path2aus

I agree Child Care Subsidy really helps, if not day care is pretty expensive here it is surely between 110-120 now per day.

Getting a full license is pretty simple. I was able to swap out my US license for a full SA license pretty easily when I came here. The things you need are , address proof, ID proof (Which is you PP), your UK or US license and a filled out Application form. It is pretty simple and takes probably an hour. The license will be sent in a mail though.

No that is not true. People can just do an initial consult of your situation, only when you decide to use them is when you have to pay the entire cost. Most good agents, like Go Matilda who I used for my migration, take money based on the stage they are on. We never paid a huge upfront cost. We only paid what was needed for a particular stage we were in with our application. Most good agents will chat to you for an initial consult fee to go over the application and give you an advice without having to shell out thousands of dollars. Like I said, I got a consult for my daughters child visa for under $200 from a good agent and did not use them for the process at all and went by myself. The consult and the information was worth its weight in gold.

It think just booking a consult and talking the case over with a reputable agent doesn't cost much. I got a consult with an agent when I had to do my daughter's Child Visa for under $200. Relying on advise on forum for such complicated scenario can ruin your chances of making the right decisions and thereby getting into more messy situation. It is better to talk to an agent at least for an initial consult in trying to understand what the options are. You might not want to use that agent but clearing all your doubts and making sure you are on right track is highly important. Specific scenarios will not have much help online as well.

Really sorry to hear about your experience. I echo Verystormy's advice, please get in touch with Go Matilda (Alan Collett) or WRussell or Raul Senise or any of the other agents who post regularly here. It is imperative to make sure the agent you are using is MARA registered. I think at this point a corrective measure if any is needed to limit any damage. A good advice from one of the above mentioned agents will help in that. I haven't had any bad experience with agents as both the times I was involved with one, I had fantastic advice and support.

Congratulations!! Thanks for the update.

Yeah that's why it was strange as the person whom I quoted said "I do meet the 2 year requirement". Anyways, there might be some other complications which we may not be aware of.

That is very strange as I finished the 2 year requirement and applied for RRV and got it approved within seconds. For myself and my wife.

I would advise you to contact one of the RMA's who post here regularly like Raul above and have a talk and see what your options are. Would not take a decision based on the advise on the forum with limited information.

I think the problem is that lots of people don't realise they can get a professional advice for a nominal fee. I did that when I did my daughter's child visa in 2016. I paid a a fee of under $200 to a RMA for a professional advice before deciding on the right path as I was in a time crunch. I did not use them for the visa application itself but clearing my doubts over couple of phone calls was really helpful. I guess people get worried that calling an RMA would cost a lot but that is not true. When in doubt and in situations such as these, it is better to get advice from an RMA. Even in the current scenario, I would suggest the OP to call an RMA for advice by providing relevant information.

Seems like the processing times have changed since I applied for the Child Visa in 2016. I got the visa granted in under 2 months (which includes the Christmas/New Year Break).

It does not have to be continuous I think, It says 2 years in the last 5 years, which means that you can take vacations etc but you would have to spend at least that amount of time that is 730 days to be eligible to get a 5 year RRV in last 5 years.

Yes got a 5 year RRV. Waited for 2 years just to make sure I get a 5 year RRV.

Yes eventually when I am eligible to do so (2021).

Okay just an update. I completed the 2 year requirement this January and submitted the RRV online. The Visa was granted in few seconds of the submission of the application. Just wanted to update. The application is simple and requires no documentation if you meet the 2 year requirement.

Brilliant. Congratulations!! Thanks for posting an update. Not many people do. Have a wonderful time with your family over the holidays.

Have you completed the 2 years in the last 5, requirement?

If don't meet the 2 year requirement, you might at best get a 1 year RRV. That depends on the evidence and ties you can show towards Australia.

Hello, there are lots of agents who post on this forum who are very good. @wrussell @Raul Senise @Alan Collett @Richard Gregan . You can contact any of them. My experience with Go Matilda @Alan Collett was fantastic but again there are many people who go at it themselves as well and are successful. But if you are looking for agents the above mentioned are very reputed and good. If you are looking for someone outside this group, please make sure they are MARA registered

When I applied for Child Visa for my daughter couple of year ago, the MA I took advice from said that applying for a tourist visa is not a bad idea if the visa doesn't come through on time. I did that and the CO who was dealing with my application was aware of the same as well. Luckily the Child Visa was granted and we just withdrew the tourist visa application. So is okay to apply for the same, the only thing is that you need to leave the country just before the 309 is granted, so that you can enter on a permanent visa. Please make sure your CO is aware of the same. Also if for some reason your 309 is granted before your 600 visa, make sure you withdraw the application as they will not cancel it automatically.

I heard from the migration agent who posts here that, RRV's are taking up to 3 months for people who don't meet the 2 years in last 5 years criteria. Your wife and son were lucky to be granted quickly. Even though you applied together, each application is different. You just have to wait.

In such scenarios it is better to reach out an Agent. The time frame is really short and you don't want to make a misstep at this point.

Contact anyone who posts regularly on this forum @wrussell @Raul Senise @Alan Collett

I have a quick question. My brother-in-law is filling up the Visitor visa 600 application online. He is planning to visit us in December for probably 2-3 weeks max. He lives in Canada. My in-law's will be visiting me as well in November but they will be coming here from India. So we are planning to have a get together here in Australia. There is a question which say "Are there any non-travelling members of the family who is not an Australian Citizen or Permanent resident". My Brother-in-law and his parents aren't going to travel together but by the time he travels, his parents (My in-laws) will already be in Australia. What should he answer to this question? The logical answer will be Yes because they are not travelling with him but again since they are already in Australia, saying they aren't travelling isn't true as well. Can someone give some insight about the same please? The question asks him to name the non-travelling members, which would mean he has to name his parents but they will already be in Australia when he travels, so he would not be able to do that. Any insight will be helpful from the experienced members or the agents on this forum.

Australian immigration is not cheap and it can cost up to AU 10,000 for the overall process and the move itself. If you are with a family, it will cost even more. So you should make sure you have all the necessary information before you proceed with the application.