basil

Hi Ben, I sorted my daughter on a child visa in the UK before leaving. From memory they processed it very fast. It was a bit time consuming, sorting a passport etc first but I don’t recall any big delay in the process, I think I did it all within 6 months.

Great thanks! I wasn't sure if they still gave out temp cards/numbers.....i searched PIO and old threads had suggested maybe not.

Fetal consultants deal with multiple births and late pregnancy complications, I need one of those (v's a regular obstetrician) but I'm expecting to need to see a GP first for a referral. I'm just not sure I can get a referral until I'm fully registered for medicare, I thought someone here may have needed specialist treatment before their card came through or that wasn't available privately.

Sorry I'm not sure if i worded my OP badly but I'm not expecting to just 'waltz in and expect it all for free'. I've found myself needing urgent care at an already stressful time and just want to understand how to access the healthcare system reasonably efficiently so as not to add to any delays.....I'm more than happy to pay tbh, I just don't know how that works either for a specialist centre that operates in a public hospital.

We are currently on our stopover, we arrive on Friday. I pretty much need to see a fetal consultant asap (within days ideally) on arrival. How best do I sort this? I've found the local medicare office on the webby (it's not clear which ones i can register at, is it all of them??) and I'm about to email a local GP to see if they have walk-in appointments or if they'll let me book one now for the day we land. Will it be a problem I haven't registered for Medicare? Do you always get a temp card/ number? How do I ask for a hospital referral, just to the hospital or do I need to request the consultant specifically? If medicare fails me how does the private system work, I believe fetal medicine is only public offered as there's very few units (I'm looking in brisbane) I think i'd be deemed as urgent but not emergency so I don't really feel comfortable just walking into A&E as this is neitehr accident nor emergency. TIA

Thanks Bob but it's sydney we'd be flying to and the schedules show A380 flights. I know we may not end up on the same flight, but i'd like to book our human flights to give us the possiblity to - really because i'd like to drop our doggy at cargo myself i suppose

I'd like to book our (people) flights now and if possible relate it so our dog will then book onto the same one. Our preferred airline is sing air......I looked on their website and pets can't travel on the A380-800, but most of their flights are this! Anyone know what SQ flight numbers / times pets are allowed?

Thanks Bob, I'm just online doing the app now. My vets has completed the declaration, but i was just having doubts. The RNATT is Idexx but the sample was tested by biopest laboratories......so is it correct the address of the 'government approved lab' on the form is Biopests (EH26 0PY) not the idexx ref labs address?

Can any UK OV sign the RNATT declaration? We don't have dates sorted to book the pet mover yet, but I want to apply for the import permit since it's valid for 6 months and have it in hand.

Thanks for such a fast reply. I had hoped the intro of isofix might help but clearly not. I take it the same is true in reverse, an aussie capsule isn't legal for use in the UK? I think I will just have to accept we're not going to get much use from a uk carrier before moving, but will hopefully time it so age/height wise the new aussie purchase lasts a good few months.

I'm confused by this, specifically if the likely intro of isofix will help me in anyway? I've not yet bought a UK car seat for a newborn, but will be moving to aus next year. I was looking at a maxi cosi cabriofix. Is there anything I can buy that will help the move legally and save me buying two car seats.....or do i have to bu a uk one, then buy an aus one or arrival?

Re the delay : I read that they're not meant to cap or queue child visas, but they are queueing them by the sound of it - the lady at Australia house told me that currently they are allocated so many child visas annually by DIAC in Aus and UK demand outstrips that allocation. So sometimes applicants are 'stalled' to pace everyone out to the new issue year in July. It is frustrating when you know it's all basically been seen and approved by your CO.

We're heading brisbane way too, though it's all still some way off for us (got to give birth first!!!) 10 days is brilliant for a CO, at least then I'll have someone to communicate with. Got to say £95 is brill too for the medical (our own healthchecks were £250+ each!) I know every case is different but I feel very reassured by your experience that it should all be possible. BTW if you don't fancy NZ for your babies visa run then vanuatu is only about a 2 1/2 flight from Brissy

Thanks Neil, that's really helpful. We are in the process of talking with consultants now, it's the border control I'm worried about really - that and visa goalposts suddenly moving. The e676 looks a good plan, I hope I get a CO that's helpful enough to contact DIAC on our behalf too - that way I won't worry too much that baby will be entering on a one-way ticket. Have you had any airline problems with baby booking 1 way visitor airline ticket? I seem to recall when we booked previously it wasn't just border control but the airlines too that were picky. Out of interest did you baby need a healthcheck? I thought they would but australia house tell me a baby under a year wouldn't....I think that might be duff info though! Good luck with your move - where are you heading in Aus?

bumpety bum. Neil - what did/are you doing? i'm going to be in a similar situation. Did the CO give you a note or anything to help settle border control? I can't decide if I should be considering baby entering as an e visitor and then apply for the onshore 802 or to go for the 101 knowing we hope to leave before it's likely to be granted (and risking the visa goalposts moving too i suppose!)

Just curious to know what option people decided to go for, the 802 or 101? I'm in a similar situation, baby due in december and plans to move in april. I called australia house london and they said baby going on a evisitor would be permissible (immi au says this visa is for tourism which includes recreation and visiting friends and family - which is pretty much all babies do right?!). We would book an onward flight (flexi) in prep for the validation trip. But now i'm looking at the 802 and despite being a little more pricey it makes me feel a whole lot more comfortable, but what visa do they expect a child to move from if not a visitor visa?!

Trasi - no it's not just for checking documents, it's photocopying and certifying them as copies of the original. But if it's not considered enough for a visa app then it's no good I suppose. Unfortunately the solicitors in our area charge a fortune for certifying, the appointment fee plus £5 per doc (and the JP's office didn't have a clue and were something like £10 a doc last time i called!) Does anyone have a list / officiasl doc of who CAN certify documents? I need to find a better/cheaper option than when I did it last time!

Wrussell - not sure what you mean by 'cannot have it both ways' it's possible to get a child visa after birth. My question was really regarding the current offshore child visa processing times in the UK and if there are option like bridging visas, permission given for baby to enter on a temporary or tourist visa or if indeed that baby visas are commonly processed faster anyway (since they have less paperwork and checking than say an older student child almost 18)

http://www.postoffice.co.uk/counter-services/passport-identity/identity-checking-service Does anyone know if this is considered acceptable for certifying documents for visa apps?

oh and the Uk aussi embassy says 7-8 months (do i apply to them?!) still not workable for april really http://www.uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/immi_processing_times.html

I looked this up a few weeks back and I'm sure I found something on the aus immi site that suggested 3-4months for a child 101 visa (here: http://www.immi.gov.au/about/charters/client-services-charter/visas/5.0.htm)......but today I started to look at online at the paperwork and see it's currently 14 months :arghh: (here: http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/family/more-information.htm) Baby is due in December, we had hoped to apply for visa asap after birth and move around April 2013. Do I have any other options other than to move now pre baby being born? Who can I call to get a idea on the guide for current processing times, will australia house london help me or have i got to call aus?? :cry:

I've been pondering this too. Our home adress is xxxx farm cottage. we do not live on a farm (yes it's a stupid house name!) we do live on a rural lane though. When we visit aus on the airplane customs form i always omit the word 'farm' from our address and correctly tick the box to say we haven't been near animals/farms etc. I have no idea what to do re our shipping container though.....will i get away with amending out house name to make it straightforward?! I think if you don't live/work on a farm and just live rural then i'd tick 'no' but clearly in my case my whole container is likely to raise suspicions due to my stupid house name.

Just thought I would update for anyone wondering the same. The answer is to repeat the RNATT before the 12mth expiry to ensure only 30days in quarantine. My email to AQIS: I would be grateful if you could clarify the statement below from the AQIS import instructions?: ''AQIS recognises the RNATT result for a period of 12 months from the date of blood sampling. AQIS advises retesting prior to expiry of the RNATT. The animal must have a valid RNATT at the time of export. If your animal has had previous RNAT testing and rabies vaccinations, please forward copies of this documentation to AQIS with your import permit application'' My dog has had his rabies vaccine and RNATT titre in October 2011. Due to delays in our travel plans he is unlikely to enter Australia before the 12month expiry of the RNATT blood test in October 2012. When should the RNATT be repeated to ensure continuous eligibility to enter with the reduced quarantine period of 30days? Should this be repeated just before expiry in October 2012, or would he then need to wait the 5months again to have the reduced quarantine stay? Please advise? The reply from AQIS: As you have advised your RNATT is due to expire in October 2012 to ensure that your quarantine period remains at 30 days you must have another RNATT done prior to the expiry of the previous one. If you keep your RNATT up to date then DAFF Biosecurity (Formerly AQIS) will that the quarantine period start from the blood draw date for the 2011 test.

Thanks Bob, I have a few weeks to play with then to decide whether to re-do the titre at the end of April.....while I'm deciding I might email AQIS for clarification, I hope if it's in writing they will be a bit more committed to a firm response (or maybe not!) I'm not too bothered about re-doing a titre, although it is pricey enough, but it really bugs me to have to re-do the rabies shot annually.

My dogs had their Rabies titre (and re-vacc same day) last October. I just want to check I understand how to keep this maintained for entry really. Am I correct in thinking the date of the titre draw + 1 year, is the last date they can ARRIVE/LAND in Australia? Or does it have to be valid for their quarantine stay too? (ie titre drawn 20th October 2011 means they need to arrive on or before 19th October 2012?) If it looks likely that they would not travel (we have no firm date still!) before this expires, then am I correct in thinking they need re-titring 6months before it expires? (ie titre in Oct 2011, needs re-doing in April 2012 to ensure continuous ability to travel). Then re-vacc at the 12mth mark.