Immigration Blues

[Raevoyn]

Folks,

If anyone has any comments on immigration, good or bad, post it here so that others can learn from our mistakes, and our little titbits can make it easier for those that follow!

I can not understand why it is so much harder to immigrate to another country nowadays when the world has become such a smaller place!

[biffon]

the biggest problem facing 1st world countries these days is immigrants flooding in.

I have had my fair share of ups & downs when it comes to migration..
took me and my partner nearly 5 years to just get permanent residency in Australia,
But the one lesson weve learnt is that you have to be persistent, commit to coming and make sure you dot the i's and cross every T along the way...

i have one gripe and that is seeing how hard it is to come here if you don't have money, and how the system gets abused by those that do have money, especially by a select few zimbabweans.
Not naming names but i know of two families that sent their children over here to basically run their businesses because they didnt want to commit to coming themselves.. now when its time to put their money where their mouths are they are of two minds cause they think its a "police state" or they "don't like aussies cause theyre arrogant" or the best one ive heard "I cant smoke where i like so they can go jump" -after being asked to put out their fag at a cricket match at the WACA here in Perth

the only ones that are losing out are the kids that have put in the hard yards and actually really do want to stay...

my heart goes out to those people that cant afford to come and have no other way (skills or family) to get over because its just so unfair to watch a few, abuse a system at the expense of others.

[Raevoyn]

I paid loads of money to get my residency in Australia, and then I got my application revoked when they "didn't know my new address". It's stupid, because they knew exactly where to collect me and detain me, because I signed a form saying that the immigration department could obtain my details from all other government agencies and vice versa! I know the the Vehicle Licencing Dept, Child Support, Medicare, and Tax Dept all knew my address and were able to contact me when necessary!

I feel that the Australian government just like to decline applications so that they can get more revenue from applicants. What is the applicant going to say, "No, I'm not going to apply again!" I don't think so, after investing AU$2000 in the application, that's way too much money to throw away! Now I have to wait 5 years before I can apply to enter Australia on a tourist visa so that I can see my daughter!

It's fitting, I think, that a nation spawned from convicts are a bunch of crooked operators, and even though there is loads of space and they are crying out for proffessional qualifications, they make it so difficult that before you even pass the start line, you're already behind the 8-ball!

I would love to boycott the country all together, but unfortunately for me, I need to see my daughter!

F*ck it, it's easier to get into America at the moment!

[Aboriginal]

Hmmm. Yes. A real long way to get ones residency here. I got mine this year after 6yrs waiting. Woo hoo. Best day I can remember in a long time.

For those about to apply...OZ just has a lot of rules. (and I mean a lot! it is the most beaurocratic place I know). Zimbabwe does too..... Just nobody follows them, bribes etc.. So if you like not listening to rules, bribes, drink driving, causing others to have lung disease by your smoking around them, go and live in the US of rednecks and YU. K. of mud and alzeimers! You'll be happier there.

Here there is a system that works. It may be complicated but just be patient. Oh and use a bloody agent to do the beurocratic shite for you. It may cost a little more but in the long run it'll pay off!

[TiGeR]

Come to SUNNY SOUTH AFRICA! :smiley20: If you have skills/ money, this is the closest you'll get to 'home'...the girls are pretty, the rugger is good (well, MOSTLY!) the sun shines, the beers are cold & its Africa baby...

On the other hand (to quote a famous son of South Africa) the crime is pretty bad, the future is uncertain & the govt has BIG issues down the road to deal with (basically 400yrs of bad stuff to the majority, with no 'real' changes since independence & democracy...)

So...what does one do? Pick a spot, commit & make the most of it!...IMHO

[Raevoyn]

I still don't know if you are promoting South Africa or daming it?

[TiGeR]

:smiley20: That was my intention...you see, there is NO perfect place on earth... we all have to chose what the balance we are prepared to live with is...a kind of scale of good vs bad & what we are prepared to put up with...i chat to mates who are still in Zim & ask them WTF??!?! but for them, on balance, Zim is the best place to be...thousands of Saffers ran away/ 'immigrated' when the ANC came to power & are now coming back- same as in Zim after independence...HEAPS of ppl came back in the golden yrs (mid ninties)...

"it is appointed unto man to die once...but does he REALLY live?"

[Raevoyn]

I see your point, but it doesn't really help my situation does it now?

I still think that the Australian Government needs to re-asses their policies on migrants - I realise that there are some cases that are bogus, but tainting all with the same brush, I'm sorry, but we live on a very diverse planet where we are all individuals and so we should be treated accordingly.

I cannot for the life of me see where the Australian Immigration department can justify splitting a father from his daughter - when asked if my daughter will suffer any immediate loss for me not being there I said physically no, because she lives with her mother, but mentally and later on in life there will masses of repercussions, because she does not get to see her father. Already when I talk to her on the phone, she keeps asking when can she come to visit me or when can I go visit her - The other day for her 4th birthday Piper asked me if I would be going to join her for her birthday party, and I had to explain delicately that I will not be around for another 3 years - this is a jail sentence all in itself!

I hardly liked Aussies before I went there, but I tell you what now, they have to work overtime now and extra hard just to get me to give them the time of day!

I wish that I had loads of cash, because then I could pay AU$8000 to appeal the Immigration ruling and get back there! (so if anyone is feeling benevolent let me know - just kidding!)

I'd like to hear from any Aussies who are in this forum and know what they have to say!

I don't mean to be negative and bitter, but it's kinda hard when you get treated like a criminal for no real reason!

[vukenmuven]

Try the UK ...

There has been a long winded episode going on the the Home Office (UK Immigration Authority) on the processing of Zimbabwean applications for Residency.

Up towards the end of last year, there were hundreds of Zimbos whose applications had been with the dept. for as long as 12 months, where it should take up to 6 weeks.

It came to light that they were investigating a scam of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe, whose paperwork had somehow been fast tracked through the Home Office, and had put all Zim applications on hold until they had resolved this.

Since then they have "tightened up" on immigration laws, although people still get through.

The old method of residency was an application for an Ancestral Visa (£100) which allowed you to live and work in the UK without access to public funds (the Dol). After which you applied for Indefinate Leave to Remain (£375 per applicant), which lasts forever, but which allows you to then apply for Nationality a year after receiving ILR (+\- £500 for the whole process).

The new requirements are that an Ancestral now lasts for 5 years, then only can you apply for ILR, with which you can only apply for Nationality 2 years after receiving your ILR. A 7 year wait ...
And to top it all, before you can apply for Nationality, you have to undertake a "Britishness Test" and pass showing how well you know Britain before being considered. Another factor is that you have to prove you can speak English, but the "Britishness Test" papers has written in bold on top "If you have difficulty understanding or speaking English, please ask for assistance. Old Cambridge GCSE English is accepted (upon receipt of O Level Results), but not the Zim Std. English.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/180/180011_britishness_test__how_you_fared.html

Seek asylum ... yes, you get detained for a few weeks, but then they put you up in a fully funded flat or house (no bills), pay you £75 a week for being here and take an age and a half to process your papers ... inevitably you ended up getting British Citizenship.

[Blazzo]

I think the best way to go about it in Aus is to use an agent, more expensive but its your future you are dealing with and its "kind of" important, so a few extra dollars is definitely worth it. At the end of the day it is a legal process and you have to be so meticulous about every little thing, they are seriously full of kuk at the immigration office, but a good agent knows all the in and outs and will take care of all the details. They won't take your case if you don't have a chance(or at least they shouldn't- legally) The one I am using has a 100% success rate so far. You don't want to give them an excuse to decline your application, I think about 40% of apps are declined, so best to make sure

[biffon]

Well everyone said i wouldnt get in - I did (after persevering and finding loopholes in the stupid skills system)
everyone said my folks wouldnt get in - they did (after appying for asylum and initially getting denied, they appealed and got residency on the basis that their lives would be in danger if they returned- my old man being active MDC)
everyone said my partners folks were too old to get in - they did (WA has relaxed age rules for farmers as there is such a shortage at the moment!)

My brother-in-law was our last family member left in Zim and they have just granted his visa 2 weeks ago (last remaining relative) so in all it has taken my family 7 years and upwards of AU$15 000 in applications, appeals etc.. but we're now "IN"
and Satisfied as hell if not a little weary! :D

[Blazzo]

Congrats on that,must be a gooood feeling! starting the process myself,in my case had to get a degree first before I could apply, but as you say, will have to persevere and do what needs to be done to get people out, there are may ways to skin a cat, just need to know how

[Raevoyn]

It's good to know, obviously not so good for everyone concerned, that I'm not the only one having difficulties! I can only start again in 2010, so I figure I'm going to make as much money between now and then, then I'll hit it again, and see what the story is!

Dunno, hope it works out!

[Blazzo]

Anyone have any ideas of what the situation in Zim is now in regards to getting Zim police clearance (from Oz), heard its practically impossible unless you go yourself, they full of Sh#t as usual..?? Haven't really looked into it yet but will have to pretty soon, so any info will help..

[biffon]

police clearance we found to be ok - but that was a bout 18 months ago.

just deposite money into the CID bank account which you can get details of from the Zimbabwean high commision in canberra (if youre in aus) then send a letter of request along with the forms -( fingerprints done by the cops here.)

we got ours in a lovely brown manila envilope with a handwrtten note and the typewritten police clearance after about 3 weeks after we sent our request.

[Blazzo]

cheers for that, will get hold of Canberra, always an interesting call...

[Shayne]

I found the Zim High Commission in Canberra to be extremely helpful when reapplying for my Zim passport.

[Bianca]

I think the best way to go about it in Aus is to use an agent, more expensive but its your future you are dealing with and its "kind of" important, so a few extra dollars is definitely worth it. At the end of the day it is a legal process and you have to be so meticulous about every little thing, they are seriously full of kuk at the immigration office, but a good agent knows all the in and outs and will take care of all the details. They won't take your case if you don't have a chance(or at least they shouldn't- legally) The one I am using has a 100% success rate so far. You don't want to give them an excuse to decline your application, I think about 40% of apps are declined, so best to make sure


Blazzo - would you mind telling me who you used as we are thinking about mving to Oz ourselves. Going out in March to check the country out - can't wait!

[Blazzo]

Sure, I heard about her through word of mouth,straight forward and professional, all you need, I am currently using her and she seems to know what she is doing, her website :
http://www.koalaoz.com.au/profile_frame.html
There are many agents out there but I would recommend her too

[Bianca]

That's great - thanks!

[Blazzo]

Can anyone point me in the right direction? If one wants to get stuff out of Zim and South Africa, and put it in a container to be shipped to Perth, where do I start? Any recommendations as there are many sleezy sharks out there when it comes to this sort of thing

[biffon]

Biddalphs is a good place to start...

another great agent to use is Florence Buegge-Borshoff
http://www.businessmigration.com.au/about_us.php
she helped us get my Parents-in-law and brother-in-law in when noone else would touch them -they were put in the "Too hard" basket if you know what i mean.

[vukenmuven]

Be sure you know the rules and regs as much as possible when immigrating to the UK.

One area that is grossly overlooked is Driving Licences, where everyone rushes out to get an International Licence valid for a few years.

In the UK, the International Licence doesn't count if you have immigrated here. Your original Zim drivers licence is valid for 12-months from the day you LAND in the UK, not from the first day you start driving. Once the 12-month period is over, you must apply for a UK licence, which inevitably means you submit your Zim licence which is not returned. It's basically a swap ... This may pose a slight probelm if you go home and drive, as the Zim authorities get funny when people have UK licences.

In another area of life, if you travel to the UK to settle, and have a child during the VISA period of your stay in the UK, note that he/she does not become a UK citizen, but rather takes the nationality of the mother. They will issue a British Birth Certificate, but you will have to apply for a Zim Passport for the child. This can pose a bit of aggrovation, in that the Zim authorities then take time out to scrutinise the British Birth Certificate and why you got it in the first place, but they will not issue a Zim Birth Certificate as the child was born outside Zim.

Oh boy, fun and games. 3 years on, and we're still waiting for our daughters Zim passport. In that time we have got our permanent residents permit, so she can in actual fact get a Brit one now ...

[tongtastic]

Gosh Ryan, sounds like you have had some bad luck over here! Not a good way to start off with your family, even though your daughter was born here - you know what I mean. I'm so glad that I didn't have any of those probs especially with my indefinate leave here and now i should be applying for my british passport but its just too expensive and time consuming and we have just been told that we are approved to immigrate to australia - YAY! it took around three months and so glad that are in now, such a relief. Does anyone know about the driving licence issues in australia when immigrating from the uk? Any info would be great. Thanx

[Blazzo]

Depends where you are going , but if you are coming to Western Aus then you have 3 mths to convert. You will only have to sit a theory test (30Questions), v easy.
See site (http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/licensing/mylicence/1365.asp)

[tongtastic]

thanks. we will be going to sydney but should be some info on there about the driving licence rules there. big help.

[dallas]

tong that is great when do you go?? going to be sad to see you go tho!!

[Vee]

Anyone have any ideas of what the situation in Zim is now in regards to getting Zim police clearance (from Oz), heard its practically impossible unless you go yourself, they full of Sh#t as usual..?? Haven't really looked into it yet but will have to pretty soon, so any info will help..

Blazzo, there is a woman over there in Oz who can do it for you. I needed clearance for my NZ residency. It's quite expensive but really worth it as I got mine in a couple of weeks and she's really good with communicating with you so you always know the status of your application. I will email you her details.

I tried the Canberra route but they told me it takes "up to 6 months" and I have friends here in NZ who are waiting for theirs from Canberra (and getting nowhere fast) 18 months later!!! My brother who lives in Queensland did not have much luck with them either so I guess it's a case of taking a chance - sometimes you're lucky, sometimes not!

[norns]

we never had a problem getting in to ireland. but now my husband passport has expired and the zim embassy in england will not renew it becasue we dont have his zimid card. so now we are stranded the irish immigration have let him stay so far . in alittle while we can get irish citizenship that is if they give it to him with our a passport.
why does it have to be so differcult ???????

[biffon]

Depends where you are going , but if you are coming to Western Aus then you have 3 mths to convert. You will only have to sit a theory test (30Questions), v easy.
See site (http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/licensing/mylicence/1365.asp)

WRONG!!! theyve just changed it and Zim is no longer on the conversion list, Zim licence holders have to now sit the Full test and practical but do not have to display the P sign if they pass.

Im not sure about the rules in NSW
look here: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/newtonsw/international_riders.html
-----
sucks!! as i even got my HR licence without having to do a driving test.

[Bolty]

http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/zim_pc.html

I saw this I am not sure if it helps anybody or not - I dont know anyone who has used them but ...

[Bolty]

Just on the license thing - I had to sit both l's and full license again when
I arrived in South Australia

[Blazzo]

WRONG!!! theyve just changed it and Zim is no longer on the conversion list, Zim licence holders have to now sit the Full test and practical but do not have to display the P sign if they pass.

Im not sure about the rules in NSW
look here: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/newtonsw/international_riders.html
-----
sucks!! as i even got my HR licence without having to do a driving test.
Ja I just went on what she said i.e. coming from UK which is on the list, I know they have recently changes the rules and you have to sit the full test, but luckily I did it before the change

[Blazzo]

Thanks Vee for that, Everything in Zim is a gamble, screw them I say - hope I get it coz it cost me over a 100 bucks already, last thing they get out of me, f#$%rs! I know you can give the Aus immigration dept an affidavit if you can show that you have tried to get it(zim pol clearance), know someone who has done that

[tongtastic]

tong that is great when do you go?? going to be sad to see you go tho!!

we are hoping to go around the easter weekend if all goes well with the house and the business so fingers crossed. will be sad to leave as we have been here for 6 years now and will be strange starting all over again. I will still be on TCB though whenever i can.

[tongtastic]

WRONG!!! theyve just changed it and Zim is no longer on the conversion list, Zim licence holders have to now sit the Full test and practical but do not have to display the P sign if they pass.

Im not sure about the rules in NSW
look here: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/newtonsw/international_riders.html
-----
sucks!! as i even got my HR licence without having to do a driving test.

i think we might be okay on this one. we are both on british licences so by the looks of things we just exchange them. I will have to look into it further. Thanx guys.

[Vee]

http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/zim_pc.html

I saw this I am not sure if it helps anybody or not - I dont know anyone who has used them but ...

Blazzo - this is the person I used for police clearance. I definitely recommend her. She was honest and reliable and my police clearance came within a matter of weeks. You pay for the service but for the sake of it getting done without any hassles it's well worth it.

[Bolty]

Thanks vee i am glad you could vouch for them

[Blazzo]

Blazzo - this is the person I used for police clearance. I definitely recommend her. She was honest and reliable and my police clearance came within a matter of weeks. You pay for the service but for the sake of it getting done without any hassles it's well worth it.

Tks for that Vee, will use her if I have to, about how much did it cost if you don't mind me asking?

[Vee]

Tks for that Vee, will use her if I have to, about how much did it cost if you don't mind me asking?

Blazzo my apologies for taking so long to reply to you - I kept forgetting to have a look through my emails to get the cost.

This is an extract from the email she sent, although this was in November last year...

The cost for a single application is aud$600.00( Six hundred Australian dollars ) inclusive of police payment clearance, foreign bank charges , my handling fee and safe courier return from Zimbabwe back to yourself or to your Migration Agent. Family applications get a group discounted price.

Please also note that our Fee quoted is subject to change should CID and DHL increase their fees

Full Payment is required upfront and I will advise you payment details from Australia when PC applications are ready for dispatch to Zimbabwe

In the event I have a batch of PCs coming from Zim or going to ZIM at time applications are ready for transit between countries I can reduce the fee once again .

I ended up paying quite a bit less than this though - I think around aud$470 after everything had been finalised. The final cost depends on how many applications are going, if you send fingerprints etc directly to Zim and various other bits and pieces which she will explain to you.

Hope this helps... and again sorry I took so long!

Vee

[Kirsty]

I paid loads of money to get my residency in Australia, and then I got my application revoked when they "didn't know my new address". It's stupid, because they knew exactly where to collect me and detain me, because I signed a form saying that the immigration department could obtain my details from all other government agencies and vice versa! I know the the Vehicle Licencing Dept, Child Support, Medicare, and Tax Dept all knew my address and were able to contact me when necessary!

I feel that the Australian government just like to decline applications so that they can get more revenue from applicants. What is the applicant going to say, "No, I'm not going to apply again!" I don't think so, after investing AU$2000 in the application, that's way too much money to throw away! Now I have to wait 5 years before I can apply to enter Australia on a tourist visa so that I can see my daughter!

It's fitting, I think, that a nation spawned from convicts are a bunch of crooked operators, and even though there is loads of space and they are crying out for proffessional qualifications, they make it so difficult that before you even pass the start line, you're already behind the 8-ball!

I would love to boycott the country all together, but unfortunately for me, I need to see my daughter!

F*ck it, it's easier to get into America at the moment!


Oh no it's not.

I have been in the states since Jan 1997, and blieve me it has not been an easy situation. To stay legal is so expensive and a huge pain in the arse. The tools they put in place that are supposed to help you and answer your questions in fact are completely useless and don't help you with shit.

I had to marry an American before I could even think about getting a permanent residency card. I have been married in July 22nd for 3 years, and I have had a Permanent residency card for only 2 years. It expires this May 31st. So I had to apply to get it renewed and restrictions lifted etc. They renewed my card for 1 year. Which means I have to every year re-apply for a new card, and each time I apply I have to pay out my arse for it and take time off work to go to the offices for fingerprints and photos - 'cause apparantly my finger prints change every year.

Only when I have been married for 4 years can I apply for citizenship. And they tell you that once you put your paper work in and pay the fees and give them your right arm, it can take anywhere from 5 - 10 years for it to get processed.

Nothing is easy or simple and there are so many bullshit rules and loop holes, you are better off paying a lawyer to stay on top of the shit and paperwork for you. If you can't afford a lawyer, like me, I say good luck.

Wish my parent shad of applied for a British passport for me when I was born and it was still Rhodesia. Life would be a lot easier now.

[Kirsty]

Gosh, us zimbos definately got crapped on. It's amazing how 1 man can srew up so many peoples lives. None of us would not have to be dealing with all this shit and paying out all this cash if Zim wasn't such a disaster. Us Zimbo's are tough, we will always make it and survive.

If anyone if thinking of coming to the states please email me as I can help or at least answer some questions about the immigration process here, scene as I have been going through it all for 10 years now.

[Blazzo]

Well surprise of all surprises I got my Zim pol clearance after 6 wks going through Canberra, they were quite good in the end, glad I didn't have to fork out 600 bucks to use that agent in the end (Thanks anyway Vee). So I will recommend using them if anyone else has the same dilemma

[Vee]

Hey, no worries Blazzo! That's good going for a Zim embassy... They have definitely stepped up the case as I've now heard of quite a few people getting theirs through quite quickly. My friends here in NZ have been waiting over 18 months for theirs!!! Go figure!!!!

[biffon]

yeah we got ours through the embassy, (6 weeks) almost quicker than doing it in zim directly!

i had to laugh at the dodgy manila envelope and scaly paper it was written on! took me back to high school all over again!

[zimbomom]

Kirsty,

I just wanted to let you know that my husband & I went throught the naturalization process last year and, in Texas, it took just under 6 months from the date we submitted our application, to the date of our ceremony. We could've been naturalized a month earlier, but we were out of the country when the ceremony took place, so we opted for the next one instead. We applied for our passports a day later, and had them within a month. So don't give up hope!! If you have any questions about the process, I'd be happy to help.