Hi

We have now been here 2 years on a SIR Visa and have just submitted our application for sponsorship for permanent residency, so I thought I’d post details of the process for anyone that is interested.

The process is much the same as the first stage, you apply to the SA Government for sponsorship and then if they agree to accept you they send you a form that you include with your visa application for permanent residency to DIMA. You can put your application in to SA for sponsorship after 23 months of arriving in Australia, so that you are ready to put in your application to DIMA as soon as your 2 years are up.

There is not much detail or the forms for second stage up on SA’s website at the moment, so I phoned and ask for them to send us the form. Very easy to fill in, they ask you all the normal personal details, a list of the addresses you have lived at and all your employment details.

They then ask about your commitment to South Australia, there are 4 questions,

A: Is it your intention to continue to live in SA? If yes indicate what ties you have within the SA community? You are most welcome to include letters from the community, business and religious leaders if you wish. If NO the do not complete this question.

B: What are some of the positive aspects of living in SA?

C: Would you recommend living in SA to your family and friends. (tick yes or no)

D: What are your reasons? (for answer to c)


Then there are 3 covering sheets for you to attach paperwork to for the categories that they need supporting documents.

Passport details – photocopies of all the relevant details

Documents to support residence – they can be: utilities bills, deeds to property, mortgage agreement or rental leases; bank statements, drivers licence, motor registration certificates; children’s school reports; private health insurance statements; taxation returns

Documents to support employment – they can be: Taxation returns; employment group certificates; superannuation statements; employment advise or pay/wage information; job application diary and outcomes; job application and responses.

They don’t require any original documents just photocopies and they don’t need to be certified.

It took us about half a day to get everything together, photocopied and fill in the form. We did end up with quite a pile of paperwork! But we thought it was better to give them more than they needed rather than not enough!

When I spoke to someone at SA immigration in November I was told that as our passports where stamped in Melbourne that our 2 years of residency would not start until we could prove when we started living in SA, and also we had to add anytime we spent out of the country to that 2 years. So we have added all of that into the time frame. I was also told that SA don’t require fresh medicals or police checks from us, but that DIMA might so we will have to wait and see on that one.

I will let you know when we hear back from SA immigration, (they said to allow 4 weeks for an answer and not to chase them!!) and how our DIMA application goes.

Sorry the post is so long!! But I thought lots of people might be interested in the next stage.

Jenni

Thanks for the update Jenni.

Although we have another 18 months before we can apply but we will be watching your progress with great interest.

Good luck.


Graham

Really helpful info, thanks for posting. :)

D

The electronic form on 'immigration sa' website is up and running now

Cheers
Si

That's great, Jenni. Thanks for that. Time to start filling that box file, methinks ... 12 months to go :rolleyes:

Jenni

Great to have some information from 'the horses mouth ' so to speak. Thanks for letting all us fellow SIR know how things are going. Will wait with interest for your next post.

Lets hope it is all as easy as it sounds. Glad to hear we don't need to certify or necessarily do meds/police checks.

Did they make any reference to the skilled employment ? (Yes - that old chestnut again!)

Just back to twiddling your thumbs again !

Heather

Thanks Jenni for all the info, keep us updated as you go along :D

hi

we only have 3 weeks to go. Have got the SA forms no problem. AS far as State sponsorship is concerned
However be aware with the paper work with DIMIA I have even filled in the 47sk, AGAIN,so everything is ready, and spent 3 hours in the libarary chatting to the notary to get everything signed (yes to send to DIMIA) everything has to be certified. we even spent 20 mins in the police station for the police checks and surprise (even over the xmas period) they came back in less than 2 weks.
Be aware at the moment( which I am sure will change with time /this visa catagory). You need everything!! all over again keep the paper chase up


Liz and Nick

Thanks Jenni, very useful indeed :love29:

[QUOTE]

Thanks for that :yeehah:

Would like to see how long it takes from your app going in to perm res being granted.

Thanks again

Babs :D

Hi Jenni

Thanks for taking the time to let all us fellow SIR visa applicants know what happens in the second stage.

Good luck with it. Please update us when all is fanilised.

Carol

Excellent to get some first hand experiences after all the guesswork. Will be following this one with great interest ;)

I have not got the SIR495 temp visa yet, but I was just thinking about the 2nd stage so I have printed this for reference, thanks Jenni :sign60:

Just one question, I, like many, paid for an agency to help us. Is it fair to say that you can do all this yourself & possibly on-line?

Would hate to have to shell out 'again' :sigh:

Angela

Thaks for all that really useful info jen, will be watching intentlt for new updates, as we have applied under the same visa. :D