Calmac
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George Lombard...worth a google.
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Re insurance....I managed to get cover for 10 weeks for myself and wife (70 and 74 yr old) for just over £1000. A bit eyewatering for peace of mind but had to he done!
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Thanks Fisher...we hoped to be helping on the school run, and generally be available to assist with baby sitting duties. Ballarat and the likes would just be too far out! I'll keep on with the lottery and annual visits I think. It's nice to get way from a north east winter for a couple of months a year!
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Thanks for response Kathss...thought about it but not really practicable given the circumstances!
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Thanks Catlady...we have not yet withdrawn the application and will wait until the last moment in case we get a lottery boost. We made the decision effectively at Christmas when we visited family for a couple of months. What might have been achievable price wise in 2015/16 had simply gone beyond reach. I will certainly complete an online feedback form to comment on the current farcical situation....we fondly imagined18 months wait at the time and in those cicumstances might have made it!
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About 4 years since the decision was made to apply and just over 3 since application finalised and submitted. So much has changed in that period personally, financially and politically. Property prices have continued to rise in Melbourne and drop in North East England; Brexit has damaged the exchange rate; and when you are in your late sixties/ early seventies health issues can arise. Application dropped and we'll just have to take the loss of the initial payment!
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Thanks for your response ramot. It is the exchange rate which took a big hit after the Brexit vote and substantially increased the bond contribution in sterling! Thanks to all for responses...we were hoping to be of use on the school run and looking after grandchildren during holidays etc which precludes living too far away. The "granny flat" option was a thought but eventually we decided it was too much of a come down from our present comfortable lifestyle. And finally we found that we must have aged a lot in the three years on the waiting list....I am 70 and my wife is 75.... We found the pace of Melbourne life comparatively frenetic on this last trip. I think the tranquility of rural living in England becomes more attractive as you get older, even if the weather leaves a lot to be desired!
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I could have written that myself. We have also just returned from a 3 month visit to Melbourne and found basically that property was beyond reach. In the end we had to decide that exchanging a comfortable 3 bedroom house in England for a one bedroom flat/unit in Melbourne was just not worth it.....the bond contribution has also obviously increased drastically over the three years since application. So with about a month to go before action would begin we have reluctantly decided to withdraw. We will have to make do with the annual visit for as long as we can put up with the flight!
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Thanks to all for comments and help...We each received the 651 visa this evening which made it only 24 hours or so...very satisfying. Booking now for Melbourne next week and you'll soon see me on the school run in the Heidleberg/ Clifton Hill area! 143 app was May 2015...so hoping soon for some movement on that. Thanks again!
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Thanks...I'll give it a day or so to see how we get on!
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Applied at about 9 pm last night for myself and other half and as yet have received nothing....so it's unfortunately not instant in this case A pity as we've had an SOS call to help out with grandparent duties.
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Do you complete it online and send it electronically?
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I used to wait with bated breath for weekly news of dates. It doesn't seem to happen now so has anyone any idea exactly where we are?
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Thanks!
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So what is the approximate waiting time for the 804 at the moment please?
