To our Australian friends

[juio99]

My Russian lady friend says her girlfriend is going to visit her Australian boyfriend for 3 weeks or so over Christmas.  When I asked about visa to get into Australia, she said the Aus man was putting up 10,000 Aus dollars in some sort of escrow account with Aus govt to help insure that that RW actually went back to Russia.

The Russian women were asking me if this sounded like the truth or was the man just making himself sound like he was going to a lot of trouble to get the lady there.

I don't know what the situation is regarding visas for RW to visit in Australia.  So can any of you give me some input here??

Also, that might be an interesting avenue for US to consider.  Or would many feel they would have to handcuff the lady to them, to insure getting the deposit back??

JR

[juio99]

... in response to To our Australian friends, posted by juio99 on Dec 8, 2001

This came directly to me from my post on RWL, so I am sharing it here.  JR

- - - - - - -  - -- -

JR,

I havent managed to work out how to add to RWL, but can you add it for me please.

It is true that to bring a RW into Australia requires a $10,000.00 bond.
The gentleman concerned loses that money if she does not leave the country
at the required time.  They are very tough here on certain countries, even
New Zealand now.

He would have been better off for first meeting to either go to Russia or as
in my case meet in somewhere in asia where it is cheap.

If she has met him before and they are serious enough to marry, she is able
to apply for a "marriage visa" meaning she can come into country and must
marry within 9 months.  It still takes 2 years to become an Australian
citizen, of which she must do. (it is better to do so than as resident for
they can kick you out on technicality) .

The other way is for her to come on tour and he goes on tour with her, that
way she does not need ($10,000.00 bond). The cheapest way for her to come is
from Russia to Seoul to Brisbane or Sydney via Japan Airlines, rather than
using Aeroflot. (Aust$2,200.00 aprox   --JAL). I have been quoted US$2,000
approx for Aeroflot, but that may include agencies fee.  It is better if she
understand english as it will be easier and cheaper for her.  Any queries
from the RW can be directed to me.

Cheers
Bazza

[Mick]

... in response to Reply from Australia, posted by juio99 on Dec 9, 2001

A quote for Aeroflot (US$2000 = ~AUS$4000) is ridiculous, unless it was for 2 persons.

I am also trying to figure out why it would be cheaper for her if she understood English?? Is it because the airline would provide an escort - interpreter?? :-)))

Cheers

Mick

[Mick]

... in response to Reply from Australia, posted by juio99 on Dec 9, 2001

JR,

I am afraid that the reply from "Bazza" contains some misleading information.

First of all, the security bond option is only available for relatives (parent, child, spouse, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, aunt,uncle, niece, nephew or 'step' equivalent of any of these) or business visitors. I can only again refer you to the form 1149 in my post below. I explored this option myself when inviting my now fiancee for a visit and I know that this option was not available for me - not being her relative.
More about a bond: if you do sponsor a relative for a short visit, you may or may not be requested to lodge this bond. I am not sure about what criteria they use for whether the bond is requested and how much. From the information from DIMA, this can be anywhere between AUS$5,000 - 10,000.

Secondly, after marriage, she will have to wait 2 years to obtain permanent residency status, and then 2 more years to be eligible for Australian citizenship, so it does not take 2, but at least 4 years for her to become Australian citizen.

Mick

[Mick]

... in response to To our Australian friends, posted by juio99 on Dec 8, 2001

she is a)sponsored FAMILY visitor (= close relative)
      b)sposored business visitor

For more details about who can be a sponsor, check out the form 1149 at the website below.

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/formlist2.htm

Im short, if she is "only" his girlfriend, this option is NOT available.

Mick

[micha1]

... in response to To our Australian friends, posted by juio99 on Dec 8, 2001

No problem at all,  I do understand our AUSSIE friend.  Because it is the same in Canada.  I do not know of how
many people, we do read about in the papers, having to pay back the govt. back  for people in their family, brothers, sisters, parents, nephews or what have you.  Because they sign for them, bonded them.
And please trust that the govt, do collect you, clean you out, some time.
As for couple, at least here in Québec, we have the matrimony law.  If you are married for three years or have a
child,  you become financial partner, in case of a split up, it is fifty-fifty, no if, but or in between.
Many of my friends went to the cleaner, had to leave their house, stay in motels, pressed  and depressed.
They had business,  but the woman sometime wants cash,  I am sure you can figure out the rest.

[Del]

... in response to Re: To our Australian friends, posted by micha1 on Dec 8, 2001

'post a bond' to enable anyone to obtain a visa - you are mistaken.
You are cordially invited to back your claims of governmental pursuit of anyone under the immigration act for financial support - where's your proof?
I dispute your assertion that this is commonplace in the newspaper.

[Jack]

... in response to To our Australian friends, posted by juio99 on Dec 8, 2001

JJ, I mean JR, very interesting question.

[juio99]

... in response to very interesting jj, posted by Jack on Dec 8, 2001

of this jj and Max?  I would like for myself and everyone else to be able to see how close we are in what we say and how our writing styles compare.

JR

[ron]

... in response to Jack, could you please refer me to a sam..., posted by juio99 on Dec 9, 2001

No problem JR, it was only the j in jr that threw me off for a second, I thought it was jj! My mistake!

Didn't you read the post, i wrote jj, oh excuse me, I mean JR, just a slip off the keyboard.