Tulip

Wow that has to be a record! 5 months, amazing. Well done and hope you're all organised and on the move soon.

VF.

I do when I ask, I asked recently if I would need to submit anything furhter after my medical/police and she told me I didn't need to and that after those were submitted it was just a waiting game.

We're looking at the 1st of July, perhaps earlier by a few days depending on flights.

Police check posted off, now waiting for it to arrive before I can send it to my CO. Then we're all set. Booking the flights this week, my little dog's flights are booked too. It's all happening!

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My BMI was over thirty five so I'm more than a couple of pounds overweight, but she didn't say it was a problem, just that she had to note it. I'm very healthy in all other respects, and I asked her to also note that I've lost three stone in the last year, she also put that I was healthy and enjoyed an active lifestyle, which I do. I'm not letting it worry me as I had no other problems with my medical and I'm completely top to toe healthy apart from my weight. Blood pressure was fine, as was my eye sight, don't drink, don't smoke, no family history of illnesses, never been in hospital, never taken on-going medication, etc. etc.

Medical done today for me too. All went well, but the panel doctor did tell me that she would have to note that I was overweight and that I had self-harm scars. Hoping that doesn't affect my application but I'm feeling hopeful so booking flights this week!

Woo hoo well done! How exciting! I know just how you feel, I actually jumped up and down in the post office!

Mine took a few days for payment to be taken and CO assigned. Medical check is on Monday and I'm sending off my police check soon, and then we're all good to go to Aus at the end of June to wait to be told to go offshore to grant!

My pleasure, would hate for you to lodge, have a 9 month wait, and have three months to validate, nightmare!

Not to mention, you actually can't get your medical done until your CO gives you your HAP id anyway.

DON'T! You will submit those three months after application. Submit them after the date your CO gives you; if you front load, you will be left with very little time to validate.

Eeee I'm so excited for everyone with these grants, congrats everyone!

I have VF too and she's proven very helpful and straight to the point. I knew the waiting times when I applied, so I don't expect to be granted before October/November. I'm going out in August though to validate in NZ.

I'm not sure you can check the status on this visa? Best to check with your CO instead.

Mine is on the 13th too! If you're at Brentwood hospital in the afternoon and see a slightly chubby person looking worried, that's me.

Thanks Nicky, my case was straight forward, been married a year and no kids, didn't have to provide very much evidence and only had a birth certificate to send on as further evidence. Obviously it would be really lovely to get it granted early but offshore times predict 8-9 months so I'm just going to stick to that as my time line and feel comforted that I know when it will come through. Just need to organise everything else instead now haha! I so wish I'd applied a year ago when it was 3 month waiting time but sadly times have moved up (as well as price of visas!) and it seems everyone has to wait 8-9 months, think LittleKitty got hers in 7 1/2 though which is fab!

Good luck, do hope it's sooner for you but I'm afraid off shore times are pretty specific. Snifter has a child and has been married a few years, hers is taking the same amount of time. x

Wooo! I'm also looking forward to my medical next month Nickos, can't wait to get the all clear and 'Yes I have everything I need, you'll get your visa.' email.

I'm afraid I don't think there's any evidence that having kids speeds it up, the likelihood is that 8-9 months quoted is how long it will take. Another forum member who applied just a month before you has a child and is married, hers has taken the same amount of time as mine has (I also applied early Feb). I know how you feel, you do tend to think 'Well maybe I'll get lucky!' but unfortunately it's the same process for everyone. I'm having my medical next month, but I checked with my CO about whether I need to give her anything else after that as we want to go out early. She said that I meet all the requirements for my visa and she's just waiting for my medical and police check. This doesn't mean she'll grant it early, just that I can relax and know I will be ok to go out early and know I'll get my visa! Which is a HUGE relief!

​Good luck, will be cool to go along with someone else who's a Feb applicant!

I got an email at the beginning of the process. It was three documents. One was an FAQ, one was a request for more evidence (OH's birth certificate), and one was client service information. The request letter told me everything I needed to know, including HAP number.

I can only say that my CO has told me 8-9 months, offshore from the UK. x

Eeeee congrats Littlekitty that is fantastic news!

Mine is £290 at Brentwood, and £64 in train tickets for hubby and I (he's keeping me company). Dreading it!

Yes you can go out early and then go off shore to anywhere that ISN'T Australia. Just make sure you tell your CO so they can let you know when to go off shore for the grant.

Yeah quite a jump! I was very lucky that someone else pointed it out to me as I hadn't noticed and didn't have enough money in my account when I lodged, had to do some quick transferring!

Hi,

I didn't, no, I just thought we would qualify but I guess not. We did a detailed timeline though to show we'd been together for that time, but I can understand why we might not get the 100 because we didn't live together for all of that time (met online).

Just thought we might as we were receipted for the 100, but no matter.

The Gold Coast, we're saving hard to get out there in August, if I don't pick up work soon things will be tight!