BestyBlue

Wow, can't believe this. Our case officer was allocated yesterday and approved our visa on the same day! What a shock it was to wake up to this morning!! Am in full panic mode now as I have a million and one things to sort / arrange and flights to book for about three weeks time. MJ7739 my boss has hounded the immigration emergency email and phone number everyday for the last 7 days, so have clearly had enough of her. Haha I hope you hear real soon. Please keep us updated. Good luck to everyone else too.

Yeah I think we're in similar situations. The company employing me are running the risk of losing contracts if I'm not able to start on the 23rd June. I think when they agreed to start dates with these contracts they thought the 457 process would be much simpler and quicker than it actually is. It turns out since I posted that my boss has applied for priority processing, so hopefully we will both hear soon. Very stressful as fearful that my job offer could be rescinded if these contracts fall though....

Hi MJ7739 How did you request priority processing? I totally missed that when I did my application. I wonder if it is something I can request now? Thanks

Hi All, We submitted our application on May 17th. Currently shows as processing, however I do know that my employers nomination application was approved 2 days ago, so hopefully things will start to move soon :-)

Etihad it is then. Thanks everyone Point noted about the stop over, will try and find one that is as short as possible. I think 30kg's is pretty good too, not forgetting that there will be the hand luggage allowance on top. Hopefully we'll just about squeeze everything in between the three of us. We did also look at Singapore airlines, they were coming up about £200 more than Etihad. If you had all come back with horror stories I was planning on booking with them, as have heard loads of good reviews. Should be booking our flights within the next couple of weeks, so fingers crossed the prices don't decide to suddenly rise. Thanks again :-)

Thanks Lizzywills, that's put my mind at rest. Especially regarding the kids! Have others had this experience too?

We have also set up with ANZ, they have lots of useful links on their website. Also if you set up with ANZ you can get additional luggage allowance with Emirates (I think it was 46kg per person). Also regarding insurance, we are in the same position as you and are now just awaiting confirmation of our 457. We have done our insurance through HIF. We had to pay a fee to set up the policy, however during the set up it asks when you'll be arriving in Australia, based on this we won't start paying further payments until our arrival date. Hope it helps a little.

Hi Has anyone flown with Etihad recently? If so, would you recommend them and do you think they are well set up for kids? Ideally I wanted to fly Emirates, but they are £500 more expensive. Thanks

I don't mind either way, was just saying :-)

Wow that took longer than I expected, but our 457 has finally been submitted. My boss has got their local MP chasing it in an attempt to get it through quicker and I have a start date of the end of June. Scary and exciting all at once :-)

I'm not sure how much difference to time scales it makes, but I'm a Podiatrist and my off shore application has just taken three and a half weeks.

Yes you can. I received mine about a week ago and my visa hasn't arrived yet.

My husband and I are in the same situation, thanks for your advice :-)

Hi all, I am trying to gather all my docs ready to submit my 457 application. One thing I need is a reference from my previous employer, however when I left the business closed down a couple of weeks later. I've tried contacting my old boss but am not having much luck. Is there any way round this? Also I have run my own business since June 2013, so I'm guessing for that I can just do my own reference on my own company headed paper? Any help will be hugely appreciated. Thanks :-)

Hi all, My prospective employer sent off the nomination earlier this week, so I'm just waiting to hear back. I'm also waiting for my AHPRA registration to arrive as I can't apply without it. Lots going on at the moment as our house is due to exchange any day, so need to find somewhere to live until the visa comes through. Best of luck everyone, I hope you're not left waiting too long. Exciting times!!

Here's the thread which I think they're talking about. http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/transport-shipping/186919-what-fits-movecube.html We are going through the same at the moment and had the large move cube marked out with masking tape last night.

Hi I don't think there's many podiatrists on here so I hope someone can help. I am hopefully off to Brisbane later this year under a 457 visa, now part of the visa requirements is for me to have my registration in place. I have had my skills assessed under ANZPAC and am now covered from that perspective for 3 years. But what is confusing me is if I need my AHPRA registration in place for the visa or can this wait until we are in Aus? The application really isn't aimed at someone who is applying from overseas, now I know that if I do it when I arrive it can be processed within 10 days which would leave me with plenty of time before starting my new job. Any guidance would be hugely appreciated. Thanks

I've been wondering the same. I love our bed, purely because it is soooo comfy, but other than that our furniture is pretty old and has zero sentimental value. The more I consider it the more I thing that I'll just get a move cube for our bikes, scooter and special family stuff like photos etc. Then if there's space I'll try and squeeze the bed in

Thanks everyone for your kind responses. Since telling my dad he made the 3.5 hour journey the next day to come and speak to us face to face. He actually admitted that he was envious in a way of what we're doing and not to worry that he would fly over to visit. However this was whilst telling us (in his eyes it was advice, but he was definitely telling! lol) what to do with our finances. Grrr All good now though, just got to tell my mum this weekend when she gets back off her holidays. Couldn't tell her before as didn't want to spoil her time away. I think I might go about it slightly differently with her, that assuming our daughter doesn't fly in the house and tell her first.....

Hey, I've just been offered a Skype interview for a job in Wollongong with sponsorship under a 457. I've had a look on the web and it looks nice, just rather sleepy. Is there anyone who lives there or who has been there that can give me their opinions of the place? I don't want to accept just anything as a means to get into Oz knowing that I'll be stuck there for a few years Thanks

So I decided this evening was the time to tell my dad that we are going to go ahead with our plans to move to Australia. He has known on and off for years that this is what we want and appeared to be supportive, after all he moved to America for 5 years, so must understand to an extent what we are wanting to do? But tonight he was totally the opposite to what he has been in the past, maybe he hasn't took us seriously previously? I don't know. So am now feeling a little flat (not that it will make the slightest difference as this is the right thing to do for my little family). What's more concerning is that he appeared more bothered that we were coming off the property ladder, rather than the fact that we will be on the other side of the world. Maybe it was just his way of dealing with it, but I needed to be completely honest with him. Has this been the same for others? Please tell me they came round, took you seriously and eventually trusted in your abilities and supported you? Oh, I'm so frustrated, wish I'd kept my mouth shut in a way now as I know what every phone call will involve from now on. :arghh:

We shall be bringing our two terriers out with us later this year (hopefully), did anyone struggle securing rentals with pets? Thanks