robthomas821

This is the first time I have posted on any of this. You think that your life is that hard, that the UK is so awful you just have to get to Aus, no matter what you have to do. I grew up in Northern Ireland in the height of the troubles, seeing bodies in the streets, bombs going off all over the place etc and I still managed to have a good upbringing and for the most of it, a good life regardless of everything going on around me. You should try growing up in a war zone like that to toughen up a little. I left N.I to join the Royal Air Force and served for 4 and a half years. I ended up not liking it in the end (even though it was always my dream and would do anything to get that dream) and in the end it wasn't for me. In 2007, my partner at the time put the idea of coming to Aus into my head and I mulled it over for a few months before agreeing to it, it is such a change of life and circumstance that you cannot take it lightly. Came on the WHV and immediately fell in love with it. My partner and I broke up, she went back to the UK and I stayed here, as I had a good job with good prospects (unfortunately didn't work out). Met a girl, fell in love, and as the company we both worked for let me down with 3 weeks to go (yes, cut-throat) she decided in her infinite wisdom that she would move her whole life and 3 year old child to NZ with me until we met the eligibility requirements for the partner visa (after exhausting all other options). Someone so un-selfish right there. We had a baby in Feb 2011, lovely little girl and are now at the 2nd stage process for my PR visa. I have an awesome job that I love, and I have to work HARD at to make it a career. I am up at 6am every morning to get everyone ready for work/school/childcare, drop kids off, go to work, put in a hard days effort (just my work ethic), pick the kids up, go home, then go out to do some work that I have from my own IT business that I run. So essentially I am putting in 15 hour days + for not much more gain. Rent and food etc is expensive here. I have to make allowances for that somehow and by HARD WORK and a dedication to my chosen career I make it happen. Going on different job choices on a daily basis just to get a visa is not the way to go. You need to get your issues sorted out first, I believe people have already directed you to that. Then you need to sit and think long and hard about what you want to do with your life, career wise. Not just a job to get a visa, but your long term career interest. Like others have also said, people are in a position of terminal illness that wish for another week, another month, another year of life on this earth. You should consider yourself lucky that you are not in that position, and get on with your life.

Thanks Cristel, sounds nice and quick. Not particularly worried about the timeframe, but it would be nice to not have to have this hanging over our heads anymore. Once this stage is done, it is 1 year to Citizenship for me, and all of this is over. Thank you for the heads up on times. Looking forward to getting this stage over so we can have some certainty around the rest of our lives. We have a daughter together (very happy bubbly 19 month old now) and we want to make sure all of this is fine before buying a house etc. On a very good front, NPC arrived yesterday so all documents (very slim A4 envelope this time around, not like the last time) are being sent today. Eligibility date 14th December so not long to go. Guessing with Christmas shutdown, will take longer this time around. Thanks again

I would agree with JoandJon. We did ours on our own. As long as you cover off all of the requirements, provide the evidence, you should be ok to do it on your own. This of course is by no means advice to do it on your own, but it is certainly a money saver and an option that is viable for most people to do.

Mine is being handled by Melbourne, so not sure what kind of difference it will make to processing times. I have heard however that they can be quicker than a lot of other processing centers

Yep, sounds like there is a large difference in the paperwork people are asked to provide (Form 80 etc) but we haven't been asked for it. I guess it depends a lot on the original application. NPC will be here hopefully today and have all the signed Stat Dec witnessed etc, and cert copies of passports as requested by them, so should be sending off in the next day or so. Then the wait can begin.

Thanks GeorgeD. Very good post and congrats on your PR!!! I am hoping for a relatively painless 2nd stage, but who knows!

ANy notes for the 2nd stage from anyone on here?

Hi All, I was granted the 820 Partner Visa on the 11th March 2011 (after applying on the 14th December 2010) and on the 26th September this year I received the wonderful documentation in the mail with all of the 2nd stage PR stuff. Applied for NPC on 27th September and received notification yesterday it was complete and winging its way to me. Have all of the documentation and evidence all sorted, just waiting for the NPC and sending it all off. They say 6-8 months for the processing from the date of eligibility (14th December 2012) but here is hoping for a cut and dry case. We will see how it all goes. What kind of experiences has anyone else had with the 2nd stage process? Any kinks I should be aware of? Thanks Rob

Thanks RockDr Very informative and a great understanding of what is to come. Roll on October!!!

Hi All, Apologies for not being on in a while, last was just after I got my 820 Spousal Visa in March 2011. It is starting to get closer to the "2 months before" when DIAC make contact to start the process of consideration for the 801. My partner and i are still very much together, baby Sienna Reese Thomas was born Feb 25th 2011 and doing very well. Settled here in Canberra and loving it. The questions I ask are mainly around what happens next. Are DIAC pretty good at getting in touch when they should to request whatever info the need to process the 801? What is the process for the move to 801? Cheers all, hope visas are getting granted for everyone as quickly as possible. Rob