The Applicant and his family had first arrived in Australia twenty years ago on a Skilled Permanent visa (subclass 105). Due to work commitments in his role at a multinational company, the Applicant departed Australia four years later with a Resident Return visa (subclass 155). This allowed him to regularly return to Australia and visit his family.

Only Australian citizens have an automatic right to enter Australia. By operation of Australia’s universal visa policy, all non-citizens intending to enter and remain in Australia require a visa. This includes Australian permanent residents and former Australian citizens who want to return to Australia as permanent residents after travelling overseas. These individuals require a Resident Return visa (subclasses 155 and 157).

The requirements for a subclass 155 visa vary according to the applicant’s circumstances. Individuals who have not spent two of the last five years in Australia as a permanent resident will need to show that they have substantial business, cultural, employment or personal ties of benefit to Australia. If an applicant has been continuously absent from Australia for more than five years, he or she must show compelling reasons for this absence.

Since the Applicant had been absent from Australia during two of the last five years, but not for a continuous period of five years, Immigration Solutions Lawyers helped him compile evidence and submit arguments in support of his substantial ties to Australia. Since the Applicant first moved to Australia, his immediate family had become Australian citizens. With the support of statutory declarations, photos and a marriage certificate, we argued that the Applicant enriches the lives of Australian citizens through his close ties with his immediate family and sustained friendships.

The Applicant provided land title documents and council rates invoices to show joint ownership of property in Australia. Additionally, the Applicant submitted evidence of a joint bank account with his wife and Australian life insurance as proof of real and tangible assets in Australia.

Proof of the Applicant’s cultural ties to Australia was offered by way of his membership to a local grassroots community in Australia.

Although the Applicant was not required to give compelling reasons for his absence, Immigration Solutions Lawyers provided proof of the Applicant’s employment and associated overseas commitments as additional evidence to strengthen his application.

Immigration Solutions Lawyers were able to obtain a positive outcome for the Applicant two days after his application was lodged. The Applicant was granted a Resident Return visa (subclass 155) valid for one year from the time of grant.

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