To Leave or Not to Leave, That is His Question

Hey man,

I'm a 32 year old marketing guy from Singapore. I got the Skilled (Migrant) (class VE) subclass 175 (Skilled - Independent) visa some years ago. I'd already made my first entry but I haven't made my move to Australia permanently yet.

Thing is, my visa expires April 2017. I'd gotten it with my ex-wife as a secondary applicant and after we parted ways, I couldn't be bothered to move. I thought I'd just stay in Singapore. But then, life took a turn and I met a girl, we got married and we now have a little boy.

He's 2 years old now and recently, I can't help wondering if I'm depriving him of a better future in Australia. 

I called up AIMS and they said there's no way for me to extend my visa and that I should just try and move to Australia as soon as possible. When the time comes to renew my visa, I should just show how I've made the effort to make Australia my home and hopefully, they'd give me another year to really get my shit together.

I'm terrified. I was jobless for the most part of 2015 and it sucked. 2016 has been really good to me though. This job at NEA pays really well and I can really work at settling my debts and loans. 

The thought of quitting this job that I just got in May to start a new life in Australia with pretty much nothing is terrifying. I don't wanna put my family in the situation we were in in 2015. 

I came across your post and it gave me renewed hope. I have no qualms about doing blue collar jobs but how easy is it to find these jobs? I'm thinking of bringing along at least $5000 with me to Australia. 

I've been thinking hard about this for the past few days. The earliest I can make my move will be in Dec 2016 or Jan 2017. I'll only have about 3 months till my visa expires in April 2017. If I get my visa renewed, great. If not, I'll have to come back to Singapore and look for a job again. It's scary. 

I guess I'm looking for advice. Or maybe I just needed to talk to someone. Thanks for your blog man. And I really hope to hear from you. Thanks!

-
A



Hi A


They say the economic cycles repeats every 7 years. Just saying, but what a coincidence that I was jobless during most of 2008 in Singapore. How time flies.


If your PR expires in 2nd quarter 2017, "by right" you have already failed to fulfill the requirements of living 2 years within 5 years in Australia. Thus the immigration department can reject the renewal request of your PR, no questions about it. However, this is Australia not Singapore. You get a lot more compassion (compared to "law-by-law") here. Your migration agent was probably correct. If you move before the expiry of your visa, explain why you came late when it is time for renewal and demonstrate your strong intentions to stay and contribute, Australia tends to give you a chance to prove it. 


However, your situation is a little more complicated. Though your PR will not be affected due to your divorce, your current wife and son do not have the visas to move here permanently with you. With the time frame you are working with, there is no way you can apply for them on time. Thus you will have to cope with separation from your family till you settle their visa issues. Alternatively they can visit or stay with you on short-term tourist visas but they will have to return to Singapore when the visas expires.


The decision is in your own hands. Short term pain, long term gain or Stand Up for Singapore. It's your call bro.




All the best,


asingaporeanson

1 comment:

  1. I wouldn't bother with this guy.
    He already got a stable job in a government sector.
    Better to stay put in singapore.
    and the fact he is asking you means the motivation inside him is not there.

    ReplyDelete