Alluswe

Hi Fran, thanks very much for you words of support. It does really help to know that you're not alone. I'm very glad I joined POI when I did. Hope all goes well for you in your quest. Best wishes Angela

Hello Everybody I'm really hoping for a bit of moral support from members of the CPV thread as I am feeling completely desperate and down about how long this whole process appears to take. I've only recently submitted all my paperwork for a 143 CPV. I did an offshore application so I sent everything off to my daughter/sponsor and she added her bits and took the papers in, probably about 8-10 days ago now, so they're in the system. I don't know what ever gave me the idea that this process was quicker than it is! I recall seeing posts (or thought I'd seen posts) where people had waited between 7-9 months. Perhaps at the time I just didn't understand the terminology well enough and maybe these people were just reaching another significant milestone or something, because I certainly now can't find anything to suggest any such thing. I am applying to join my only child who has lived in Aus for 5 years now, is married to a lovely man and I am now the very, very proud grandparent to my muchkin grand daughter aged 16 months already! Funny how time flies when you're watching a child grow through photographs/skype but absolutely crawls along when you're waiting for papers to be processed. As soon as I set eyes on her aged 4 days, I knew I couldn't live without her. I simply cannot be this far away from her for any great length of time. She has been to the UK twice in her little life already and I'm going back in August for 3 weeks ....... CAN'T WAIT. I took voluntary redundancy from work at the end of March to get the money to pay for the 143, so that is sorted. Mind you, I thought I'd get another job quickly and haven't managed to yet. Soon after I sent the paperwork off to my daughter I contacted an estate agent, because I started worrying that I wouldn't be able to sell my house before the visa came through (ha!). I told them my plans and they suggested putting it on the market now to see if there were any takers. It's a nice house, but I was still gobsmacked to have a full asking price offer in 6 days! So, I've sold my house and they want possession by end of September - fair enough. I've got the money to pay for the Visa; I've got no job so really, could be gone as soon as this thing happens. But it's not going to happen any time soon is it folks? My heart is in my feet right now and I can't shake myself out of it. I read something on here about a one year visa and I don't know if that can apply in my circumstances. Does anybody know whether, having already filed an application for a permanent visa, I can now apply for the one year visa and get a job in that time then come back and wait out my time until the 143 is granted; or can that visa act as a bridging visa (another term I've seen referred to on here)? Any help from anybody gratefully received. I am 52, usually full of beans and very positive and optimistic, but I just can't pull anything out of the bag to put a positive spin on things. I should be pleased that I've sold my house straight away but now I'm just going to be homeless, as well as unemployed and a million miles from my little lovely. Sorry to bring down the mood everybody. Angela

Hi Munchkinella Grandchildren are so precious. She trumps everything. Can't wait to be with her more.

Hi Cal Thanks for that. I'll google them and contact them both tomorrow. As you say, time is of the essence if I don't want to get caught out by annual fee increases. Angela

Hi Everybody I'm new to this site and to forums for that matter. I am about to take the plunge and fill out the forms for a contributory parent visa. My first grand child is a year old and, although I was in Oz 4 days after she was born, and she's been to London twice in the last 8 months, I simply cannot live without her so I'm going! My daughter and her husband a lovely squishy baby live in Sydney. I'm finding the whole thing quite daunting though - procedurally I mean. Even the information about which visa to go for can be a challenge, but I've decided on the permanent, rather than the 2 year temporary visa. I can't see any real advantages for going for the 2 year temporary under the circumstances: I'm going permanently (I've been 3 times in 4 years and going again in August, so I know I can live there); it'll end up costing me a bit more to do it in 2 hits, rather than pay the whole lot up front; there don't appear to be any gains in terms of the time it takes to be granted a temporary rather than a permanent visa, or are there? Then, there's the timing of it all and I could really use some advice about what you all think is best. How long am I likely to wait for the visa to come through? I will be selling my house and car and shipping all my furniture over. I really want to be ready to go as soon as the visa is granted, so would love to hear from those of you that have done it/are doing it etc. I reckon I'm going to become a regular on here as I have a thousand questions rattling around in my head. What if I don't make any friends ....... what if nobody likes me ......... what if I don't get a job (I'm 52 and have absolutely no intention of depending on my daughter) but got no real profession to offer (I've worked for local authorities all my life and am quite good at what I do but ......?!) Would love to hear from you.