OMG Visas Aps are such a PITA !!!

[bail229]

What!!! I didn't have to do any police clearance stuff for my citizenship! I did have to get FBI and local police clearance when I was applying for my visa to move here but nothing for citizenship!

They must have changed it sine I applied. That stinks!

[americaninoz]

May 13, 2012 23:01:27 GMT -5 aMrsin09 said:

May 13, 2012 22:56:35 GMT -5 americaninoz said:

ah yes sounds like you already had to do that then - makes sense that they only ask for that level of detail once I guess, no matter where you apply from

I had to fill it out twice. Once for the Fiancee Visa and once for the Permanent Visa.

huh - well I honestly have no idea i'm just glad this is my last visa applicaiton EVER - then I'll have 3 passports and can't imagine ever having to deal with this again! ;D

[americaninoz]

May 13, 2012 23:02:57 GMT -5 bail229 said:

What!!! I didn't have to do any police clearance stuff for my citizenship! I did have to get FBI and local police clearance when I was applying for my visa to move here but nothing for citizenship!

They must have changed it sine I applied. That stinks!

but were you out of the country for >12 months and >90 days in any one country from the time you because a permanent resident? if not then you don't have to do any police checks

[dorothyinAus]

Reading of everyone else's experiences has really made me change my mind on becoming an Australian citizen when I am eligible. I had really thought I didn't want to, especially because I was concerned I'd have to give up my US citizenship, but the visa process and needing Resident Return Visas all the time have really changed my mind. I will be so glad when I can fill out the last application form!

[americaninoz]

May 13, 2012 23:09:39 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

Reading of everyone else's experiences has really made me change my mind on becoming an Australian citizen when I am eligible. I had really thought I didn't want to, especially because I was concerned I'd have to give up my US citizenship, but the visa process and needing Resident Return Visas all the time have really changed my mind. I will be so glad when I can fill out the last application form!

yea totally - I think the process is worth it because once you have it you don't have to worry about renewing your perm residency every 5 years and paying new visas every 5 years too!! because as expats we're going to always need to leave & come back to Oz
my dh has been a perm res since he was a child, but isn't getting around to applying for citizenship until now (well, also had to meet residency requirements - which now means 4 years of living here....) and he'll be SO glad not to have to go through that process ever again (and me too since I do all of the research!)

[bail229]

May 13, 2012 23:09:03 GMT -5 americaninoz said:

May 13, 2012 23:02:57 GMT -5 bail229 said:

What!!! I didn't have to do any police clearance stuff for my citizenship! I did have to get FBI and local police clearance when I was applying for my visa to move here but nothing for citizenship!

They must have changed it sine I applied. That stinks!

but were you out of the country for >12 months and >90 days in any one country from the time you because a permanent resident? if not then you don't have to do any police checks

Ah ok. No I wasn't. That makes more sense now. I must have gotten confused reading all the replies!

Still annoying that you have to do that but at least it's the last time!

[americaninoz]

May 13, 2012 23:16:48 GMT -5 bail229 said:

May 13, 2012 23:09:03 GMT -5 americaninoz said:

but were you out of the country for >12 months and >90 days in any one country from the time you because a permanent resident? if not then you don't have to do any police checks

Ah ok. No I wasn't. That makes more sense now. I must have gotten confused reading all the replies!

Still annoying that you have to do that but at least it's the last time!

Yea I guess it isn't the normal situation - that you're out of the country that much since becoming a 'permanent resident' so I guess I understand why I need the check. But yes I agree - thank goodness for last visa app ever!!! Well, until we have another kid that is - then the paperwork for 3 passports starts all over again - for them at least, not me

[aMrsin09]

Dorothy, we cheated.

When we started this we were on two continents, in two time zones, with H's documentation on a third continent in a third timezone. We said eff this and used an atty. Since they did so well the first time, we used them for the rest of the process too. We just got a list of what they needed and we gave it to them. They may have "over asked" to cut down on any back and forth.

[americaninoz]

I used a visa company to do my UK visas, but I've done all of the Aussie ones myself
I guess it helps that they have a free phone number that you can call any time with questions:) It doesn't help that their website isn't totally clear though!
But not that I have called them like 5 times I think I know exactly what I need - now I just need to get those checks back and copy a bunch of documents then just wait for a visa interview!
I can imagine you'd want a lawyer to help though in some situations where it gets really complicated!!!