The online and offline dating arenas, while ultimately rooted in the same practice, can provide vastly different experiences. For example, online dating makes trust issues more apparent. At the same time, however, it also opens up a world of possibilities to the open-minded. One of the things online dating has nourished is the concept of finding one’s soul mate overseas.

Online Dating, Finding Love Overseas? Why Bother?

If you yourself are single, you may want to give online dating a try. You’ve got to admit, the whole concept is a bit intriguing—finding an exotic partner from some faraway land. Sure, the novelty of the idea produces some skeptics, but statistics show that more and more people are taking their chance in finding love online. In fact, an ABC News report specifically mentions that one in four Tasmanians have tried online dating.

So what are the benefits of online dating? First, the fact that you’re navigating around a virtual world might help if you’re the shy type. Also, online dating is convenient for individuals with time constraints or limited social networks, or those who have simply given up on their local dating scene. And anyway, everyone hears a success story once in a while, so you at least have the knowledge that online dating has worked for others before.

All Right, But What Do I Need to Know?

The reality of scammers in the online dating world cannot be denied, and misrepresentation can easily discourage you from continuing your search. That said, if you feel it’s worth taking a risk for love, then take the plunge. Just remember to keep your wits about you. Don’t be naïve, and don’t go into it expecting that the online dating world is going to be sunshine and roses. Needless to say, never release your credit card information or any other such financial details to strangers.

As for the challenges of dating overseas, you can be sure that a long distance relationship in and of itself can be stressful. In addition, you may encounter language and cultural barriers, so you truly have to commit if you want to find success in your online dating venture.

A Tip to Get You Started

Perhaps one of the best guidelines of online dating, besides being vigilant, is to keep an open mind. It’s all too easy to conceptualize your ideal mate when you’re creating filters in online dating websites. Standards are good, yes, but learn to resist the temptation of being too picky, as that might keep you from finding the right partner for you. As with offline dating, you need to know a person just a little bit more before you can say for sure if he or she is the right one for you.

Deciding to seek the services of a migration agent is one thing, but a far more important decision is whom you work with. After all, whether or not your visa application is approved rests largely on your choice of migration agent. So what are some things to keep in mind as you search for the right agent?

1. This cannot be overstressed: seek advice only from a registered migration agent. You may check a professional’s status as a registered agent by checking with the listings from the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA). Agents are required to follow a certain code of conduct to sustain their status as registered migration agents, and receiving advice from an unregistered agent should raise alarm bells in your mind.
2. Decide if it’s worth hiring a migration agent for your case. During the period of July to September 2011, the average cost to use an agent ranged from $1,500 to $3,500 for partner migration visas. This is no small change, so when you decide to part with your money, make the choice wisely.
3. Whereas you may not want to spend an exorbitant amount on a registered migration agent’s services, know that an agent’s fees may reflect his or her competence and level of experience. Of course, an agent’s rates are by far no perfect indication of his or her suitability for your case. Different agents have different fields of expertise, so it is best to interview your prospective migration agent before moving forward.
4. How will hiring a migration agent help you in your application process? This is a very important question to ask both yourself and your prospective migration agent. If neither of you can come up with a concrete and satisfactory answer, then it may very well be that you don’t need a migration agent after all, or that you simply have not found the right agent yet.

Types of Partner Visa and Your Eligibility

Under its partner visa scheme, the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship or DIAC categorizes visa applicants into three: as fiancées for the prospective marriage visa, and as married partners or as de facto partners, both for the partner visa. Regardless of categorization, the DIAC requires proof of a genuine and continuing relationship with your partner.

Fiancée visas must be filed while you are living outside of Australia. As well, you need to prove your intent to marry your sponsor and to live together as spouses. On the other hand, partner visas—whether on the basis of a married or de facto relationship—may be filed from within or outside of Australia.

As a married applicant, you must have your marriage recognized by the Australian government. You don’t need to have been married in Australia, but your marriage needs to be valid in the eyes of its government. For example, since the government does not recognize same-sex marriages, applicants who are part of such unions will fall under the category of de facto applicant. In turn, to be eligible for a partner visa as a de facto applicant, you must meet the government’s one-year relationship requirement.

Besides the above requirements, your eligibility for a prospective marriage visa or partner visa may also be assessed based on whether you meet Australia’s health and character requirements.

What Rights Does a Visa Grant?

It goes without saying that your main goal when applying for a partner visa is to be eligible for and to receive your permanent visa. However, by granting you your temporary visa, the Australian government already proffers some rights that you can enjoy. First, you may stay in Australia with your partner until further notice. Second, you may enrol in Australia’s Medicare System. Third, you may work and study in Australia, but take note that you will be paying international tuition rates.

Once you receive your permanent visa, you’ll retain the above rights on top of becoming eligible for social security payments, government funding for education in the tertiary level, and the prized Australian citizenship.

Of course, we’ve only just covered the basics for a visa application under the Australian Partner Visa Scheme. If you wish to pursue this, visit the DIAC’s website, or better yet, seek the advice of a professional.

Just because you have a long-term relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident does not mean that you can enjoy the rights of being an Australian permanent resident. Australian immigration laws require you to apply for a visa under the government’s Partner Visa Scheme.

What Are the General Requirements?

By far the most important prerequisite for a partner visa is a relationship with an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. Of course, it can’t be just any relationship; the Australian government requires that it be “genuine and continuing.”

Your partner is every bit as important, as he or she will serve as your sponsor. As a sponsor, he or she bears the responsibility of assisting you—both financially and otherwise—toward the goal of obtaining a partner permanent visa.

What Is the Process Like?

Obtaining a partner visa is generally a two-step process. First, you apply for a temporary visa. At this point, it falls on you to prove that you have a genuine and continuing relationship with your sponsor. If granted a temporary visa, you can stay in Australia for two years, after which your relationship with your sponsor will be reassessed to see whether you qualify for a permanent visa. Note that you only need to apply for both visas once, as your eligibility for a permanent visa will be reviewed as soon as the two-year period ends.

In some special cases, you can skip the two-year temporary visa period. This occurs if you can prove that you have been married or have been engaged in a de facto relationship with your sponsor for at least three years. If you have a dependent child from your relationship with your Australian partner, it’s a minimum of two years. These are the most common reasons, but other circumstances may also allow you to circumvent the two-year period.

While cross-cultural relationships may present their challenges to those involved, it helps to realize that any other couple has some degree of tension and difficulty as well.

What’s more, the barriers to such partnerships are crumbling. Interracial relationships are slowly gaining acceptance, so you’re less likely to be met with doubtful looks or raised eyebrows by friends and family alike. Also, maintaining a long-distance relationship, if necessary, has become less complicated given the new communications tools that are available to consumers.

With that said, your ability to withstand the challenges of an interracial relationship has the potential to make it that much more rewarding. After all, these challenges are often counterbalanced by advantages and other points of attraction.

Cultural Differences

An interracial relationship can be your ticket into an entirely new world of food, culture, and values. Say you’ve always been deeply interested in a certain culture, a partner who so happens to have grown up with such a background can deepen your appreciation for that culture.

With the difference in tradition and background, it’s likely that you and your partner share distinct skill sets and personalities to the relationship. That way, you’re complementing each other, balancing out each other’s weaknesses and boosting the strengths.

Think About the Kids

In terms of balance, a cross-cultural relationship has the potential to give you and your family the best of both cultures. You and your partner can feel free to adopt the values that you would like from each of your backgrounds, allowing you to reflect on what you really deem important for your family life. That way, your children are not constrained to just one family of thought or one way of seeing the world.

In line with the cross-cultural dialogue, a multicultural family more often than not raises more open-minded children. They’ll come to see differences not as something to be wary of but something to celebrate. They’ll be more tolerant of contrasting beliefs and opinions—a global citizen, if you will.

At the end of the day, however, your decision to enter an interracial relationship should not focus on its potential benefits. It should involve your desire and willingness to spend your life with another person and to raise a family with him or her regardless of race and cultural background.

Travelling to most countries—whether for a holiday, business, or permanent migration—requires travellers to apply for a suitable visa. Countries around the world, specifically Western countries, usually have immigration legislation that sets out the requirements of each visa. These legislations detail the criteria applicants must satisfy in order to qualify and be granted the visa for which they have applied.

Immigration law is very complex in most Western countries, and one mistake or one forgotten document can result in the rejection of your visa application. A refused visa can affect your chances of success in the future, and will no doubt impact you financially, as most countries will not refund your visa application charge.

Bringing in the Experts

Emma Drynan has experienced firsthand the challenges and adventures of living abroad. She spent four years in Qingdao, China, and attributes the skills and experience she gained from her time abroad to the success of her business, Freedom Migration. “I learnt to speak Chinese, and with that came a different way of thinking.”

The first step when planning to travel abroad is to ensure that you are applying for the right type of visa. It is always advisable to engage the services of an immigration specialist to ensure that you have explored all potential options for your visa. Working on your application with a professional also gives you the peace of mind knowing that you have met the application requirements.

Basic Australian Visas and the Application Process

Some of the visas to Australia include business migration visas, student visas, holiday visas, and family visas. Each category requires different evidence and documentation. The time it takes for you to prepare your visa application and for immigration to make a decision on it varies depending on which visa you apply for. You need to plan carefully, as Western countries and their immigration departments have varying processing times.

Australian tourist visas can usually be prepared in a few days. After lodging your visa, a decision can be made within a week. Business migration, family migration, and other permanent residency applications require much preparation, so we always advise our clients at Freedom Migration to allow six months of preparation time before lodging the visa. Then, after the visa is lodged, there will usually be a long wait. Some Australian permanent visas take twelve months for a decision to be made, while some can take as long as fifteen years.

Keeping Yourself in Line

Once your visa is granted, you must familiarize yourself with the conditions attached to it. If you are granted an Australian visa, there will usually be numbers printed on your visa label inside your passport. These conditions should tell you the date by which you must arrive in Australia, when your visa will expire, and whether or not you can work or study in Australia.

To give our clients peace of mind when travelling to Australia, our team at Freedom Migration always briefs our clients about their visa conditions and obligations while in Australia. If you do not have an immigration specialist, remember that it is your responsibility to inform yourself about your obligations and to be sure that you comply with your visa conditions. If you do not comply with these conditions, your visa may be cancelled, and you will be required to leave the country.

The Smart Choice

Don’t leave your dreams of immigration or of your perfect holiday to chance. Working with a professional not only reduces the amount of stress associated with visa paperwork, it also ups your chance of receiving a visa by making sure you meet criteria and follow the rules.

If you appreciate the peace of mind that comes from working with a specialist, our team at Freedom Migration will welcome you with open arms and take care of your visa needs. Visit us at www.freedommigration.com or give us a call at 07-3112-5204, and we’ll be glad to set up a consultation.

This sentiment is reflected in various surveys conducted in recent years. A 2010 HSBC research, Offshore Offspring, ranks Australia as one of the top 10 best countries to raise children. The HSBC study gauged the experience of expatriates in various countries in terms of childcare, health and wellbeing, and integration—all of which are aspects in which Australia scored respectably.

So what makes Australia so special? Throughout all these studies, it comes across that the Land Down Under is vastly appreciated for its friendliness towards immigrants. Families find it easy to integrate into Australian culture, as most places in the country are multicultural.

Moreover, the quality of life in Australia is especially conducive to raising a family. Studies show that children are more prone to appreciate an outdoor lifestyle after moving to the Land Down Under as compared to their former country. Three out of four parents who move to Australia also feel safer here than in their homeland. In general, the country offers a more relaxed pace of life, which most usually translates to a better family life.

Australia is also a land of opportunity. While it does impose a higher standard of living, its economy is relatively more stable compared to other Western countries. As a result, its government has made significant investments in health care and education, which are bound to benefit the country’s children.

Ultimately, however, it is still falls upon parents to provide their children with a good upbringing. External aspects such as environment are important, but quality of family life is a healthy balance of external and internal factors. Still, Australia does offer plenty of opportunities for immigrants, and this foundation will likely play an important role in raising a happy, healthy, and well-educated family.

Whatever the reason might have been, it cannot be denied that the human heart recognizes love no matter in which language it is expressed. There have been many instances of cross border and cross cultural love that has produced the most remarkable love stories. Different countries, different cultures can never hinder two people who fall in love, if it does anything it is only that it adds to the enigma of your beloved.

Learning about a new culture is as exciting as getting a new life. Imagine having living two lives in the span of one. The customs and traditions of the new culture may be varying in the degree of difference from yours and you have a whole new world to discover, to accept, to appreciate and to fall in love with.

Unfortunately Australian government and immigration law makers do not share the same view as lovers do. If you happen to fall in love with a person from another country, if not anything else, there are a whole lot of legal formalities that might put you off. Freedom Migration are experts in family visas specifically partner visa applications. Freedom Migration will work with you and your partner to ensure the process is stress free by helping you through all the formalities with utmost precision. You can count on them to make the borders merge for you.

Every continent of the world has something special to offer in terms of knowledge.

Having been the special child of nature Australia offers innumerable potential opportunities in terms of education and career along with the best environment to study and world class student facilities. With countless professional courses being offered by various renowned universities and colleges, Australia has been a preferred destination for students from all across the globe.

Moving out for education is beneficial in lot many ways. There is an experience of a lifetime to be gained in a few years. Living on your own makes you responsible and experienced in a young age that further helps you in your professional life. Moving to a different country altogether is a big decision but comes with many advantages. If guided by the right people, it can be the most enlightening period of your life.

Immigration is a scary issue for many but with Freedom Migration it’s easy and everything is done for you by industry experts. They have efficient services and friendly staff that make the whole process fun!

University-educated Australian and Bangladesh travellers who are aged between 18 and 30 will now be able to work and holiday in the other country for up to 12 months.

The work and holiday visa differs from a working holiday visa as it requires applicants to have the support of their government, have or be studying towards tertiary qualifications and to speak functional English.

Bangladesh has become the latest country to have a reciprocal work and holiday visa arrangement with Australia, joining a number of other countries, including Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and the United States.

Feedback on these arrangements has been positive and these places are quickly filled each year.

There will be an annual limit of 100 work and holiday visas for both countries but this figure will be reviewed each year.

This new arrangement is an investment in future relations with Bangladesh and will also help develop links between people in both countries.

Further information on the work and holiday visa program can be found at http://www.immi.gov.au./

News From: Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship Newsroom