roflie

Interesting, thanks. I never knew that them requesting those things depended on age. Is there a link to the risk matrix. I didn't see that mentioned anywhere in the Visa requirements documents. If the risk matrix is favourable, I might go down the route of the 6-12 Tourist (600) Visa as it is easier to use!

Hi all, Do you have to go through the entire process of having the health check, police check, financial checks when applying for the 6/12 month tourist visa, as you do for say a long term 870 visas or the likes? Feels like a lot to get an extra ~3 month on the standard tourist visa which doesn't ask for a lot. Thanks

Okay, Mum on Sponsored 870 with the 8501 condition. She's a UK resident and comes and goes to Australia. We currently pay for private health insurance via Allianz which satisfies the 8501 but I've heard of some peole being able to get Medicare on this visa when they are from a reciprocal country. Anybody eperience this or is it a strict no go? The Allianz insurance is obviously expensive and covers a lot of additional items we don't think we'll need (I understand of course to keep the health system here safe). Thanks

Hi all, I have my step Dad (living in the UK as a UK resident) wanting to visit for a period of 6 months initially and then a further 3 or 4 months later in the year. All travel to be finished within 12 months. As I understand, my options are. Issue here is he has flights booked for a months time so processing times are of concern; 1. 3-Month Tourist Visa (600). Spend a few days offshore (Fiji/NZ) after three months. Come back for three months. Go back to UK for a couple of months and then back here for 3 months all within the 12 months timeline of the 3-month. This is cost effective from the Visa, he was planning on visiting NZ anyway, and it doesn't require medical/financial type information. Processing time is almost instant. 2. Apply for a 12-Month extended Tourist visa as he is my step Dad. Hope for unlimited enteries. This doesn't mean we have any issues with on/offshore. costs more and then the financial/health hoops. 3. Go the Sponsored 870 route and get maybe 2 or 3 years. Lots more expense but sorts us out for a few years. Weighing up between options 1 and 2 as currently we are only worried about the next 12 months. I've heard a lot of people take advantage of the 3-month tourist Visa option to go offshore for a couple of days and reset the 3 month timer and that works well. Any experience here? All thoughts appreciated. Thanks all

thanks... I'm hopeful this will mean i have a CO as that will surely mean i'm not a million miles away!

HI all... In the process of applying for a PR visa (186 from my 457) and my employer nominated me around six weeks (i then received my file number via the acknowledgement of nomination received letter from the DIBP) I have since uploaded my documents... finished that today and will loo at booking a medical in the new year. Today my employer advised me that their nomination had been accepted as a CO had mailed them the "approval of nomination" document. My query is does this mean i now have a CO assigned to my case or will the CO that contacted my employer now just put my application in the queue and the two parts (employer nomination and my personal application) are dealt with separately? Thanks Roflie

Thanks for the swift reply... makes things a lot easier now! Roflie

Currently applying for a ENS 186 PR visa from my 457 visa and have a question on certified copies of documents. I'm getting a Radiation Oncologist (doctor) or the pharmacist at the hospital i work at to certify my documents (even though they are colour copies).... Is it just a simple case of them signing (printing name?) and dating (each page?) each document? Just a little confused as to the rules on this.. I followed the below link to determine that a doctor/pharmacist could certify; http://www.ag.gov.au/Publications/Pages/Statutorydeclarationsignatorylist.aspx Thanks Roflie

Do you get free alcohol on China Southern?

Going to book with Etihad in the end for my trip back home 1st march (flying in to manchester one stopping) and paying $1916 (going through flight centre as they have beaten the price online by a dollar and waived the cc fees and given me a $20 voucher for a domestic flight this year so seemed fair enough) Just wondering what peoples thoughts on this were....? Do you get to choose your seats... I checked seat guru and all of the seats have AC power which was my main thing so i can use my laptop for the whole flight... ...the reviews seem decent... i could have gone with Singapore for the same price but it was two stops and a few hours more transit time....?! Thoughts on Etihad?

I can't find the china southern flights on seat guru to check the plane for power ports in the seats.... I wouldn't fly without this if the in flight entertainment is rubbish as i would rely on my laptop to get me through the long haul!!

yeah i flew with them for my one way flight out here in June last year... brilliant service, couldn't fault them but they are charging $2000 so at $500 more than this china southern flight i'm not sure i can justify it!!

Anyone flown with them to/from the UK.... ...they are about $400 cheaper for me to get back to Newcastle from Melbourne in March ($1540 Vs $1912 on Qantas/BA). .... I've done a bit of research and the majority of people are just complaining about in flight entertainment and a bit about food.... The transit times are respectable with only a 5hr lay over and going to Newcastle via Amsterdam....!! thoughts!!??

Thanks, I've not come across that site below - pretty handy! I've found a price for $1852 which includes a flight up to Newcastle from London or an $1800 to Manchester so its looking like around this mark is the best... Anything sub $2k is going to keep me reasonably happy with leaving it a little late!

Hi all... hope everyone is enjoying the Xmas/New Year break... its my first in Oz so a little strange but loving the weather we are starting to see here in Melbourne.... ...Right, on to business....! I'm going home at the end of Feb/start of March and looking to book a flight. Are there usually new year sales with some of the bigger/more reputable airlines at this time of year (i know i have left it late to book but just don't want to book in the next couple of days and then find the prices drop in some sort of crazy sale...)?? Anyone had any flyers or e-mails tipping them off about sales? At the moment i am looking at around $1700 - $1800 return from Melbourne (to London) which i guess isn't too bad!?!? Thanks