VictoriaP

Yep, Quest at Narre Warren are great, we spent our first four weeks in Aus there - a bit expensive, but they have everything you need.

Great, found it and posted. Thanks.

Hi Guys, 186 visa Decision Ready application submitted 28 August. MA has given me TRN and login details. Application still just says 'Received'. So more waiting... I was hoping to get an acknowledgement letter by now.

Hi Guys, Just wondering if anyone who has applied for a 186 visa since the 1st July on a Decision Ready basis, has had their application look at or processed at all? I'm just trying to get some idea of a processing timeframe, as all the usual timescales went out of the window with amount of applications they've had lately. Thanks :biggrin:

Hi Francine, I think what has happened is that you were probably watching the banks exchange rate, but the FX company's rate will be between 1 and 1.25 cents different and this is how they make their money. If your buy triggered yesterday it was because the rate was around 1.54 and dropping. I was watching it closely for the same reason. The verbal agreement you made is legally binding. If you really wanted out, you could sell the dollars back to them, but you will be out of pocket. It is so hard knowing when to transfer your money. We traded half of our large sum of money earlier in the week and decided at the last minute not to trade the other half for a while. It's a bit of a risk as the rate might go even lower as is the trend now, then we will have lost out. We don't need the other half for a couple of months, so we are hoping it might go in our favour again, but who knows. If it does drop again, you'll be pleased it triggered. 1.53 is not too bad as the rate did go as low as 1.47 a few months back, but I know we all want the most we can get, as we only do this exchange once and it can make a big difference. For me, I spend most of my time tracking the exchange rate which I find stressful and part of me feels that once it's done, I can just forget about it. Best of luck.

We used them for our shipping from Milton Keynes to Melbourne. They were fantastic both ends and the container arrived slightly early too, a bonus!

Our MA managed to actually speak to someone at the AFP today. Said our applications are being processed and will be out by the end of the week. That would be exactly 2 months since we applied. Fingers crossed they turn up. Just thought I'd give an update.

We applied for ours on the 28th June from inside Australia. No news yet, no response to email sent last week and 1.5 hours wait on the phone if you call them. These are all we are waiting for to be able to lodge. So frustrating, wait, wait, wait... that's all we seem to do.

Hi Guys, MA told us today that our 457 to 186 (new ENS visa) will take 2/4 months once we lodge. We are just waiting for our Australian police checks but they and general visa processing, is taking longer than usual due to an increase in applications - probably due to the LAFHA ending in my opinion. We are applying at Parramatta, decision ready.