Scroogemacduck

Having had a delay in getting our sponsor to lodge the AOS,we finally had it notified to Centrelink/Immigration on 18 April and after chasing up we got our 2nd VAC request on 01 May,a bit of a delay but we did not know when it had been cleared until later.

So we have an initial entry date of 13 June,I am onshore,OH offshore in UK and it turns out initial date cannot be extended,not a problem for me,later this month a trip abroad & return.....but OH does not want to return until Sept........the problem is that the medicals we had done in advance run out 13 June...the solution to phone London Oz office,explain and take another medical (& pass fit,of course)Cannot be done before 13 June for some reason & not really important in the great scheme of things but technically the visa unless extended by another medical would have run out and boarding would be denied for a UK departure (but not for Oz entry, apparently..such is the system.

My CO also confirmed penal checks & medicals valid for 1 year but not a good idea to do too soon,you learn some expensive lessons in this process! Hope this helps others......although I had more penal checks done in Feb 12 as CO demanded,stating existing 6/11 dated checks had expired,I just did them.LOL.

Spent 50mins in a Q,in a bank to ensure that the limit on daily transfers from our account would not apply to a $75,930 demand from Immi,it does not if funds are present.

Good luck to y'all

And after all that 1 hour later I got an email saying my CO had a word with his supervisor and we have had an extension until 30 September !!After explaining to OH how I had got it wrong (again).Plus la change...back to plan B or c or ?

Yessssss!

We got our CO two days ago and suddenly feel quite light-headed about it all. Perhaps it was the champagne we cracked in celebration?

Thirteen months now seem to have skipped by, and we're busy completing our Form 80, having previously submitted medicals, Police checks, etc.

For those still waiting or joining the queue, take heart. It comes round to your turn in the end; before you know it.

Thanks to all who kept us sane and informed over the last year. See you in Sydney quite soon!

John & Eirian

Congrats,we also got our real CO on 14th March --the earlier date I entered was when we were contacted to say we would be "done" within the 2011/12 year and at that time requested medicals,which we had done--thereafter we were concerned that our medicals etc were actually at Immi,but finally told by Medibank that Immi can access electronic copies,but they also must have our posted in copies too.Just waiting for our sponsor to register AOS and should be good to go---as we are in Oz we will have to leave & return,we have things to do in UK & are booked to return.

Also had to do Form 80,myself & OH,bit of a chore recalling travel dates from passport stamps for last 10 years and siblings DOB and parents etc but done now and in post.

I stated already we done our medicals in Oz as we hoped to front load things--taking a chance there as only valid for 12 months.

What is the detail on that the sponsor & AOS can be different people??

Best wishes to Y'all

Hi SMD,

Is my computer playing tricks on me?

Using the same link http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/converter.htm and putting in $100 it converts to £65. I make this 1.5384 to the £.

Saving you even more?

John

my computer also asks for £65.00 for $100.00 and was delighted with this until I put in $37,965 and get £25,585--have now done this several times and really want to get $/£ @1.52.

I expect you will get same result but it is confusing--although clear cut $37,965 is £25,585.

Regards

SMD

Hi Summerdaisy

Use this link and follow all the other links in it. It will answer your questions on what the visa charge is, the conversion to local currency and how to pay.

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/converter.htm

regards

peter

And the rate quoted for a conversion of $37,965 is 1.4838 giving £25,585.!Hoping I am wrong as we could "save" £1200.00??

Printed off Payment Mandate and it invites payment in GBP for a bank draft with above conversion rate or by card which would be in which currency??

If in $au then card issuer does conversion??

Rate today is up for the old pound ! 1.49 !!

Regards to Y'all

Not so, SMD.

The rate at the Oz High Commission in London is fixed once a year, and for the next six months or so it is $1.52. Try the Oz immi website and see.

John & Eirian

"Currency Converter 2012

This Currency Converter is provided to assist users in determining the amount of a fee or VAC that is payable in the currency in which the fee is to be paid. The values in the Currency Converter are valid from 1 January 2012 to 30 June 2012, Canberra, AEST.

If you wish to convert more than one fee or VAC, please do not add the amounts together prior to entering them into the currency converter below. Each fee or VAC must be converted individually."

But when I put in my hopefully soon to be called for 2 times $37,965 the converter asks for £25.585 which is approx 1.47. Hope you are correct,if so I owe you a drink

Not the case today,the London exchange rate mirrors the $/£ rate,certainly not 1.52.

I notice that you have entered a CO date on the tracker, ScroogeMacDuck. Is this correct?

Technically, I think that the email you refer to is not the CO date. This should be the date that you hear from your CO direct.

Good luck with your queries, too.

John & Eirian

This is the date we got an automated email from Perth,perhaps not a CO as you say--we do not have a name but have progressed penal checks and our sponsor has had the required interview with Centrelink,our sponsor is required to have an up to date ie last au tax year Notice of Assessment "NOA" done,which is being done now but again eating into our time--we are concerned at any delay in lodging AOS and understand we cannot progress this until Sponsor has this NOA.

Booked for a NZ trip end March & still hoping we can get PR on returning to Oz by easter but it is looking like a close run thing.

We also got an email.26th Jan.advising we get medical checks-------but also in red ink " stating that our penal checks had expired" so we are having them redone...but we sent 4 emails --and the last one highlighted that Immi's preferred comms was by email & said if no answer we would just have to phone

The question was we had sent in medicals,have you got them ??? The last email got a reply saying that the medicals may be elsewhere in the building but to leave it for 14 days !!

Sponsor having interview with Centrelink today,so moving forward I think.....

Good luck

Sponsor contacted Centrelink and had a 40 min. queue to speak to representative who needed a reference no different to that initially given to us.My sponsor has to attend an interview with Centrelink !Is this normal,cannot see any problems but my sponsor has a very busy work schedule so unwelcome if needed but OK with it.

Still waiting for reply to email to Perth Immi,other than routine acknowledgement, asking if they have Medicals that were posted in.Also asked how long Police checks are valid for.!

Police checks and medicals are normally valid for a year, so Scroogemacduck I would check again with your CO if they are only 3 months old. Our medicals were sent to Sydney by the clinic which did them for us. You normally get a year to validate your visa - that's a year from the date of police checks or medicals whichever is earlier.

I was under the impression (you read these blogs and adopt ideas/rules/etc) as you go along,that it was 3 months but hoped for more ??--but my email from immi did state my Police Checks were expired--so I just sent for more as we have been good citizens UK/OZ,my certificates were 7 months old and if Visa takes another 2 months then,9 months old.Sent email back,will post reply.

Thanks to all & good luck

macduck out --on a warm nite in Melbourne,better then freezing in Scotland

We have just had a reply emailed to us,asking for sponsor to contact Centrelink.Tried phoning but on hold for >20mins,will try again next week

Also that our Police checks have expired so it looks like only valid for 3 months for Police checks,also requesting medicals which we had done last May--hope that has not expired ! But we sent medicals into Perth by post so hope that they have not lost them,perhaps have not tied them onto our application? have emailed but no reply,Australia is a public holiday anyway.

So the message is do not do Police checks early.

Once you have become an Australian Citizen you can apply for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card - you can read about in online at http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/conc_cards_cshc.htm

It is then seriously reduced rates.

Until then, if you spend more than a certain amount each year you can claim some back. (I am not sure how much that is, but have a feeling it is around $2000) You have to keep all receipts. You can include non-prescription medicines i.e. if you had, for instance, a verruca and needed ointment that can be counted.

Julie

Will a Permanent Resident qualify??

Do you have to be a citizen or will a permanent resident suffice?

We had our medicals done last July 2011 although we do not expect to be appointed a CO until Feb/March 2012. Is this permissible?

Are you expected to wait until you get a CO before arranging your medical?

I realize that we will have to validate the visas before July 2012, but that's OK.

We're also planning to get our Police Checks done soon, so that all is ready and waiting when we get our CO.

When I asked parents.immi this question by email, they said we should do nothing until getting a CO and any "frontloading" would be ignored. Is this correct? Has anyone jumped the gun as we have done? Was it OK to do so?

From its tone, the email did seem to be a standard response.

Thanks.

John & Eirian

WE submitted in January 2011 for 143 and before returning to UK in May had our medicals done in Melbourne,it was cheaper and easier for us to do so but with some detail requested on me from UK doctor it took until August for my medical to come through.So OH has a May medical and mine is August with 12 months validity.Posted into DIAC but think they can access electronically anyway.Had our Oz police checks done May 11 and UK done June 11 so if/when we get CO hopefully about Feb 2012 we only need AOS.

That was the plan with us,just hoping it all works--even have our destination as NZ with stopover in Melbourne hoping to get new visa validated there.Now looking to alter dates as we optimistically booked January 2012 but can change--heading back to UK anyway to sort out things and avoid Melbourne winter--Emirates fares to NZ not much dearer than to Oz with stopover in Oz each way.

Hope medicals police checks are valid 12 months--can anyone confirm??

Hi all

 

I'm new to the thread and need your help...

 

My parents are hoping to apply for 12 months tourist visa in November 2011 to visit Australia and immediately after that will be lodging contributory parent visa (173) from offshore before they travel to AU.

 

Is this acceptable? Will either visa would get rejected since they apply CPV immediately after tourist visa ?

 

Thanx

We applied for CPV 143 onshore while we were here on a Tourist Visa,we intended to depart for UK as outlined in Tourist visa and did so---we did not have any problems,we are still in the Q for case officer---why not apply for 173 then 12 month tourist visa?If you have applied for 143/173 CPV a 12 month Tourist visa seems to be a given.

Would it be possible to send them a message automatically after x months of inactivity to ward them that they will be struck off unless they let youy know, Steve?

e.g. at present. x = 13 months after acknowledgement say?

A simpler solution might be to include another date field on the document, where users can enter the date they last looked at the tracker. You could then delete them altogether if > x months'

John

We have had medicals done in OZ in May,cheaper than UK and valid for year but not finalised yet for me as I had issues but expect will be OK soon,police checks we also had done in Oz before returning to UK,and got UK police checks done on arrival in UK--mistake as only valid for 3 months I think,just trying to preload but no CO yet,UK passport in for renewal as pages nearly full but seems lost in post,taken 4 weeks now--delayed as debit card given was compromised and new one issued so had to send Postal Order --phoning in new card no impossible if no-one answers phone.

Intend applying for 676 in sept to return Oz,looks like need to make trip to NZ to be offshore (note book as destination ex UK with stopover in Oz--cheaper than booking from Oz !).

just bought $au,evertime I do £ goes up next day--LOL

And a word of warning; flights from this end are nearly twice the price as those originating in the UK. To save money we came out on one way tickets - mistake if you plan to go back after a while. Returns from here are between £1100 (cheap) and £1400 (Singapore). We're coming back next month KLM for about £1,300 each (but that's to Bristol and with a £250 charge for seat selection). :sad:

With the state of the economy and dollar, Australians think it's cheap, whereas I suppose demand at the UK end is weak.

 

Good luck with the trip!

My impression is that the gap between buying in UK starting in UK Vs Au purchase of air fares that made the start in UK cheaper has largely narrowed and recently looking at on-line Au sites makes me think that Au sites can buy cheaper fares----but of course some of us have to buy $au with GBP or BP (no longer Great!).

DYOR but Airasia will be expensive at peak times & when late booking but occasional bargains but watch transit times--collecting luggage to re-check in can take ages.

I just opened an account when i was visiting the kids and it seemed to be live straight away. Its a CBA account: Smartaccess plus Netsaver.....

Just open a ING bank account,free to use----ANZ NAB etc charge $5.00 PCM charges and charge like wounded bulls if you use overseas,NZ,Far East etc-----but basic $5.00 charge waived if over 60.

:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: Have received email informing C.O. been granted today . Just under 12months from acknowledgement. Now busy form filling aagain etc.

What form filling did you not do originally?

We lodged application in January 2011,are heading back to UK end of May 2011 so will ask for police checks thenin UK but on this timescale may get Medicals done in OZ,before leaving-cheaper and more convenient for us !Understand medicals valid for a year so should be OK hopefully??

If you apply for onshore for a parent non-contributory visa how long does it take before you get a reply?

Just about 2 weeks after they deduct your payment,mine was posted 13 January Lodged 19 January

Thanks Alan,looked at the check-list but as Immi have all our details on file for 676,PR & Student visa:all already granted would they need Birth cert?Says passports may do? also evidence of where offspring reside?quoted student visa granted on UK password & they have on record any departures.

So answers on file but have decided to lodge application (certificates in UK home,did not intend to apply onshore or would have taken with us)and send on certified copies ASAP

Having had daughter achieve PR in December she has sponsored us for CPV 143 and an unreliable internet connection had us print out forms and decided to apply onshore.We took forms to Dandenong where we met a 4 hour Q and were informed that no help/advice would be given,the application forms would only be sent onto Perth processing centre,so we are back in Patterson Lakes about to post/courier the application.

We have a 676 Visa until May but would have liked to ask if they need ? Our birth certificates or will UK passports suffice?Do we need our daughters Birth Cert's? One has PR and the other a 2 year student visa for Oz so that should prove their residency here.Perhaps we will need our marriage certificate too but are in process of getting that.?

So we will post/courier our application and follow with these certificates and arrange Med/Police checks when asked for.Try and keep out of trouble meantime too although did so for last 62 years you never know what is round the corner!

So if you get PR in Oz,maintain a UK bank account & address,visit UK for less than 3 months,stay the rest of the time in Oz---keep UK passport etc

Do not think that is illegal?Just get UK state pension paid in,no fuss

Of course I am able to support myself from savings and would not expect to get any Government assistance anywhere.

I can set up a "super" fund in Oz that means income from that source is not taxable in Oz,I am required by HMRC to fill in a tax return as I have had fairly high & complicated incomes in the past,that is now finished but I take delight in reclaiming the tax paid on bank interest (even if it is miniscule)not because I am abroad,but I have no income other than share dividends etc so am under the tax threshold anyway.

After working for 40 years + in UK,I feel fully entitled to my UK pension.

If my plans work out I can invest $450k into Super (more rules but 3 years brought forward possible)thus wiping out my UK savings and dividends within super are grossed up (tax paid reclaimed by super).

Income from "super" in Oz is not taxable as income from a UK pension would be so I think it will be perfectly legal to submit tax returns in UK & OZ with no tax payable.

Capital Gains is now a figment of my imagination now anyway,were I to qualify I would happily pay that.

At present to defer taking a UK state pension seems worthwhile but the interest added to compensate is only simple interest,then drawing after 2 years deferment could optimize income but all this is further complicated by "new" rules and of course the fact that in deferment your pension entitlement is increased by RPI/CPI but is frozen if drawn down while you are in Oz.

You need to hang around to collect it though but how do they know you are in Oz??

If you maintain an address in UK even if you get PR through CPV ??