What kind of documents do you need to travel to Australia? And possibly stay there for several years?

My boyfriend and I are talking about moving to Australia to get married and start life over together. We are both in our thirties, divorced, and two almost grown kids each. One child will possibly go with us, there are no custody problems or anything if she does. What are the documentations we will need to first travel there? He was going to go first, get a job and place to stay, and then send for me. We are having a very hard time making it financially in the US. We also have many 'problems' from our lives before each other, and are wanting a 'new start'. We have neither one been in any trouble with the athorities. What will it take to move there and live? Is this a bad idea?

hello 1st of all best of luck for ur future..... secondly please goo to the following page for some assistant...thanks..

Australia is a tough nut to crack, maybe even tougher than the states. To visit, you must have a tourist visa, and that lasts for only 3 months. You may get another visa but you will have to leave the country first to do that. You may not work under the tourist visa. If you overstay the 3 months, you will not be allowed in for another year. To emigrate is TOUGH, maybe even tougher than the States. You must satisfy their 100 point system to even be eligible. The 100 points consists of having desirable criteria in their eyes, namely, your occupation, your age, how well you speak english, any relatives over there, how much you can invest. The crucial factor is occupation. They want people in certain fields that are in high demand over there. For example, mining engineers are highly sought after and get high points. Doctors are not and are low. The criteria change from year to year depending on the country's needs. Some people are rich enough to buy their way in but you have to be either a millionaire or have a passive retirement income of $50,000 per annum. Check out the website to take the points test to see if you qualify. Good luck mate!

The best place to start is the web page of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship at http://www.immi.gov.au

This will tell you all you need to know about immigration, visas, work and residency permits etc.

Great Choice - you will love Aussie!
Now you just have to decide what part of Australia as there is so many choices of lifestyle here.

research these sites:
http://www.immi.gov.au
http://www.livingin-australia.com
http://www.immigrationinfoaustralia.com


The great guide of information on moving to Australia!
http://www.beluba.com.au/ww3/arrive.htm

Working in Aussie:
http://www.workingin-australia.com


First look at a sample of the new citizenship test - click half way down page (you only need 12 out of 20 to pass) and you can sit the test as many times as you need to pass (as Immigration said yesterday in the paper)
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21752187-2,00.html


For more info on getting married here see the justice dept, Births, deaths and marriages http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/bdm

Good Luck.

Firstly, good luck! My boyfriend & I are in the process of applying for a permanent visa on defacto basis. It's not the cheapest thing to do, but it was the best option 'coz the job he has is not classed as a "skilled" position.. Driving a truck is not skilled??
Anyway, have a look on www.immi.gov.au That's the main one with info on visa's required etc. I'm not too sure how you would go about it, depending on what qualifications you have. I'm assuming you're both from the US?
Main visa's are partner (with one needing to be an Aussie or NZ citizen), skilled employee (where a company needs to sponsor you) and family (if you have family here). The skilled one is difficult as you need to convince a company to sponsor you to stay, after only being allowed to work for a maximum of 3 months with each employer... And also with a working visa, you need to be under 30... That's what we tried for firstly, but his job wasn't classed in demand... Which is crap 'coz there are plenty of jobs for truck drivers... But good luck, I don't know exactly which way you could go... But have a look at some of these websites!

Apply for a citizenship. It is definently a good idea, Australia is a great place.