O

I have a few questions:

a) Does the 5 year clock start when the visa is issued or the time
when you make your first entry?

b) If I validate my visa, and enter Australia 41/2 years later, should
I just stay put in the country for 2 continuous years to qualify for a
RRV? If so, when and how do I apply for citizenship? I don't want to
go right away in my 5 year term, but somewhere towards the end.

c) What happens if I hold a permanent visa but do not live in Oz and
get married? Does my wife apply to DIMA for a resident visa too? Can
anyone enlighten me on the process?

Appreciate any answers.

Thanks

Bondipom

Originally posted by O

    > I have a few questions:


    > a) Does the 5 year clock start when the visa is issued or the time

    > when you make your first entry?


    > b) If I validate my visa, and enter Australia 41/2 years later, should

    > I just stay put in the country for 2 continuous years to qualify for a

    > RRV? If so, when and how do I apply for citizenship? I don't want to

    > go right away in my 5 year term, but somewhere towards the end.


    > c) What happens if I hold a permanent visa but do not live in Oz and

    > get married? Does my wife apply to DIMA for a resident visa too? Can

    > anyone enlighten me on the process?


    > Appreciate any answers.


    > Thanks



a No idea



b yes look at http://www.citizenship.gov.au . Be careful
because you have to maintain residency in Australia for an RRV if you
want to travel at the end of the 5 years.



c You have to fulfill the usually resident requirement to sponsor your
wife as a PR. There is some debate about that so I will let a pro answer
that. Sometimes DIMIA put restrictions on marriage when issuing PR but
again I will let a pro answer that.



Look at booklet 1127 http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms for the
partner migration booklet.

Ptlabs

    > Originally posted by O

    > a) Does the 5 year clock start when the visa is issued or the

    > time when you make your first entry?



From the date your visa was granted.





    > b) If I validate my visa, and enter Australia 41/2 years later,

    > should I just stay put in the country for 2 continuous years to

    > qualify for a RRV?



http://ptlabs.topcities.com/faq0.html#rrv002



If you enter Australia on a permanent visa when it's close to the expiry
of the visa's re-entry facility, then you may well have to remain in
Australia while you do not yet qualify for an RRV and the while re-entry
facility of your visa has expired.





    > If so, when and how do I apply for citizenship?



http://www.citizenship.gov.au

Generally, if you reside in Australia for at least 2 years out of the
last 5 years on a permanent visa and at least 1 of those years
was within the last 2 years, then you meet the residency requirements
for citizenship.





    > c) What happens if I hold a permanent visa but do not live in

    > Oz and get married?



If you have been granted your permanent visa and have made a validation
trip, and then you get married, you will have to sponsor your wife for a
spouse visa. This, under current rules, will only be possible if you are
normally resident in Australia.





    > Does my wife apply to DIMA for a resident

    > visa too?



Yes, if she wants to have any residency rights in Australia that is.





    > Can anyone enlighten me on the process?



http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/books1.htm





Peter