, you have to be invited but the process is that you put an application in if you meet the points threshold. Putting an application in doesn't cost money.

        Then you will be in the pool to get invited (which is based off the applications with the highest points in that occupation). They send out invitations every month. I submitted in March and got an invite in September but it depends on how many points you have compared to the cutoff. I believe the government publishes this data publicly so you can check whether you have a good chance or not.

        Afterwards, you can decide whether to pay and proceed, or ignore it and you wouldn't be financially disadvantaged. However, if you go down this route, make sure you have all the supporting documentation to support your initial application as you cannot change anything once you are invited, and if you cannot prove something, you've wasted a chance.

        • ay-papii on 25/03/2020 - 16:41

          Thank you @chcse :)

          I will work out my points and if I will meet the points threshold. Then try to find any government data relating with my occupation for this stream.

          Are you able to let me know how thorough your expression of interest was? As in are you aware of any specifics they look for with it or do they just want to know your history, why you're applying and your current job/status in Australia etc?

          • chcse on 25/03/2020 - 17:49

            @ay-papii: The initial application is several pages long but you basically just tick against the points criteria as it will ask questions on where you studied, how long you have been working for, age, nationality, English language skills etc.

            When the invitation comes and you decide to go ahead, that is a much lengthier application but basically you attach all the supporting documentation against each points criteria you're claiming against. Therefore it is important before you submit the initial application that you check what type of supporting documentation is accepted. For example, to prove my work history, I had to pay a professional body to give me a "skills assessment"; or if you want to claim the English language skill points then you must take the IELTS or Pearsons test (which isn't hard, but more money to pay).

            This is why the Spouse visa path is the easiest, even though it may take longer. It was painful for me to go through the process and I am glad to have it over and done it.

            • ay-papii on 26/03/2020 - 07:42

              @chcse: Okay I see, with the the minimum threshold I'm currently an apprentice about to finish with which I've currently got a trade cert for the theoretical side but haven't finished my SOE (practical) which will fully close of the apprenticeship and technically that's when I'll be qualified.
              I might have to wait till I'm qualified so then I know I can definitely meet/exceed the minimum threshold. But definitely seems like a lot more documentation and tests needs to be provided with the point based stream.

              I have looked a lot harder into the partner visa and I wonder if NZ citizens have to be granted subclass 820 first before getting the 801 permanently. I say this because our 444 SCV is a bit more 'powerful' than the 820. But as my partner and I have been in a relationship for over 3 years I may not have to stay on 820 for long at all and they may grant both at the same time. Hoping so anyway if I go down that route. The partner visa definitely seems a lot easier haha

              • lgacb08 on 27/03/2020 - 06:48
                +1

                @ay-papii: You only have 1 ootion right now: spouse visa which is more expensive than the other 2 options, the other 2 are off limits because you don't meet the criteria yet. The spouse one seems long but one you commit to the skill options you will realise it will be as long if not longer. By the time you collect all the paperwork, done your English test, get into the pool and waiting to be invited it will be over 2 years for sure.
                Last time I checked, you might be granted permanent spouse visa straight away if the officer deemed your relationship was long enough (over 2 years) but not sure of the current situation.

                • ay-papii on 27/03/2020 - 19:10

                  @lgacb08: Yeah that's what I'm thinking too. Bit more money to have a process easier is okay with me.
                  Spending more money isn't the Ozbargain way but heyyyyy no need for extra stress than already.

  • WreckTangle on 25/03/2020 - 13:17
    -1

    Ex Kiwi here, now a citizen. In my experience the immigration process is long and complicated. You should probably have started the process and committed to Australia years ago and not now just because times are tough. There are lots of unemployed Aussies at the moment that need help first. Sorry if this news is harsh.

    • ay-papii on 25/03/2020 - 17:03

      I'm not sure why me wanting to know what options I could have for my PR and therefore apply has anything to do with unemployed Aussies needing help.

      • WreckTangle on 25/03/2020 - 19:08

        Yip, most of your pr options are in the skilled migrant category, and jobs in demand are processed first. But high unemployment in Aus means that the designed shortage job list for migrants will be culled. I suspect the Govt might soon even suspend much of the migrant program completely, and i think thats fair because unemployed aussies should be employed before migrants. Being from overseas i’m not against immigration, just not during a significant recession.

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