Hey
@OC2USA this was a great update, thank you for sharing your experience!
I just wanted to ask about the Home Affairs letter and how you're going applying for an exemption? I'd love more insight into this. Are you making the complete move now or doing an activation trip? I ask because I'm hoping to only have to do an activation trip (even if it has to be the 3 months minimum to leave) rather than the total move, but I'd love to hear more about your experience and next steps to getting out of the country.
Thank you in advance!
Has anyone had any luck applying for the travel exemption to leave Australia? What evidence did you provide? I have the letter from the embassy outlining visa activation but I've heard others are being declined on just this and am concerned. Some of the other suggested evidence like selling of home, terminating residence lease, letter of termination to employer, employment offer o/s or transportation of goods aren't really applicable to me and not sure what else I can provide
We would prefer to do a validation trip, however due to the restrictions on leaving Australia, jobs, pets etc. we will just have to do the total move.
We will be applying for our travel exemption 2 months before we go as you can't apply any sooner (Home Affairs states no sooner than 2 months before and no later than 2 weeks before).
We will apply and attach a statutory declaration with our intent to to depart permanently (more than 3 months), attach proof of one way tickets booked and paid for, letter from consulate, proof of the pets booked and paid to travel, proof of accommodation in the USA that we will have booked, proof of leaving work for more than 3 months, etc. Basically everything we can provide we will. If they reject it it we will appeal and apply again (this is why we will apply as soon as the 2 month date starts).
Looking online pretty much everyone who has applied because they are moving overseas and submitted the statutory declaration has been granted the exemption.
Will keep everyone updated on the progress through that process.
The Home Affairs website states:
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If you are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident you cannot leave Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions unless you have an exemption. You can apply online but you must meet at least one of the following:
- your travel is as part of the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including the provision of aid
- your travel is for your business/employer
- you are travelling to receive urgent medical treatment that is not available in Australia
- you are travelling outside Australia for a compelling reason for three months or longer
- you are travelling on compelling or compassionate grounds
- your travel is in the national interest.
You
must provide evidence to support your claims. Requests may be finalised without further consideration if insufficient evidence is provided. Evidence may include:
- passport/s
- marriage certificate/s
- birth certificate/s
- death certificate/s
- proof of relationship (for example, shared tenancy agreement, joint bank account etc.)*
- proof that you are moving to another country on a long term basis such as leases, job offers and evidence your goods are being transported
- proof of your current valid visa, including in Australia and/or overseas
- letter from a doctor or hospital about any medical treatment/condition with statements on why travel is necessary
- letter from your employer, or other evidence that you are travelling for a business reason
- statement or evidence to show when you wish to return to Australia
- any other proof you may have to support your claims.
Travel for three months or longer
If you are seeking exemption from Australia’s
outbound travel restrictions on the basis that you are leaving Australia for three months or longer, your proposed travel
must be for a compelling reason and you
must provide evidence to support your claims.
This evidence
must be provided in the form of a Commonwealth Statutory Declaration.
The Statutory Declaration
must state you are making an application for travel exemption on the basis that you intend to be absent from Australia for more than three months.
Evidence may include:
- confirmed flight itinerary, with return date of at least three months after departure date
- confirmation of leave from employment for three months
- enrolment confirmation for study
- a doctor’s certificate to support your claim you are travelling in order to provide care for sick family members
- any other matter you wish to raise in support of your request for exemption.
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We're hoping by the time we apply (around August) that maybe they will have relaxed the outbound rules for vaccinated people but doubt it so we'll just be providing everything we have.