vdM family

Hi has anyone applied for a U.K ancestral visa in the last few months, I have a few questions.

Morning all we (me, hubby & child) can lodge our citizenship application and I need some help. My daughters Dad is in the U.K and fully supportive of her becoming an Australian citizen. Are there forms he has To complete to send with my application, signed by him (like the one he did for our PR) and if so what form is it and can I download it to send to him. He works all over the world and is rarely in communication due to remote areas so would be helpful if I can get any documents to him before he goes away again. Also, when doing the citizenship though our immi account, we've started with my husbands, do we need to complete his before we can move forward and do mine or can we do them through the same immi account simultaneously? Lastly, will we need new Police clearance if we've just spent 5 weeks out of the country? thank you for your help

We got granted our PR yesterday afternoon. We were 457 to 186, applied for nomination & visa 7th Sept both granted 22nd February 16. We used an agent and all straight forward. Good luck to everyone still waiting Xx

Is there anyway you could afford a trip back to UK so you can see what you are or not missing? It's hard when you're here and you both want different things isn't it. Maybe you need to sit down with your hubby and have an honest and frank discussion about what is best for all of you. Could either of you get jobs back in UK, or a house? Is it family and friends you miss or just the country as a whole? I should imagine you know pretty well after 3 years of being here whether you want to stay, if you can look to the future and think where do I want to be in 3 years time and the answer is at home in England, possibly without your husband then that is probably the decision made. Life is to short to do something you don't want to do. Lay your cards on the table to hubby and see where it goes from there. Good luck

Hello everyone Wondering if anyone out there has done a cruise with P & O from Brisbane or Sydney staying in OZ?? visiting places like Whitsunday Islands and Port Douglas? Is it worth the money? who did you book with, which boat did you go on and finally what's the best time of year to go on them? Look forward to advice )

Hi Alice When the company here rang us to arrange the delivery of our container it was them who advised the delivery crew would deliver unpack and re build furniture, yikes we paid enough for their service. Anyhow they literally dumped the stuff and left and when I rang the company to query why she'd said about the re-building and it hadn't happened she said it was because they were contracting for their company and she would repremand them, god knows if she did but she was full of apologies and said they'd send some more men round to assist lol but we'd already done it ourselves. I don't like being advised I'll receive a service then not. Everyone we know here had their furniture re-built this end IF the shippers dismantled it.

We used PSS and they took approx 12 weeks door to door (they quoted us 8) can't fault their service UK end, 2 lads did a great job packing and everything arrived safely. This end Kent Removals delivered the container to our door and we were assured they would re-build any furniture they had dismantled in the UK but this was not the case, they delivered the boxes to the relevant rooms, took about 2.5-3 hours then they left and we were left to build beds, tables etc. Couldn't fault PSS themselves though. We're in Adelaide so maybe said company this end is only here.

We're shipping to Adelaide, not sure if that makes any difference to time scales

We were told 8 weeks but by the time we get our stuff it will have been nearly 12! I'd advise shipping as early as you can then you have less time to wait at this end.

Been here in Adelaide 2 months and are in our 1st rental in Oz. We have a fairly large Pergola and garden and are now looking to buy some garden furniture... I love the wicker type sofas and wicker table and Gav likes the wooden table and chairs and maybe a sofa, please give me some recommendations of what you have in your garden, what's most comfortable and where did you buy from?? We are a family of 3 but will have guests/vistors round so looking for a 6-8 seating.. Please help.... Lisa )

Look forward to your sharing your response ginger. Lisa

Hi all wonder if anyOne can help us, we fly Emirates business class into Melbourne then the next day get our connecting flight to Adelaide. Now we know we are allowed 40kg of luggage on Emirates but we fly internal with Qantas do they allow 40kg? If not then essentially we'll only be able to pack 20kg?Also how is best to send money to Oz bank account??Thank you x

Ours was submitted on the Friday and we had the Visa by the Wednesday so mega quick, we fly out in 3 week x

Hi feduppat we used Spire Hospital in Edinburgh, did the chest Xray friday 10th Feb results were received by DIAC 13th feb then we got 457 Visa granted 15th feb...2012

I'm not sure, we have only literally done the online application part, haven't had any contact with them yet, there is a box to tick for credit cards, savings account etc on the form

We've opened an account with NAB online, very easy to set up.

Hi Guys, need some clarification please...Woke up this morning, checked the DIAC for our Visa application and it says "Application Approved" then you click on a link and it says"your Visa is valid from 15/02/12 to 15/02/16 (457 Visa) now I may sound utterly thick here but does that mean we have been granted a Visa?? It also asks on another link with more info - contact your Local Australian Visa Office to have the Visa stamp added to your passport? As it's an electronice Visadoes it mean we need to send our Passports to Australia House, London to get the Visa put on a page? Apparently to do this we need a grant letter? where does this come from?So sorry for the "silly" questions, just we only submitted on 03/02/12 did hubby chest Xray Friday gone then today it's been approved. Head is all over the place and I can't seem to comprehend what's going on. Any advice would be very much appreciated.thanks Guys x

Good luck and safe flight x

Ah thanks for that LKC, we're moving to Adelaide so no School fees thankfully x

Well Fragomen have submitted our 457 Visa application on 3rd Feb, hubster just needs to go for his Chest X-ray then it's all go.... Hopeful its all going to go smoothly and pain free... starting to get quotes for shippers, 4 in total. Doesn't seem real somehow... this whole process of job interest in Adelaide started Feb 2011 and now Feb 2012 we are applying for Visas and about to change our whole lives... frankly I am terrified BUT excited at the same time. Keep reading threads about 457 being the worst Visa to go on etc etc, family upset about the impending move, me sleepless at night worrying will it all work out. Well it's in the hands of the Gods now. Hope to be out there APril 2012 Feel better getting that off my chest xx

Thank moving to Melbourne

Hi and a Happy New Year to all... we've submitted our Visa (only just now) for a 457 and I just have a question I hope someone who has had the same thing can answer please. We are moving with my Daughter to Adelaide and part of the Visa app asked for a form to be completed by my Daughters biological father & myself which we did and also provide a copy of his passport which we provided to Fragomen, I am just wondering as I have sole Parental responsibility for my Daughter would the Visa people ask me for further proof IE a Court Order to allow me to take my Daughter even though I have her Fathers consent and we were never married and she was born before Dec 2003? If so how do you apply for such a thing? (her Father would be willing to sign a court doc) just wanted opinion from anyone who has been through this as I would need to get the ball rolling now incase there's a waiting time with the Courts. Thanks for reading. vdM xx

Can anybody who has a South african Drivers Licence advise if they were able to get an Oz Licence easily enough when on 457 Visa?

Thanks for that brummie, nice to see both sides of the coin.

thanks for these positive comments, I know in my heart she will be fine it's just nerves I think