Question about visa... traveling in and out of OZ

[nikkiwd]

Wondering if anyone can clear something up for me.

We were granted our permanent visas a few weeks ago but something on part of the grant letter is confusing me...a paragraph near the end headed 'about your visa' says that we can remain in Australia indefinitely and enter Australia as many times as we want until October 2018 but if we wish to travel after this expiry date then we need a RRV. Does this include if we go on holiday out of OZ or just if we dont live there anymore but want to come back? what does this actually mean, why is there an expiry date if we can stay indefinitely?

 

Sorry if I sound a bit thick or I am mis-understanding it:confused:

[Lou8670]

Don't worry it's not a silly question. Basically you have to be in Australia when your visa expires. If you leave to go on holiday you need a resident return visa which aren't expensive and you can get quite easily otherwise they won't let you back into the country. So set yourself a diary reminder! You'll always need an RRV unless you apply for citizenship and obtain an Australian passport.

 

Lou

Edited November 15, 2013 by Lou8670

[Guest guest10912]

Wondering if anyone can clear something up for me.

We were granted our permanent visas a few weeks ago but something on part of the grant letter is confusing me...a paragraph near the end headed 'about your visa' says that we can remain in Australia indefinitely and enter Australia as many times as we want until October 2018 but if we wish to travel after this expiry date then we need a RRV. Does this include if we go on holiday out of OZ or just if we dont live there anymore but want to come back? what does this actually mean, why is there an expiry date if we can stay indefinitely?

 

Sorry if I sound a bit thick or I am mis-understanding it:confused:

 

You could go to Australia, stay and never leave for the rest of your life and your visa is good for that.

 

But most of us like to be able to travel to other countries and come and go, the visa you have is only good for letting you through passport control for five years. After that you need to get a resident return visa or get citizenship before it expires.

[nikkiwd]

Thank you both, so I would need a RRV every time I go out and come back after the expiry date? Also we have to get citizenship before the 5 years expires, what happens if we dont? if we go out on holiday and come back on a RRV, can we still apply for citizenship in the future?

Thanks again, just trying to get clued up :smile2:

[Guest guest10912]

See comments.

 

Thank you both, so I would need a RRV every time I go out and come back after the expiry date? No you don't get a RRV each time you want to leave and come back, you get the RRV once and it is good for either one year or five years..Also we have to get citizenship before the 5 years expires, No you don't have to, it is up to you. what happens if we dont? Nothing, you carry on with your visa. if we go out on holiday and come back on a RRV, can we still apply for citizenship in the future? Yes of course, you are not a prisoner!

Thanks again, just trying to get clued up :smile2:

[verystormy]

I wouldn't worry too much. Most people simply apply for citizenship after 4 years. The citizenship application is not like a visa. It is very simple - it took me about 10 mins to complete and that was after one two many glasses of wine. Then you get an appointment to do the test. The test is incredibly easy - I did it in a couple of minutes. Then your council invites you to a ceremony and that's it. Your a dual national.

[nikkiwd]

Thanks, sounds like citizenship is the way to go, didn't realise it was so easy to do.

[rickandange]

Glad you asked about this, because we were wondering the same thing!