Extension Possible?

When anyone from the Philippines wants to come to Australia, they require a visa from the Australian Department of Immigration, sheltering in the offices of the Australian Embassy in Manila.

The logic requires that either the Philippino must be really prosperous, usually with employment to return to and valuable property such as a house and investments, .... or if the applicant is less prosperous, that there is a combination of a wealthy Australian sponsor [who will cover their expenses and guarantee their timely return] and also some connection which would induce the applicant to return to the Philippines within the allotted time.

One can add that the policy is discriminatory. I mean that in the sense that Australians wishing to enter the Philippines are not examined as to ways and means, no need for sponsorship, no need to demonstrate a reason for returning. - The logic is along the lines that Australia is the most desirable country on earth and there have to be barriers to stop the stampede of people from less fortunate countries. --- As such, it seems unfair and unjust.

We wanted it to be possible for Ai and myself to remain togather after the wedding in April, and not suffer another separation over many months. Therefore we took the easy option of obtaining a visitor visa. --- We explained that the baby was due in October and wanted a visa of some nine to twelve months to have the baby here. --- But the response was a three month visa expiring in July [next month!] marked that no extension was allowed.

Thus, Ai may have to fly home in July and make a fresh application for a spouse visa. They say this may take up to 12 months, although in simple cases, it may be only a matter of weeks.

But last week we received advice from the gynealcologist that in her pregnant condition, it was unsafe to make the 18 hour journey back to Santa Rita.

So...... this week we have made formal request by letter for the restriction to be waived.
----- History will tell what results.

It would maybe allow Ai to have a bridging visa, until such time as she can apply for a spouse visa. .... But until waived, it is not permitted to apply for a spouse visa while here on a visit!
--- The entanglement of rules is unsaatisfactory, and can result in strangely conflicting advice even from theImmigration advisory people.

So... this Saturday morning, as we head out to the local market at GEELONG, in search of Philippine bangus fish, we are waiting for a response from the Immigration people....

melbourne is on a river facing the bay.....

On 15 June, we took a lift to the 55th floor of Melbourne's second tallest building where there is a view of Melbourne in all directions. We had tea with Yasmine, who is offering to help with the baby.

The sun had broken through the veil of fog.

The yarra river and bridges are visible at left.

On the right is the amazing new Eureka building, the tallest in Australia.

In the distance is the 10o,000 seater football stadium incorrectly called the Melbourne Cricket Ground!

Yes, it stages cricket, but the real money is in the Australian game of football.

New Friends in Australia

Aileen and James have had heaps of support and friendly advice from Peter and Cynthia, and through them have met
Tess and Darren. Cynthia and tess are Filipinas, both recent immigrants to Australia.



On Sunday night we had a fun party night at P and C's place in St Kilda. - St Kilda is a trendy inner suburb of Melbourne, with Port Philip Bay beaches and cafe life.

The wedding - 9 April 2007 - santa Rita !

Here are some of the pictures taken by me, James, on the morning of the ceremony at the church.
Ai and I were staying at the Santa Rita Guest House, which has a spacious ground floor reception and dining area.

Looking back. The view from Australia.

On April 7, I came dangerously close to missing the plane.


- If that had happened, there would have been no civil ceremony of marriage ahead of the church wedding fixed for April 9. There was a problem with Qantas at Melbourne Airport.


- Qantas had converted without prior notice the check in for a domestic Sydney connector flight, to a full international check in. Added to which there were different lines and delays in waiting to reach the desk. The officil notice was to check in 45 minutes before departure, but the warning received at the sesk was that I should have checked in 90 minutes in advance.





Let's just be thankful that they rushed me through at the last minute. - The problem with Qantas is that there is no through flight between Melbourne and Manila. - Unlike other airlines, where the same plane continues on. - This means that you are required to take a domestic flight between Melbourne and Sydney. At Sydney there is chaos because the international and domestic terminals are miles apart, linked by a primitive bus service, and requiring additional baggage handling and security checks.



But on April 18, feeling weak from the effects of colds, pregnancy and Qantas, ..... Ai stepped out from melbourne Airport into the Australian sunshine. We were met by the incredibly generous Michael P., with a stretched limo!

So let's work back over the events of the weddings [plural]. Civil and then religious. And take note of the realities underlying them...

Leaving Manila Together - April 17, 2007

Since 3 April, I have been with Ai in the Philippines.
There have been times when internet access was not possible,
notably between 6 and 10 April when we were based in Santa Rita.
The wedding took place on 9 April at the church of Santa Rita,
with a reception at the magnificent modern gymnasium.
More on all this, and the photos later....
But at this moment we are within 24 hours of Ai travelling with me to Australia. An exciting and life-altering moment!
We are due to arrive on Wednesday morning, April 18.

Meanwhile the pregnancy is very important to us, not least because it is causing Ai recurrent abdominal pain and frequent bouts of nausea and sickness beyond expectations.

I have the impression that her gynae care in the Philippines has
been deficient, and am awaiting a chance to get an Australian opinion.

But with all the regrets that go with departing her family and friends, it is great to be heading for Australia.

And Ai mentioned today how Philippine women are driven to seek foreigners as partners, partly because they feel imprisoned in the Philippines. ---- In other words, because of their relative poverty, they do not enjoy the basic human right of travel to another country. In the case of Australia, they need either considerable personal wealth of their own, or an Australian to sponsor their visit.

There could not be a more fabulous country than the Philippines to be imprisoned within, but the feeling of being condemned to spend your whole life in a third world country is
oppressive!

We will add pictures and narrative of the time together, the wedding, the farewell party, the honeymoon and the travel to Australia as soon as we have some free time there later this week!

31 March 2007

On Tuesday,


I am catching a plane


from Sydney


and Ai from Tacloban,


and we are meeting


at the Swagman Hotel


in Manila around 7.00.





At 5.00 next morning,


we are taking a flight


to Tacloban.





On arrival, we are


depositing my bags,


then going to a civil


marriage ceromony,


performed by the


mayor,


Ai's boss til now.





From there


to the gynae,


expecting to


discover


the gender


of the baby!





Then some days


in Tacloban,


ahead of the wedding


on 9 April.





Today Ai had to


locate an alternative priest


as the usual man


cancelled due to


pressure of [god's] work!