AVA25

Hi Keighley, Although they have said 2-4 weeks, by the looks of past experience of people in the immigration blogs, you might still be lucky and get your visa in time to take the flights you have already booked. Since you are in the UK (and presumably British citizens), you may also have the option of getting an eVisitor visa to travel on the date you were suppose to come so you don't lose money paid for your flights. Might be worth asking your migration agent. When we were coming here for the first time, there was delay in getting the 457 visa and I considered this option. Hope you get to keep your plans!

Hello everyone. Silent follower of the blog until now. Onshore in NSW since Jan 2013 on a 457. Originally from the UK. Lodged application on 29th July after an invite received on the 28th (score 85). Last set of docs loaded in late August UK PCC. Called DIAC twice so far (my wife who's the main applicant thinks that they might black list us if I keep calling them!). Vague answers by people at the DIAC (was calling Brisbane I think). Was told yesterday that application has been allocated to a team. Which? No CO yet. Was informed that they have a priority system for handling application. And based on the criteria (unknown to me) they will process applications. Nothing else will matter! So people who have had their applications processed quickly were presumably fulfilling one of those criteria and the rest who are waiting will just have to wait n be patient as someone suggested in the earlier posts! It's hard to be patient!!

Hi Tom We have also applied for 189 on 28th July. I spoke to someone in DIBP. There is no priority for onshore applications over those made offshore. Only real priority given is for the circumstances such as current visa expiring, redundancy and similar challenging circumstances. Hope this helps.

You can carry any number of bottles in checked in luggage and they wouldn't have any problem with that. It's safer to carry jewellery in your hand luggage (assuming its gold, silver, diamonds). As long as you can prove if asked, that its for personal use and may be carry receipts for more expensive stuff, it should be okay with customs. Hope this helps.

Thank you all for your replies. We have decided to put our stuff in storage facility offered by JM and they will ship it as soon as our visa is issued.

From what I understand AQIS charges depend on the size of the container so there will be a fix charge for 20/40 ft sole use container. If you are using a shared container, then they charge by dividing the total charge according to the size of your shipment compared to the others sharing with you. That figure sounds right for 20ft container if that's what you are using. Different companies quote differently so they must have their own margin added to the actual cost, I guess. I hope this helps.

Hello, We are looking to move to Wollongong in third week of January. We have chosen John Mason to ship our stuff in a 20ft sole use container. Due to administrative delays, we will not be getting our visa (e457) until late December. But we would ideally like to ship our stuff earlier, late November or early December so it will be in Oz once we are ready to move in a rented accommodation. Is it essential to have your visa before shipping companies would take away and ship your belongings? Any advise or personal experience will be highly appreciated.