Just found this site, looking for info on medicals, so I've registered and thought I'd say hello.
We've been thinking about emigrating for about three years and applied for our Skills Assessments two years ago - just to see who should be main applicant - both of us got our 60 point assessments, but then we stopped the process as our daughter said she didn't want to go (she was 6 and in tears).
However, after watching all those TV shows in Jan on BBC we had more serious thought about applying again. OH decided (as he'd turned 40 last Dec) that he would apply to Victoria using the STNI visa. He applied for this and we had a manic 9-day reccie in May half term (minus kids) to see if this was something we really wanted to do - only problem was that trip actually produced more questions than answers!
Lots of discussion on plane home as well as reading a positive response from Victoria (via web-mail in Hong Kong airport) made us finally get round to applying for visa proper. We sent our application (no migration agent) on 1 July (decided not to wait for Sep 1, as weren't too sure of changes to be brought in). Had receipt of application e-mail on Aug 13 and acknowledgement of application (with file number) on Oct 17.
According to aspc.processing automated e-mails, I was expecting to hear nothing further until next Mar/Apr. But then got an e-mail on 6 Nov saying that our CO was requesting more information - I was going mad, thinking that we should have gone through a migration agent then we wouldn't have missed anything out. On opening the attachment, it was asking us to go for medicals and get police checks
.
That led to OH saying that he didn't want to go now - I think it was all happening much sooner than we'd planned. More discussion and we've booked medicals for Jan 04 2008 (so must not over-indulge over the festive period) and police checks are now with Scotland Yard.
I'm excited about the whole process (and children are now keener on going) - OH still worrying about the upheaval, but then we've still got to get a final OK and visa given - it may not happen and then the decision has been made for us.
Anyway, thanks for all your useful tips, comments and advice that I've already been reading and looking forward to being able to make my own contributions as well.
Now got to get back to tomorrow's lesson plans
Zoë
Saying hello
to PIO, good luck with the meds in January.
THERESA.
THIS TIME NEXT YEAR WE WILL BE ON OZZZZZZZZZ
