The road to obtaining a partner visa, which grants me two years of residency, is long and arduous. When I first looked at all the paperwork, I was so overwhelmed that I cried. Then I pulled myself together and began printing documents, making lists, copies, and appointments. The tricky part is that you need different things …
How was your Christmas? Mine was very pleasant. I spent it with family and enjoyed a Hawaiian themed Christmas with a lot of food – pork, lamb, prawn, crayfish, veggies, potatoes, rolls, and, of course, Christmas pudding with cream, custard, and ice cream. The next day, Boxing Day, I called my parents and sister in the US …
Last month, Diane over at Oui in France wrote a piece about shopping carts, or shopping trolleys, as they’re called in Australia. I realised that this has become part of normal life here in Melbourne, but it’s something I never did until I came here. In Melbourne, shopping trolleys refers to two things. One is the kind …
When I stepped out of Victoria Station and caught my first glimpse of London during a 2006 vacation, I immediately decided I wanted to live there. A few days later, when I traveled to the quaint Shakespeare-happy town of Stratford-upon-Avon, I decided I wanted to live there. When I visited New England for the first …
I had a consultation with a migration agent this week and discovered something very, very interesting. I hadn’t planned on meeting with a migration agent. I’d planned to do all the paperwork and lodge the visa myself as many expats do, but the process is complicated. When the opportunity to meet with an excellent …
With my medical assessment, I have officially begun actively moving towards obtaining residency. I’m applying onshore (that is, from within Australia, as opposed to offshore) for a de facto partner visa subclass 820, which is a temporary visa. If granted, after two years, if the relationship is still intact, I would be granted a permanent …
This little corner of the web is ad-free, sponsor-free, and totally independent—just the way I like it. Instead of filling the space with ads or affiliate links, I pour my heart (and a fair bit of coffee) into creating content for you.
If my writing has inspired, informed, or entertained you, why not fuel the creativity with a cafecito? Your support helps keep this blog brewing fresh ideas, one cup at a time.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land we gather upon, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, whose sovereignty was never ceded. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. Our services are open to people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We strive to honour and respect cultural, spiritual, and personal diversity, ensuring everyone feels seen, valued, and supported.