vava
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If my memory is correct, the reason there is a backlog from June 2014 is most probably because the visa fees always increase on July 1st and everybody rushes to get their applications in before then. Hope this gives those of you a much needed reason.................Val
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Hi everyone, I was lucky enough to get 1.9225 last Friday. It was arranged with Halo Financial. My advice would be not to take the first quote you are offered as they can vary from dealer to dealer. Also don't deal with those who charge for sending funds to your Aus banks. Cheers, Val
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Oh if only all the useless establishments and government departments in the UK were sent to Oz for lessons then this country wouldn't be on its knees.
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Something that we didn't think about when we first opened our account was the $5 per month charges but not all of them do this. We got a letter when my husband turned 60 to say that there would be no further charges as he is a senior! The other thing that we didn't think of was that as we have banked with ANZ for 7 years we now have a history which won't do us any harm should we need a small mortgage or loan etc in the future. The manager knows us too because of the hoo haa when IMMI needed our visa fee. We sent them one of our ANZ personal cheques but IMMI sent it back and asked for a bank cheque which is what we call a bankers draft. ANZ allowed my daughter to go to the local branch and pick it up. Luckily I was able to email them a photo of her passport and she showed the real one for ID. Very helpful and accommodating. The lady who deals with migrating poms at ANZ in London is very helpful too. Hope you manage to sort it out before the exchange rate plummets again! Regards, Val
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Hi, Yes. Its quite easy to open an account. We opened ours in 2007, way before we thought of applying to live there. We used it to save for our daughters wedding which was on the Gold Coast in 2008. Now we use it to shop and pay for things when we go on holiday although we also have a savings account which we opened when we were getting close to being granted. Our daughter used to have access to it but I've changed the password! She has "borrowed" from it in the past. There is a branch of ANZ in London and they were really helpful but I'm sure there are other banks in the UK too. Once you have an account its very easy to transfer funds via an FX trader. We use Halo Financial but there are others too. I usually get 2 quotes before I do the deal, all done on the phone, email and online transfers. Easy peasy. Good Luck! Val
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Thanks Steve but its happenend again. The email came, I clicked on the blue link and it took me to 03.10.14! I cannot fathom why its happening. Technology! At least I managed to wire the £££££'s for my fab exchange rate to $$$$$$$'s successfully! Regards, Val
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Congratulations to those who have recently been granted their visas. This is also a "test" post as I don't seem to be getting regular alerts any more and I keep getting logged out. Very weird! Also, if any of you already have Australian bank accounts, I would strongly advise you to send some money over (if you have any spare) asap as I have just got a very favourable 1.9225 rate with my foreign exchange people. He said its forecast to drop again. Cheers, Val
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Thanks Steve, I don't know how they do it in Oz but my friend put his house near Brisbane on the market last week, open house on Saturday, 3 further viewings on Sunday and two families fighting over it on Monday morning. He got way over the asking price and he has no garden to speak of! Just have to keep on buying a lottery ticket on a Saturday! Hope it goes very quick for you! Regards, Val
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Hi there, Yes we are aware that there are some legal implications and we aren't yet even in the early planning stages. Our daughter and son in law haven't even agreed that dual living is what they want. Son in law already knows the pitfalls as his parents built a granny flat for his grandparents and its all gone wrong and nobody is speaking to each other. Not an ideal situation so lots to consider. We could always buy a tent in the event of not being able to afford anything, at least we'll be warm most of the time.......its snowed here overnight!
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Absolutely, good points well made. I'm currently dropping huge hints suggesting to my daughter that they consider looking at houses with dual living. We would then be able to "buy in" with them but have our own space; eg kitchen, front door etc. We'll be on hand to do some child minding as they both have unsocial hours jobs and later, they'll be on hand should we need some help as we get older. I think they are mulling it over........... Finding out that our house isn't worth what we assumed when this process began had really had a huge impact on what we could potentially afford when we finally get there and thats if we sell in the near future. We have had it on the market for over 12 months on and off. To be honest, had we known what the future was to hold, we probably wouldn't have started filling in all those forms back in 2010 when we heard the words "we're having a baby!". Food for thought folks! Good luck, Val
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Hi Steve, I have decided not to get stressed anymore. The house next door has now sold and whilst I'm a bit miffed they didn't buy mine, I can see why they went for the very much cheaper one next door as it needs lots doing to it and they can choose their own preferences. New Year, new attitude! If we sell soon great, if not, thats ok too. We are still working so we have more time to save and spend precious time with my parents. Cheers, Val
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Hi, from memory I think I'm correct saying that we aren't allowed to name names........ unless it just that we're not allowed to post negative comments whilst naming names.....if you know what I mean. I think if you look in the shipping section there may be recommendations but I'm sure someone with experience would PM you with details if you ask. I know I asked for the name of a company to avoid via private message last year when we'd had an offer (which fell through) and we got some shippers in to give us quotes. There was a vast difference in the 2 quotes we did get incidentally. Val
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Hi, Or, option 3.......we took out a mortgage to cover the VAC so we had the money on standby. Just as well as our visa was granted late 2012 and the house still hasn't sold. The stress this visa application has caused is nothing compared to the stress of trying to sell a house in the northwest of England! Good luck ! Val
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Hi Bev, Welcome to Poms in Oz! To access the thread just click on Forum, then migration, then you will see The Brand New Parent Visa thread. You'll always get helpful advice there but just as a heads up........there are a couple of things you need to be mindful of; at least 50% of your children need to be settled in Australia and you will need about AU$50k per applicant. The whole process takes about 2 years give or take. Good luck! Val
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Hi there, Like the other poster said, it is fairly straightforward to do the application yourself but if you chose to use a migration agent there is one who posts helpful advice on the parent visa thread. His name is Alan Collett and his agengy is called Go Matilda. Hope this helps and good luck with the journey! Regards, Val
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Hi there, Well depending on where you live, it might be an idea to do something now. Our visa is already 2 years old and we are still here with an unsold house. Hope all goes well for you! Regards, Val
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For once Skype gremlins was our fault but we did witness the present opening successfully. Lots of gin helped me get over my sadness at not being there. Hope you have a lovely Christmas and I hope 2015 brings you all you desire........Cheers, Val x
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That's great news! Have they relaxed the 12 month rule on the medicals and police checks now? When we applied they wouldn't let us do those until they we about to ask for the last instalment. No wonder some of us get confused.com! Hope your parents' journey is smooth from here! Regards, Val
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Hi Zoedan24, There are visas for parents. If its a permanent one you're after then there are a few things to consider first. Like how many siblings do you have? 50 % of your parents offspring must be permanently settled in Australia. This includes step children and grown up adult children. If your parents satisfy the criteria then the next news is a little hard to swallow.......the visa will cost in excess of $40,000 each and will take the best part of 2 years. Hope this helps and for further help go to the Brand New Parent Visa thread on here. You will find on the home page in Migration Issues. Also look on the Immigration website. Good luck, Val
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I wouldn't worry too much Tony, we got our 143 granted just over 2 years ago and we STILL haven't found a buyer. Unless you live in London you'll probably have to start thinking about it soonish though. You have a year to validate and 5 years to come and go before it gets more complicated but I refuse to worry about it anymore because it was making me ill. Hope it all goes smoothly for you from here. Regards, Val
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Tony, it looks like its your turn! I reckon they must be ready to grant your visa as police and medicals are only valid for a year. AoS can take a while depending on where your sponsor lives so I advise getting on with that first then make the appointment for your medical. Police checks only take a few days. You could be looking at an early new year grant, well done! Cheers Val
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Hi there Whites, Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you are correct. That is the price. You pay the fee and it entitles you to live and work in Australia. Also with the CPV 143 you have to lodge $14000 with Centrelink in case your parents need their assistance in the first 10 years. If you don't use any of it then they return it with interest. The visa cost is non refundable and doesn't cover anything else. However, I think I'm correct in saying that after 10years in residence they will be eligible for the Australian pension which is just as well as their uk one will be frozen at the rate in was when they migrated. Hope this helps, Val
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Hi there, There is an agent who posts on this thread called Allan Collett of Go Matilda. He has a superb reputation. Hope this helps. Val
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Yes, ours dragged on and on in the Brisbane area. We had to ask our CO for more time - which they were ok about. Oh the irony! 2 years down the line and we're still stuck in the UK trying to sell this bl***y house!
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I will never understand the housing market or the reasons someone buys one property and not another nearby. We can only be patient and make sure we are nice and tidy at all times! Best of luck, Val