lara

Hi All My partner is eligible to apply for an 887 Visa (regional permanent residency) now. We are just wondering as it is exempt from the time scales on the immi website what does this mean? Has anyone applied recently and what were the time scales like? Thanks

Hi Thanks for your replies, I guess the situation is that i am happy in Australia although i do find Darwin a bit hard, i think id rather live somewhere else (Cairns or Perth maybe Adelaide) but i moved here for my job as my employer sponsored me. I now have PR so if i chose to move at some stage then that would be ok. I actually met my OH here in Darwin tho and he had moved here for his job too he is sponsored by NT gov, this means that at the min he cannot work anywhere outside of the NT, although when he applies for PR next year we could consider moving. I think that this would be the best really as im sure he would be happier elsewhere (he has been in darwin 4 years now and i think it has just made him think that all of Australia is the same, hes not into fishing or pig hunting or drinking and it means that he doesnt really have friends as thats what a lot of people seem to do up here) Anyway hes not keen on the whole trying somewhere else in Australia and he says that he knows that when we have kids he will want to be near his family so if we were to move home we would live near (but not too close lol) to them. At least that would give us some support. I am 32 and i really want to start a family soon im not keen on the idea of putting it off anymore as i dont want to miss the boat (i know that people have children later than this now but i dont want to, i hope that no-one is upset by that) Its very difficult because i am happy in Australia and have lived all over only moving to Darwin at the end of my temporary visas to get my long term visa... i dont really have the same close family at home so i am more swayed by the whole better future for our kids etc here but i cant ask my oh to stay if hes really unhappy... i just worry that we will be moving home with me pregnant and although i may get some maternity pay from here i wont be able to work at home and we will have extra outgoings (i know you can do it without going overboard but its still an extra responsibilty) and what if there is no work etc etc... i guess there is no correct answer it is just good to know what other people are thinking and any suggestions are more than welcome btw i love the dyed rice and glitter idea :-) thanks for any replies

I know this is a bit long but id be really grateful for any advice. We (me and my oh) are currently living in Darwin. I have PR and my oh is on a government sponsored regional visa which means he is eligible for PR in February 2014. We came out to Australia separately and met here. I love Australia and have been really happy here, less so in Darwin but i moved here for my visa and would consider moving somewhere else in the long term. My oh however came on a WHV and always planned for it to be just a holiday, he doesnt like his job (but earns really good money) and is really unhappy as he misses his family. Neither of us have many friends here in Darwin, even though we are sociable people :frown: and this doesnt really help matters. We are planning a family next year and he wants to go home we have talked about this and agreed that if he still feels this way the end of next year then we will go, i have always believed that home is where the heart is and there are things i miss about England so basically if thats what he really wants then we will go BUT I am worried (i worry generally lol) about what we will need to get started at home again, costs, living arrangements, jobs etc, if i am pregnant i obviously wont be working and as we have both been over her for approx 4/5 years we wont be eligible for any benefits etc etc my oh is an electrician. if anyone has moved back and has any information about all the practical things involved and costs then i would be really grateful to hear from you... just a bit concerned about how it will all work and what we will be facing if and when we do move back... i like to plan well in advance and this way if i plan now we have a year to save money and sort things out so it wont be quite so difficult going home thanks in advance :biggrin:

Thanks Blossom, i just thought i would post my timeline so people could see whereabouts they were in the queue, its comforting to know how the wait is going

Oh yeah im a fitness centre manager

Hi I have been lurking on this thread for quite a while just keeping tabs on how long the applications were taking. I applied for a 187 on 25 October 2012 UK so low risk Non DRC and was assigned to Parramatta processing centre My nomination was out in on 23 October 2013 i sent all the paperwork that was requested on the list. I received an Ack Letter early November then medicals requested Medicals and police checks done January 2013 Sent an email from my employer asking about the nomination last week as it was outside of processing times Was assigned a case officer this week, Nomination grated yesterday when extra information confirming benefits and length of employment was sent Extra info asked for today as the case officer couldnt see my police checks i emailed copies over today and Visa granted this afternoon. PR finally sooooo excited. I hope everyone elses visa comes through soon :-)

Generally avoid suburbs that begin with an M... Some people dont like whitfield either but its quite nice if you want quiet... not a lot there though. You will have to travel for anything. I personally prefer north of Cairns to south, the beaches you mentioned are quite nice but property is normally more expensive and there are the obvious problems with the weather. I would consider Redlych if you are looking for a family home its not too far away and the properties are reasonably priced theres also good schools and shopping nearby, also consider nearer to Kuranda (Caravonica and the like) the schools there are good, you could also look at Smithfield... its nice but a little bit further away (closer than trinity beach though) good shopping, schools and activities for the kids. Having said all of this im assuming that your husband will be driving and given the traffic in Cairns (very little) even Trinity beach etc is not too far. You will need to have a car each as public transport is basically non-existent and all of the nice areas are too far to walk. hope this helps :biggrin: