Exactly right. Thanks for the support for our and other peoples cases! The journalist I have spoken to have also become very intersted in the matter now...
The scenario of 3 overseas trips is ridiculous, and as a father and a husband it would not be possible. An the cost?? In addition to all other expenses! The way immigration is practised now is certainly in favour of the rich... That is a very scary thought for someone who has grown up in Scandinavia where one of the basic ideas in society is that everyone is equal.
I am also sure that environmentalists would be delighted to hear about the waste of fuel it involves...
Let me also outline another possible scenario for our case. Say that my wife got pregnant now. That would really complicate our visa situation!
The way this discussion started out was that DIMIA are destructive the economy etc. In our case Australia misses out on two send individuals, who would actually be a big buttet. There is now no way that my wife and I can live here and actually make a contribution to society through our professions. For people who are interested in the value to society of my profession, they can try to find out what revenues are generated from enhanced oil-exploration in the North Sea...
My wife has the choise to come and go as she likes in Norway. PR was actually something she was granted automatical after she had been there for three years, and all she could apply for when she came to Norway the first time was a one-year working permit. And she could of course apply for this while she was in Norway; it's done at the local police station.
Why is it so bad for Australia that people with spouses from here want to come and stay and work for two years? We can certainly be of value for that time. In academia, sabbaticals (spent in other countries) can be the most productive time!
I think that it's time for someone to wake up and bring things at DIMIA up to scratch. Geir
