Having submitted a general skilled migration application in August 2001 we received our visas in May 2003. The visa requires that we visit Australia by Dec 2003 to activate it and specifies that we should migrate before May 2008.

I have had conflicting information as to what this means.

Is it permissible for us to activate the visa by visiting before Dec 2003 and then to return to our current place of abode and then for example move to Australia permanently in April 2008 ?

i,m waiting for my visa should be in the next 6 weeks or so, i was told you can either go now and stay, or you must visit before the deadline this year even if its for 1 day to get visa stamped then return to stay anytime before 2008, also all applicants i.e whole family have to go to validate visa,s. hope this helps.

This link should help:
http://www.gomatilda.com/visas/faqs.cfm#08

Best regards.

Alan Collett
alan-at-gomatilda-dot-com
Registered Migration Agent Number 0102534
and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
http://www.gomatilda.com and
http://www.collettandco.co.uk
Offices in Southampton, England; Perth, Australia; and Melbourne, Australia