The Brand New PIO Parents Visa thread

[Lilu]

I am a GSM 175 applicant and still waiting for the visa grant. Have plans to move to Melborne right after my grant. At the same time or minimum time after I move there I want to bring my parents in.....what options do I have?


Thanks

Hi, you "must have been lawfully resident in Australia for a reasonable period, normally two years..."
So, you can not apply for parent visa immediately.

[vava]

I am a GSM 175 applicant and still waiting for the visa grant. Have plans to move to Melborne right after my grant. At the same time or minimum time after I move there I want to bring my parents in.....what options do I have?


Thanks

Hi Player,
Firstly there is a balance of family test - meaning at least 50% of your parents' children (including step-children) must be permanently settled in Australia. There are no hard and fast rules on what DIAC consider to be "settled" but its usually two years. There are lots of options for visas for your parents and I suggest you have a look on the website and search "parent visas". Many of the contributors of this thread have gone down the 173 (temp) or 143 (perm) route. Both are extremely costly - approx UK£65,000 in total and time consuming - think minimum 14 months and you won't be far off. It all depends on their circumstances and the ages of your parents too.
You'll always get answers on this thread though and point you in the right direction.
Good luck,
Val

[panman]

My parents are thinking of taking redundancy with my dads work and coming over on a tourist visa whilst they wait for the grant of their 173 visa (they know they'd have to leave the country for it to be granted).

Has anyone else done this?

They thought they'd be able to ship their cars and belongings, but I have a feeling you actually need some kind of visa before you can do this sort of thing - am I right?

Hi We did a similar thing whilst we were waiting for our 173 to come through. We bought a cabin on a holiday park and spent 7 months on a tourist visa, we had some stuff shipped out but I said it was my daughters effects, that way you have an address and a visa to quote.
We also thought about moving back and forwards on a tourist visa, but Australia expect you to spend a reasonable time out of the country before you come back in. So you could get to immigration and be turned away. Originally we were on a 103, but to save all the hassle decided to pay the money, It's a big wad to pay out, we are waiting to pay our second vac, and have applied, just waiting for CO to be appointed but in no rush. Hope this helps.

[summerskybird]

We opened a NAB account from here (UK) and there were no problems. A couple of emails about why we wanted to open the account, but this was just because we aren't actually emigrating.

When we arrived the first time after opening the account we had to go into Sydney (nearest main branch) to activate everything. All very easy, the cards arrived at our daughters house within the week.

That's interesting. I'll look into opening an account over there. Thanks.

[summerskybird]

Is it best to go for a 143 or a 173 and change later?

[vava]

Is it best to go for a 143 or a 173 and change later?

Hi there,
Its the route we took after being advised by a migration agent. If we had known then what we now know, we would have just got it all over and done with and done the 143 at the start. The 173 costs a huge chunk of $$$$$ and is only valid 2 years. In the meantime the cost of applying for and paying for the inevitable 143 increases by 10-15% per year. Lets be honest, I doubt anyone would part with all that cash and only stay 2 years so, having done the 173 then 143 thing myself, I would just do the 143. That said, we had the $$$$ standing by and earning interest in Oz already. I know others have to sell their houses to release the funds. Its all a matter of personal circumstances.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Val x

[Fisher1]

Hi Panman

I was very interested by your post in which you said you bought a cabin on a holiday park - I have been trying to find out about caravan posibilities because we can't think about emmigrating at the mo (elderly mum in tow) and find accomodation when we are over visiting to be a big issue. Would you mind me asking how you found your cabin, did you have to jump through any hoops with the authorities, where was it and how did you find it. Grateful for any info as this would be a perfect solution for us!

[kevkim]

Was it easy to open an Aus bank when you live in the UK?

Hi,

We live in York and opened a NAB account yesterday/today with absolutely no problems at all. We have the name of the person we need to see when we arrive and call into our local branch. She'll have our cards waiting there for us. Great service so far!

Kim

[Fisher1]

We opened an account with Westpac earlier this year -totally straightforward process. We have no intention of emmigrating at the mo but much to recommend it in terms of convenience. For example we sent all the spending cash for our upcoming holiday to our Aus bank account months ago - no more being held to ransom at the cashpoint by whatever charges are current with the british bank. Also sent it via a currency exchange web site so got a good rate of exchange. Very handy for presents also - I buy family presents this end and our daughter puts the money in dollars in our Aus account. Makes a great change from I buy family presents here and she promises to give me the money when she sees me!

[Stellathedog]

Very handy for presents also - I buy family presents this end and our daughter puts the money in dollars in our Aus account. Makes a great change from I buy family presents here and she promises to give me the money when she sees me![/QUOTE]


Ha ha! I thought I was the only one that happened to!

Separate question for you........which home swap sites have you used? Or have I misunderstood one of your previous replies?

Anyone out there want a house near Bath for a couple of months, swapping for one in or around Sydney?