ScouseMan

I think brave = stupid in this case! I don't even know if it can be shipped without a visa, I'll look into it and if I can ship it it'll go off to a friends house. Shipping is around 10 - 12 weeks and we are using seven seas as we have used them twice previously for international moves, both times without incidence. We're only shipping seven boxes (4 Book Box (51x41x31cm), 3 Large Box (61x51x41cm) ) they quoted around £360. Not sure if i'll ship them yet though, while I am confident in getting a grant it would be rather embarrassing for the visa to be refused and my shipping to be on its way! However, I would rather be without things in the UK and have them sooner in Aus

Same here, although we're talking about shipping are stuff over soon, in the next week or so. It just seems a little crazy to do it without a grant

Nothing here .... The grants last week raised my hopes for a grant, but looks like they'll be dashed again! Oh well, July will be here before we know it

You only need to provide evidence for employment you wish to be assessed. If you don't wish to be assessed for employment previous to your current job (9 years) then no need to provide evidence.

Hmm, well that's frustrating! But, good to see some movement on the 190s

Congratulations! Get your application in soon and you'll probably be granted a visa with us lot in early July :-)

Surely these people must have been onshore applicants? I'll be rather miffed if not ....

I'm in the same position to you, although I applied a week or so after you did. We've not had any contact from a CO either and certainly understand your impatience!

I did it alone and it's not complicated. The forms are not designed to trip you up, they're tedious but with a bit of care easy enough. Unless you have a complication from medical, criminal history etc. I don't think an agent is necessary. However, I don't have a visa yet so we'll see ...

While I live in hope of a grant email arriving any morning now, we've also 'mostly' resigned ourselves to a July grant. My partner is a Dr. and we've lived in Aus previously on a 457, so she was able to find a job through connections she made in the first trip. They've been pretty good with the delay in the visa.

I think a solicitor is fine and if you search the forum other people have used solicitors successfully in the past. I would definitely get bank and tax statements certified, not sure if the reference needs to be certified but if your friend is willing just get it done. If you don't get some docs certified that your assessor requires, they will simply ask for these and give you time to sort it out, so don't stress about it too much as my communications with Vetassess were helpful and polite.

When I got my docs notarised for Vetassess the notary stamped each document with: "I certify this document to be a true copy of the original sighted by ...." he followed this with a handwritten signature and date, and his name and contact details were also on the stamp. He also crimped each notarised document and I paid a flat fee of £60 for all the docs, but shop around as you may get it cheaper. I went with the Notary as he could do it the same day and I wanted to submit ASAP. Don't forgot pay slips, P60s etc. for proof of employment.

They may hope that you will go into your nominated profession, because they have identified a skill shortage in that area, there is no obligation for you to do so and you are free to take up any profession you wish when you arrive.

Same here, after submitting on the 4th Feb we gave notice to vacate our rental on the 30th April and boxed up all our belongings, my partner agreed to start a new job early May! Luckily the landlord had no one else ready to move in and so on the 29th April we have extended our stay until the end of May, and my partner's new employer are prepared to wait (for now). Still living in hope that we'll get the grant soon :mad:

Processing times are taking longer as the number of visas issued is reaching the cap for this year, but this cap resets at the start of the new administrative year on the 1st July. Some onshore applicants have been granted 190 visas, particularly if they will soon become unlawful due to an expiring visa. If I was you I wouldn't be concerned as I am sure your application will be processed in time.