JohnandEirian
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Posts posted by JohnandEirian
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I do know that there is some talk of the UK government maybe rethinking freezing the state pension for those living in Australia, not that I think it will make a lot of difference. This is because so many pensioners are returning to the UK as they can no longer afford to live here. This of course puts pressure on the Health Service and Social Security. We loved it here after coming on holiday for many years and when we forked out for the CPV it was with the intention of staying here. Since starting the process, however, the exchange rate has gone pear shaped, so we still haven't bought a house here - OH isn' really happy with the style and quality of Australian houses - and if we do will have to set our sights a lot lower than we had anticipated when we first started this process.. We are finding it very expensive here especially in WA and are not able to live the lifestyle that we had anticipated and are aware that we could have a much better standard of living back in the UK. It's not something you can really gauge till you live here. Having said that we still have a couple of pensions which we have not yet started to draw, so I guess the crunch will be to see how we go and whether the exchange rate bucks up.
We love being with our family and young grandchildren and that's priceless, but don't feel entirely at home here. I know some people have said they don't care about living frugally as long as they can be with their family. However, we still have a daughter in the UK, but she has expressed an interest in moving to Australia maybe some time in the future, so we would like to stay here and see if we can get citizenship to keep our options open. It wouldn't be spending the money that would cause us to make more of an effort, but the fact that we had both our kids here. We do feel torn at the moment but if we can get citizenship then spending the money won't have been in vain.
Quality of life is really what it is all about, isn't it? Is there a price on that?
I doubt whether there is a single person here who's made the decision who is better off financially, compared to their previous lives in the UK.
Quite apart from the cost of the move, selling off precious assets, moving away from friends, eye-watering cost of housing and eating out here, it's "bearable" I think.
Being with family and grand-kids must be fantastic.
Sorry to sound a bit priggish, but what a life!
John & Eirian
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We are all meeting on October 27th if you're in Sydney by then....otherwise I am sure we'll find a time in November. Mike and Sue have just arrived back too and they'll be there on the 27th...
Rgds
Fiz
Hi Mike & Sue.
Glad you're here at last.
Looking forward to meeting you two, especially after all your escapades over the last few months!
John & Eirian
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No I didnt send the email as thier email arrived before I could.
Went for my medical this morning, thought I would sail through - but shock horror they found blood in urine. So they send it for further tests send the results of that test to DIAC and depending on what the results are ????? more waiting.
Moira
Really sorry to hear about your delay, Moira.
It must be so frustrating to have a setback after so long, but try to be positive, even though that must be difficult right now.
Remember, you're so much closer to your visa than when you started on this journey.
Good luck.
John & Eirian
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Hello All
Just had to spread the good news.........
I am a Grandma again!!
About 5pm in Sydney, Lauren Grace was born, weighing 3.55kg and wearing a shock of dark hair!!
As she is a little early, I tried to change my Singapore Airlines flight to one a week earlier, but they came back with a price of an additional £648
Needless to say, I will be travelling on the original dates and will be in Sydney until 22nd November should anyone fancy a coffee.
Sorry this isn't about visa, but just HAD to tell the good news.
Cheers Pam
Wonderful news, Pam.
Maybe this deserves more than a coffee when we meet up in November?
Enjoy the new grand-daughter!
John & Eirian
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To Wei12 from timeline http://www.chireckles.com/cpv/tracker.php
Sorry to bother but just want to know
Why do you have the future "CO Date" - 24.10.2012?
We have the same "Ackn.Date" 01.08.2011 like you have.
Do you have any information about "CO Date" from Parent Visa Centre?
Thank you in advance!
Please don't fret, Lilu.
If your acknowledged date is 1 Aug 2011, I'd bet you will get your visa really soon. I'd say by 1 Dec 2012 at the latest.
In fact, I'm surprised that you haven't got your CO yet, but the visas follow in a couple of weeks after that.
Keep hopeful.
John & Eirian
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Just thought you might be interested - my dad emailed the Perth office yesterday, they let him know they are allocating case officers to those who lodged before 8th July 2011 at the moment.
Think he's a bit despondent - they were hoping to be out here by Christmas next year and they don't think it will happen now! (lodged in August 2012).
Please tell your Dad not to be despondent, Nicola.
This is their standard response, even over the telephone when you think you're establishing a relationship with a HUMAN BEING!
In practice, work on 14-16 months from the date you get an acknowledgement and you won't be disappointed.
I know this to be true, like many other people here on the forum who have had their visas in this time-frame.
Good luck and "chins up!"
John & Eirian
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Hi Moira
They don't ask for the money until they have checked all the paperwork.....in my s-in-l's case, he thought he'd taken everything but was short of one payslip: that omission delayed everything by 2 weeks so it might be worth mentioning that to your d-in-law. Centrelink's requirements re proof of ID and income are painfully pedantic...or perhaps that was just the Sydney office!
nearly there....
That's exactly what happened with out daughter, Rachel.
She only took one payslip in, the silly girl!
She was sent away and told to come back in person with the second payslip. Generously, they granted her an extension of two weeks to do this, despite the fact 4 hours would have been plenty.
Wasn't someone on here talking about bureaucracy previously? or is that deja vu??
John & Eirian
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Hi all
Just checking. I will be sending my forms by courier. To those who have already sent theirs, is the PVC Locked Bag 7, Northbridge address?
And do I remember that the PO do something called a 'silver pouch'? to send them by.
Thanks
Moira
That's spot on, Moira.
I just hope someone has the key to unlock the silver bag!
Good luck.
John & Eirian
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Dear John! The Torquay in England is in Devon, not Cornwall!!! I should know as it is my home town!
Best wishes to you and Eirian
Marian and Ian
Oops sorry, Marian.
What a silly billy I am!
Torquay in Devon is much better than Torquay in Cornwall, I know, and certainly incomparable compared to the Torquay these guys have been talking about!
See you soon!:wink:
John & Eirian x
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Torquay - VICTORIA!!!! Great Ocean Road - just fab!
:biggrin: I suspected so, else you may have been losing your marbles. Although Torquay, Cornwall maybe better than Neasden?
Wonderful place... enjoy!
John & Eirian
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Very exciting-you're almost there. There's no need to do the agent form. For me, the hold up in the next stage of the process was Centrelink so if its possible to get you assurer moving quickly on that, I would. Everything else went very smoothly.
not long now!
Fiz
Yes, Centrelink can sometimes be very bureaucratic. Who said the UK invented bureaucracy and Centrelink perfected it? I think Abraham Lincoln said that!!
John & Eirian
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Hope you are enjoying your Adelaide life just as much as we enjoy our Torquay life! Gill
Oh no! Which Torquay?
John & Eirian
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Morning All!
CPV 143 granted this morning - yay! Val x
Just, just, just so fantastic!
Congratulations Va Va Vooooooooooooooooom!!! It's all go now, as Thierry says.
Hope the rest of your journey is as exciting.
John & Eirian
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This time last year, lunchtime on 3rd October, we were on our way to Heathrow having said all our goodbyes and were off to start our new life in Adelaide, Australia. How time flies - we're still having a ball! Hang in there all of you still waiting - it will happen sooner than you think!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]16927[/ATTACH]
Happy Anniversary! May you have many many more.
John & Eirian
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Thank you Fiz for your reply and the reassurance that other singles are out there and that you found work, being able to work is something to fall back on - a just in case. Looking at real estate prices even small places are far from cheap I guess that's the main concern selling here and not being able to afford anything there, such a lot to research. Not long to when i go on holiday so will try and find out as much as I can. Thank you I looked at the car situation halfway reading through the doc I decided its too much hassle so perhaps not such a good idea it would be another added stress. It surprised me to read that you wrote new cars are relatively cheap I will look into that when I'm there. Once again thank you for info.
Zumsor
Here's the link
John:embarrassed:
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This is a really useful interactive site for getting interactive info on property prices, Zumzor.
You can specify type of property, state, area, budget, etc and get mails on stuff that may interest you.
Prices are high no doubt, but it depends on location to a great extent.
European cars, especially top of range ones, are VERY expensive, but Japanese and local Holdens are not too bad.
Good luck.
John & Eirian
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Hi there, we sent the bank cheque this week so I assume we will get tne visa in the next couple of weeks.
If your CO is called Rozelle Surman, it will be sooner than that, VaVa.
God luck, whoever he/she is. Try sending an email to enquire. We always got an instant response.
John & Eirian
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G'day everyone! Well, we made it, we're here after the usual long flight, uneventful..... oh except for the announcement "we have a medical emergency - is there a doctor on board" Actually, there were several doctors came forward which was nice to know! When we landed a quarantine person came on board to see the little girl who had been ill, but eventually they let us off, just a small delay. Mind you I almost called for a doctor for OH on our first night as he stepped onto something sharp in the middle of the night and cut his foot! OMG there was so much blood - and all on the carpet too! The next morning as we were up sooooo early, we walked up to the local coffee shop for brekky and all of a sudden the fire alarm went off - a fire engine arrived and the firemen rushed into the coffee shop - they'd set off the alarm whilst cooking our bacon!
Apart from all this excitement, it is so lovely to be here - its rather hectic as there is 11 of us until next Monday, but then it will calm down and we will be able to start doing all the things we should be doing, like buying a car etc. The only thing we have done is open a bank account which was really easy, just waiting for the cards to arrive. But basically we're just enjoying being here with all the grandchildren.
Val x
Your warm feelings are infectious.
We know exactly what you're feeling right now, despite the disorientation.
Wonderful country, wonderful life, wonderful future with family.
So easy in'it?
John & Eirian
PS Bloody cockatoos screeching outside right now. Can't get a wink! And the damned kookaburras (sp?) are even worse.
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This is the timescales we were given:
Month 1 - preliminary enquiries, form filling etc.
Month 2 - DIAC application reviewed and lodged by our agent (acknowledged 1 month to 6 weeks later)
Month 20 - CO - health and character checks requested
Month 22 - Assurance of Support Bond requested
Month 23 - DIAC final Visa charge requested
Month 24 - Visa granted
Pessimistic, me thinks.
We first applied at the end of Feb 2011 and got our final visa assurance email end June 2012 (16 months?)
Can give you more exact dates if you want.
Good luck.
J& Eirian
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Enjoy the flight!
It was a strange feeling knowing that we only had a one way ticket! We flew with singapore airlines too.
We have been here almost 2 weeks.
Its lovely seeing the grandchildren and we have found out that we will be having another addition to the family next March!
Please keep in touch. Its been lovely reading all the mails!
Nutmeg xxx
So tender & sweet.
All the poignancy of family re-uniting in this glorious space.
Have a great life down under with your family. Joyful times ahead!
John &Eirian
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Flying tonight with Singapore Airlines take off 10.05! Saying our goodbyes is so difficult. Will let you know how we get on when back on line in a few days! Australia here we come!!!!!!
Val and Matt xxxxxxx
How exciting!
Bon voyage, and wishing you the joys of your life ahead.
Pure pleasure, I assure you. We've been here one week and I can't stop grinning with the pure pleasure of being here. Everything seems so easy!
Great daysahea.
John &Eirian
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Hi Zumsor
Like some of the others who've replied, I'm single and 61 and I've now been in Sydney for 12 months. Everything has gone really well-I actually got a full time job really easily which has helped the finances but even without that I reckon I would manage. I considered bringing my car-it would have cost about £4000 to bring-but didn't. I bought a new car here on a special deal..new cars are relatively cheap strangely. I think its a close thing whether to ship or not..there's a thread about it on this forum.
Good luck and don't worry about being on your own-there's loads of opportunities to join things here depending on your interests and you'll soon meet people!
fiz
Positive, positive, positive ...as always...
John &Eirian
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.Hi MoiraI notice you say you will not be able to ship your goods unless you have your visa. Are they very strict about that - I ask as I was going to ship my stuff over next summer - and probably won't have visa granted - was going to go on tourist visa and await PR grant. This of course all depends on how fast the house sells. Wondering if it would be possible to ship my stuff over under my daughters name as it will all be going to her address anyway. Any advice appreciated.
Cath
No re.al idea, Kath, but our shipping company, Letton Percival, needed our 143 visa number as part of The bumph they wanted before packing our sTuff.
S'pose this is understandable, really.
.would be am massive par lava if a container beached in Sydney with no visa at all?
Good luck.
John
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Hi Val
What a parlava all to give them a shed load of money. I did up my daily amount to $10 000 a week or so ago, after reading something on this site. I never thought to give d-i-l or son access to my account. Do you think they would accept a bank cheque from one of their accounts? - I could start putting the money over now,
I am hoping for a case officer any moment now. Have been waiting 14mths now although it does seem to have gone quickly. I am leaving work on the 26 of this month and have booked the shippers for the 22 Oct, I think my things will have to go in storage for a while as I wont have my visa by then. I will stay with a friend for the last month
Look forward to hearing what happens with you
Moira
Hi Moira,
We had exactly the same problem with Commonwealth Bank, despite having an Internet transfer limit of $100,000
finally,we got them to do a bank cheque to pay the bill.
They needed a hand-written letter of authority!
Do it now to get "the ducks in a line, mate"
Good luck.
John
ate
The Brand New PIO Parents Visa thread
in Family / Partner Visas
Posted
Dear Phoebe,
You're going through everyone's worst nightmare while waiting those long 18 months for a visa. We can only sympathize and wish you a well-deserved change in your fortunes. It's so frustrating not to be able to offer anything else. Just take things as they come and don't give up hope. As I said, ... hopeless words, but we're thinking of you both.
John & Eirian