We are finding out after only a few weeks here, that the SIR visa really is a bit of a shambles. We knew we wouldnt get Child benefits, health etc. But the government of SA is desperate to get you here, but once you are here, spending and investing in their economy, we are almost like long stay tourists....we are grateful to be here and loving it (before you shoot me down! :rolleyes: ) After reading JoBoznOllies thread, I thought FFS, how many more obstacles can DIMIA throw up at us lowly SIR Visa holders?

Do we get ANY breaks on this Visa? Interested to hear how other fellow bottom-dwellers in the Visa chain (said toungue in cheek <_< ) feel about this visa?!

Amanda

What's a matter you, why you looka so sad, what do you think you do, its a not so bad, it's a nice a place.


V

Shu-uppa your face, this is a serious thread.

Not just SIR us business skills visa people are on 4 years temporary residence before we can apply for PR. No benefit, minimum medicare no stamp duty refund, overseas fees for post compulsory education etc etc We knew before we applied that was the deal though.......

I agree with you 100%. We knew the conditions of the Visa and we signed on the dotted line to accept them. However, to be perfectly honest, I did so through rose tinted glasses not really giving any real consideration to what I was doing.

Like most people applying for the SIR, it was the only option open to us migrating to Australia. Such was the desire to move here, the conditions of the Visa didn't matter a jot to us.

Having been here almost 6 months now, the honeymoon period is over and reality has set in. I do feel a little hard done by and I don't want to sound like a bitter old Alf Garnett but already we have contributed so much to SA including the full gamut of taxes required of us but it will take probably another 2 years or so before we can benefit from our contributions to the economy.

I think a certain kind of mindset creeps in after a while. You begin to feel different as a temporary resident, not necessarily one of the crowd. And I know we all make choices and we choose to feel how we feel about certain things but there are constant little reminders that you're not a PR. For example if want to buy a house you've got to get permission. With some institutions you can't apply for a mortgage, it must be a Property Investment Loan or similarly tagged product. You're children are not entitled to the support of the state as are others. If you're seeking employment you'll notice that a lot of employers require you to be a PR and won't accept applications from TR's. And of course there's the Medicare issue too.

I really, really like Adelaide and I'm so grateful for having been given the opportunity to move here. We've met some wonderful people since we arrived, good, honest, decent people with no agenda except to be your friend. I love the quality of life here; less pollution, it doesn't take you an hour to drive 10k, a good balance between the importance of work and that of the family and thank God for the gift of sunshine.

I came to Australia on the SIR Visa and it's not perfect but I'm here, it's what we wanted so much and I don't regret a moment of it.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've made my bed, (it's still a bit uncomfortable but I'm getting used to it every day) and I'm gonna to relax a while. :)

Alan.

That is very very true as even though I have PR we still get asked all the time if we do so if I said no I'm sure heaps of doors would suddenly by closed in my face.

I do feel for you as it must be an awful thing not knowing what you can and can't do from the offset and realising when things are effecting your everyday life.

Can I ask if you knew back then what you know now would you still go for it? - That's not just aimed at Alan but anyone on SIR, as I woudl be interested to see the result as if it would affect your intial decision to move to Australia or is all the bad points with the visa just little annoying things but you can live with them so long as your in Australia?

Sasha :)

Absolutely! No question of not doing it. It's such a massive decision to make and once we made it, little would have changed our minds.

Alan. :)

That's good to hear Alan just a shame that you have all these other things as if moving to the other side of the world wasn't enough to worry about :rolleyes:

Sasha :)

NO

I didn't think you were on a SIR visa Shaz? or are you sayign you wouldn't do life again :lol:

What barriers have you come up with since being in Adelaide?

Sasha :)

Don't think about it really, it's the only visa we qualified for anyway... and quite a bit more straightforward than when we migrated to the UK where we certainly didn't get any breaks for at least 4 years ... :chuckle:

Id say NO BREAKS....

So "would i go SIR again" NO CHANCE :(

Flipping heck Karen I think I would be feeling the same as you if I had all these promises made only to be broken.

What happens if you go SIR to Brisbane as Queensland don't offer STNI so what would happen after the 2 years?

Will the DIMIA refund your money to you?

Sasha :)

I wouldn't go SIR again, I think we've all been conned. Like the others have said we're not entitled to any benefits, we're all putting money into the pot (so to speak) when you apply for a job they ask what sort of visa do you have, you say temporary & they just don't want to know. It's very difficult to get a mortage & if you do you have to get permission for it. We're not entiltled to the $7000 that you get for buying your first Aussie home..why not ???

If I knew then what I know now I wouldn't consider it. Don't get me wrong I love it here & we've been given a fab opportunity but at what price ? :angry: :(

That does seem as though you have all been taken for a ride as they will willing take your cash and let you boost the local economy yet due to age or trade skills you are not entitled to even simple things which are paid out by the government that you have been lining the pockets of! Like the first home buyers payment :o

This is a good thread to have as it will let people know what to expect on the SIR visa BEFORE they sell everything and move tothe other side of the world. If you look at the thread regarding having babies on an SIR even an experienced agent can not find in the legislation exactly what will happen, it's is as though the rules are being made as they go along.

I think the majority of you on SIR on here are the first ones to try this out as it was all fairly new, so your experience of how life has been in Australia once you have made the move is vital to other people looking to go the same route.

I know it's not much comfort to you all who are already out there but let's hope this makes someone else more aware before they find out the hard way!.

Sasha :)

Hi Folks,

Ermm!!!!!!!!!!!! excuse me, but there are advantages for those of you on SIR temporary visas……….

The Bill that exempts temporary residents from the charge to Australian tax in respect of their overseas income (save for employment income) received Royal Assent on the 6th of April, 2006. It is therefore expected to become law as from the 1st of July 2006.

This is a significant change in the tax laws of Australia affecting temporary visaholders who are in receipt of income deriving from outside Australia (such as rental income or other investment income). Individuals in receipt of such income or anticipated capital gains who are considering migrating to Australia via (say) a permanent skilled visa may want to consider the option of obtaining an employer sponsorship and a long term temporary visa under subclass number 457.

It is thought that persons who may pay less tax than under the present law includes provisional business skills visaholders, retirement visaholders, and (possibly) Skilled Independent Regional visaholders, as well as the group that is intended to be the main beneficiaries of the change in the law, individuals with an employer sponsorship and a visa granted under subclass number 457.

Has anyone thought about contacting their local parliamentary representative and airing their dissatisfaction? It looks like the SIR wasn't really thought through at the time it was created. Especially for things like the FHOG, especially as you say - you've paid all the taxes and contributed to the SA Economy.

We had the maximum qualifying points that one could achieve, including the hardest skills assessment through AIM and could have migrated with PR. But the week before our application was sent, DIMIA increased the points threshold by another 5 points. We then decided to apply for a business Visa to Perth, which required us to turnover $500k pa and employ at least 2 Australians full time.

Then one day our MA told us about the SIR to Adelaide, which for us was a much less restrictive route. Although I agree that certain elements of the visa seem a little unfair against other visas, in particular the $7k home buyers grant, I don't see it as a signifcant an issue to distort my perception of the whole migration process to Adelaide. For me the other restrictions are insignificant.

In June 2005, I sent an e mail to the Assistant Director of The Government of South Australia, suggesting that the first time buyers grant, should be paid to the SIR holder upon granting of PR. The reply I received was quite curt and basically advised me that it was DIMIA criteria and not theirs and that I was aware of the criteria upon application and questioned why I was making the point after I hade applied. Fearing that I would be put on the list as a political dissident, I decided to 'take my medicine'

At the end of the day though and the point that I am trying to make is that the SIR Visa, gives some their only opportunity to migrate to OZ, be it with some minor restrictions for 3 years and for that fact alone, I feel that it should'nt really be knocked.

V

Should we be asking Andy for a separate SIR forum, then if you guys want to get your views and grievances together it will all be in one place?

We are applying for a SIR and I agree that the restrictions do seem a bit disappointing ( no child benefit entilement and 7k first time buyers grant)
but we too have no other choice................. We are having to sell our house here too to give other the $100k bond - we dont have that luxury of not having to.

But, im quite happy to do this - to get us in, and the way I see it is - 2years is no time....

My worry is that some of you talk about getting jobs with a temp is more difficult - is this true?

Anyone NOT had any problems - as our agent hasnt mentioned this to us

thanks
sarahx.

That's all well and good if you can afford to move ot Australia and leave your property rented out in the UK.

Elaine - they already have a place in this thread :lol:

Sasha :)

One of the main things I object to on SIR is the constant change of rules, when we first applied Mike could work in the skill he came out on or not and either of us could work full time for twelve months to guarantee PR then it changed where it had to be him only then it changed again to either of us but only in shortage skill areas and so on. I appreciate this is a new visa but shouldn't all these matters be sorted before the visa is ever decided on. It seems as though you are at the whim of what ever mood DIMIA is in on the day. When applying to come here most of us are so grateful to get the chance to come here we are not really aware of all the implications of what being TR means eg. in respect of how employers look at you,the financial costs and yes I agree with you Karen, it does make you feel like a second class citizen even though you are on 60 point skills.I think people also need to be aware of the finances re. education. I was transferring from uni. in the UK which was going to be a straightforward process and I knew I had to find the funding for two years($26,000) but when I arrived here they decided I had to do three and a half years and the costs have spiralled to $40,000.Nobody can tell me whether I will still be classed as an international student for the extra year and a half and have the fees to pay for that period even though I think I can't be an international student if I have my PR by then.Unfortunately we don't feel living here is worth all this grief and have decided to return (there are other factors involved in this that are not visa related) and no, if we'd known all this about SIR we wouldn't have applied. Sorry to sound so angry but I feel I've been let down by the SA gov. and the uni.

We have not had any problems. No one has asked for my visa status and neither have they asked Marius .... he has had absolutely no problem finding a job. :P

There is hope, 2 years is a very short time in the greater scheme of things .... :D

Thanks Annette

My thoughts exactly - What is 2 years out of a lifetime!

Sarah
ps - we live in worcestershire!

Im just wondering how good the advice was from your agents.If it is your only choice then fair enough.Our agent said "dont touch it with a barge pole".........but there again we had enough points to get in.

Does it make you feel any better if you know that most Aussies didn't get $7000 for buying their first home either?

The govt. only brought it in some years back, I think around the time that the GST was introduced, and property prices increased. I believe the main reasoning was to help young people buy their first home, because they had no equity in any other home. I don't believe I've seen it advertised anywhere for being 'your first Aussie home', it is just called the 'First Homeowner's Grant', or something like that.

When it first came in, only people who had never owned their own home before, were eligible, so most homeowners missed out. Even if you had been with a partner, in which you had your own home, then separated, you would still not be eligible. So, even though people had been paying taxes for 5-50 years or more, that still didn't make them eligible, unless they had NEVER owned a home before.

Regarding Medicare, I don't really know the rules, and may be wrong, but aren't UK residents entitled to some sort of reciprocal agreement with regard to 'necessary' treatment?' Is it just like you are travelling in another country for two years, and then when you become a permanent resident, you will be eligible??

And regarding the idea that we are 'desperate' for you to come, (Don't shout at me here! :doh: ), but if we are that desperate, wouldn't we just let any 'nice' people who are not going to blow us up, come in to the country? I would presume that there are more people wanting to come, than we want to let in, so shouldn't we not make it TOO easy, or we would be overrun and not able to provide the infrastructure for everybody in such a short time. I believe the govt. does have limits, and have to find some ways to decide who to let in. If people in the UK are making it sound like Australia cannot survive without you, then I would say they are exaggerating, so don't be conned! As an Australian, we have a big country, with not such a big population, so we want to share it with others, but don't want to get ourselves into financial strife by taking anyone and everyone, and giving them all the benefits immediately. I had a bit of a squiz at the DIMIA site today, and it did make it very clear that to come here is an expensive business, and so don't attempt it if you cannot afford it and if you don't really want to come.

Having said all of that, I can see where some of you are coming from, and I understand that it would be an extremely nerve-wracking thing to do, and I admire the strength and risk-taking that you have shown in order to actually be here. I do constantly wonder how easy it would be to emigrate to the UK and what the conditions would be like in that situation. Does anyone know?

Anyway, most Australians would welcome you with open arms, and hope that the process is not too difficult. After all, many of us are descendants of the British anyway.

Did you know that South Australia is meant to be the only state that began with free citizens, as opposed to convict colonies?

Well said, 'True' :D

Well of course your agents going to say that to you if you have the full points for PR.....!!

But for those who havent - its our only option...............

Isnt that what I said."if its your only choice then fair enough".

Me personally,I wouldnt take what anybody says for granted,Cynical? yes,I checked on the website for what I could get..........after a bad experience with a "so called" good emigration agency.and good money down the pan.I found an agent in Adelaide and he was brill.Hes also got 2 other people in with visas that I know..........one of which spent 18 months with another agent and got refused!.

Maybe what I should say ,is,it is not the best visa,as they keep changing the goalposts to get PR.but as I said if its your only choice!.(better than none)

Yes that's right, Adelaide was one of the cities not established through convict labour. As for the description 'convict' though, are you aware that sorts of crime that would result in transportation were stealing a hen, forgery, or worse still stealing milk from a goat.

Therefore I find it strange when some state that most Australians have hereditary criminal genes.

V

Mum and dad just left after 8 weeks here. While dad was here we had to go to the doctor as he was unwell. I rang the doctors to ask if we could go and she told me to go to the medicare office with his passport and they would issue him with an temporary medicare number to see the doc.

Dad got his part payment back from Medicare after we'd seen the doctor. Medicare told us it was all part of the agreement they have with the UK. Now I appreciate they were only here 8 weeks but surely it could work.

A friend on SIR who have moved down to Aldinga Beach had to call the doctor out to her kids and it cost her nothing.

Jo

True Blue,

You have sound ideas and have posted a very sensible reply. I have experience of what it's like to emigrate to the UK, but somehow I get the feeling this thread is more about letting off steam than anything else, so I'm not sure anyone would really listen... <_< For what it's worth, this is what is was like:

We moved to the UK in 1998. We had to pay the same taxes, National Insurance etc. as everyone else, but did not qualify for any tax credits, benefits or grants of any type and had to pay international student fees for any studies conducted for the first 4 years. This is because we were considered temporary residents until we had been settled in the country for 4 years (now recently changed to 5 years). Then, we could apply for permanent residency. This took another 8 months, so by the time we eventually qualified for any benefits remotely equivalent to British citizens, we had been contributing to the economy for almost 5 years (still didn't qualify for certain benefits though). Then, we had to wait another year before we could apply for naturalisation as citizens. We could not get a mortgage for 3 years and even after that period, had to pay substantially higher fees and interest because of the lack of a "stable" credit history (we had moved house once and had been tenants and not home owners - work that one out!). Did we feel hard done by - not for one minute. Do we now - not on yer nelly! :D Life's too short .... ;)

Oh, and British passport holders do qualify for reciprocal Medicare for immediately necessary treatment. We have been to the doctor (me), emergency department (Miro) and dentist (school clinic) and have not yet paid a cent in medical costs, apart from a small "gap" charge on the antibiotics I needed...

I've got an on-line website to make a petition it's PETITION & there's also one HERE

I don't know if anyone is interested in starting one up, I'm to technically thick :loopy: to do it but I will be happy to sign it. I'll leave it for you SIR visas to consider :D

I'm listening, Annette, so thanks for that! I had wondered about it for awhile, as I haven't experienced emigration from any country. So how did you find your Australian experience compared with the UK experience? Harder or easier? Do you think the expectations are roughly the same? Thanks for your reply.
Jen

Oh no,
True Blue I feel really deflated now, there was me thinking I was going to be Adelaide's Saviour. ;)
Might just take my suitcase of Marmite elsewhere now.

Guzzler

:lol2:

Don't worry Guzzler, I'm sure you'll be SOMEBODY's saviour once you get here!

Hey, I must really try some Marmite one day, and see how it compares to my staple, which is Promite.

:lol:

Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread a bit, will just quickly reply and then sod off ;)

Emigrating to Australia is a whole lot more expensive than it was for us to move to England. It took a lot longer for the visas to be finalised (for UK, once you have all you supporting documents, you take it to the nearest High Commission, queue all day and then have an interview, after which your visa will be granted if they are happy with your interrogation). For Aus immigration, we found it quite straightforward, i.e. as long as you follow step by step all the processes and gather the information needed (and as long as you are sure you have the points and therefore qualify), you are pretty much sure you have a good chance to get the visa, whereas with the UK, it seemed (to us at least) that it almost depended on who was on duty the day you went for your interview. If they were in a bad mood, you didn't get your visa or vice versa (I'm sure it's not as random as that, but it was as clear as mud, if you catch my drift..). We didn't need a medical for the UK visa, but we did have one at Heathrow airport when we arrived (x-rays and general medical exam). It's hard to compare the two, it's so different. I would say the UK one was easier, but more stressful because it was not so clearly defined what one had to do to get a visa (we got one based on the fact my gran was from the UK and my dad was a British Citizen). It's hard to say whether expectations are the same, because when we applied the only way one could get a visa to migrate to the UK was through "blood" ancestry or through seeking asylum. Now there are new skilled categories which I have no experience of.

In terms of the "human" experience, we have found it easier to emigrate to Aus, because the climate and general way things look and work are similar to South Africa, while the UK is very different and therefore quite a shock to the system.... we have found instant acceptance here, and the people are very friendly.

Having read many views of the SIR visa and being an SIR visa holder myself I would like you all to read and digest some of these points.

1. Within 3 days of landing here I found a job a house and secured a mortgage through the Commonwealth Bank. Oh and a credit card. Although didn’t get the $7000 home buyers grant but didn’t expect that anyway.
2. The Children were in school within 7 days.
3. Once the house was all sorted out I got a mobile phone contract.
4. At the end of the last tax year I had a good tax rebate and only been her 3 months.
5. Medicare had no problems with example, I went to see a GP she referred me for a scan and then to a consultant. This process was all completed within 2 days. My part of the cost was about $200 although I could have got cheaper if I went totally public. Some people might think $200 to pay why should we pay. Think about this, how much National Insurance are you paying a month in the UK. 100 200 300 pounds. You don’t pay that here as an SIR visa holder.
6. I found a Permanent job paying me a salary and various allowances, my employer didn’t even ask about my visa at the interview. I told him and explained the deal we had. His reply was I think you need some continuity in life, 3 days later offered me the job. I would like to point out this is not in any way the job I had in the UK and what the TRA assessed me as. A year on the company has set up a distance learning programme for me at the Queensland University of Technology to do a Grad Certificate for the next year. Yes I did get questioned about my visa being a temp resident etc but didn’t present any major problems.
7. I am now having a new house built so yes I have 2 houses.


If I have any questions I see SA immigration who are more than happy to guide me in the right direction to see the right people. I know many other SIR visa holders who have had no problems, living and working normal lives. As for the Child Tax credit and home buyers allowance well nothing has changed but I knew the deal before I left the UK. Enough said.

Is the SIR visa as bad as some people are making it out to be?

Good post Nick and it does show a more positive side to things.

I think for a few people on the SIR visa they feel as though some of the information hasn't been set from the start but then this is a new visa and the any problems that occur are new to the DIMIA who are having to constantly look at the specifications and add to them. It is good to have a thread like this to inform others of the "downside" to this type of visa but also to show if it has really caused people major problems. I do think the details should of been finalised though before this visa came up as an option, it felt like once the points dropped DIMIA realised there was heaps of people who couldn't now get in and this visa came in as a quick option.

Someone has mentioned about Uni fees I have noted a few people who have come over here and have been told a certain fee only to find it has later suddenly jumped up by a large amount. If you are a tight budget or even any budget suddenly having to find an extra $20k from thin air could be difficult.

In my opinion and judging from people's stories for some it has caused a few problems minor problems but compared tot he fact they are living in Australia it is nothing, for others it has caused major problems depending on their own personal circumstances.

So if the SIR is your only option to come into Australia it is down to you to sum up is it worth it? I think for some it would be a massive YES but for others it would be a NO. If you compare that to even the number of people on a PR visa it still works out the same some people just hate it others love it. Like I said it all depends on personal circumstances and personal experiences.

It is good though to have a thread where people can read what the limitations are on a certain visa and how it effects people good or bad, so please keep your opinions coming as it is important for people looking at a SIR visa.

I'm one of those who cannot get, and desperately could use the First Homeowners Grant. It was never intended to be made available to migrants who are bringing large sums of cash into the country. When the legislation was drafted a vital clause was inadvertently left out which which was something to do with never having owned a property ANYWHERE in the world. There was a review a few years back to see if it was possible to change it and the government decided it was more hassle than it was worth. However I have heard things in the media recently which indicates that the legislation is to be reviewed again, and about time too. I've worked damn hard here and paid shed loads of taxes (even when I was unemployed I was landed with a huge tax bill from my benefits) and I can't get the one break that would give me some stability in my life, to have my own house to live in.