MrStocks80

Wow, post #6715 seems such a while ago now but I'm happy to say that earlier yesterday afternoon I got a surprise email from CO (LG) with my Visa Grant Notice!!!! Can't even begin to explain the feeling! Thanks to all those on here who have helped with info (in the past and in to the future) and Good Luck to those of you waiting, don't worry it'll come! :cool:

Hi lebourvellec, Yes, you have got it right, I am too far gone/grey (32) to get a WHV. Our company has a Melbourne office, but it is only a sales one. I spoke briefly with my employer around Summer last year, but as I am not currently in sales (and although I didn't say, would prefer not to be) they said I would not be eligible to move over some of the other 'true' sales people in the office. Not sure if I am familiar with GSM - what is that? After speaking with my CO briefly on Friday afternoon, I have been told that no matter what further statements or evidence I/we put forward (even using a RMA), it would not be acceptable to waiver the 12-month cohabition - as it was a 'choice' we made not down to necessity (although I find that a little arguable). The CO did suggest looking at a the PMV option which my partner and I, were aware of previously and have been revisiting/discussing at length these past few days. At the end of the day, its where we are both headed in our hearts and minds, but doing it on a 'timetable' does take a little of the romance of it all away. As I said above, we both read through 'Booklet 1' and all the related Fact Sheets on the DIAC website (as well as a few cases on here), we didn't realize the waivers mentioned on Fact Sheet 35 were the ONLY waivers, just a selection of what would class as compelling/compassionate, as in the Commonly Asked Questions below that there is the following... "My job in Australia does not allow me to travel to my partner's country to live there for extended periods. We have been in a relationship for 12 months but lived together for only eight months. Will I be eligible to sponsor my partner to Australia? You may be eligible. It is recognised that it is possible for the parties to be physically apart for periods of time, due to work or travel commitments, yet committed to a shared life." That, we wrongly interpretted in hind-sight, was exactly like our situation. We effectively have lived together for at least 5-6months of last year, but due to work commitments couldn't continually - so we proceeded to lodge.

Apologies for going quiet over the past few days (the joys of working shiftwork). Getting back on thread - I'm happy to discuss our 'case' on this forum so... In mid-Aug'11 my Australian partner and I met at a concert in London. At that time I was in the middle of selling my property out near Canterbury, Kent and had relocated to Gatwick with my parents near to my new place of work (caused by previous redundancy). She was in England on a WHV for 2yrs (expiring mid-Feb'13) living in W London, working in NW London. For the first few months we dated, but by mid-Oct'11 we had become quite serious and I was spending most of my days-off from work at her place. Around Christmas 2011 we discussed many things about the future, knowing that at some point she'd have to return to Australia. We spoke about moving in together in the New Year, but at that stage I couldn't afford moving in to her place in W London and the commute down to Gatwick as well as still paying the mortgage on my unsold property in Kent - she respectively could not move down to Gatwick, for three reasons a) not being able to drive in the UK (we did try with my car insurance company), b) transport links here to a London main-line station are non-existent before 8am and c) there were no positions available locally for her. In Feb'12, her landlord then terminated the lease and she had to look for a new place to live. Luckily found somewhere a bit closer in S London. Around that same time her contract finished in NW London and she found new work in Essex. Since then her work has changed once more, in Jul'12 now out in Greenwich/Woolwich area. I still stay with regularity on my days off and currently (annoyingly) my house is still on the market, despite dropping the asking price +10% over the past year. Over the past 12 months our relationship has grown and once we got in to Dec'12 we placed our 309/100 visa application thinking after all we'd read on here, the DIAC booklets and information leaflets, we had compelling/compassionate grounds for a waiver of the 12-month rule - but that does not seem the case.

I have read through the Forum Rules & Guidelines for PIO and I can't see anything obvious that says you can't discuss personal circumstances, so is it OK to do so? As a few have said it is difficult to offer any advice without knowing?

Thanks again, you have removed some of that 'pain at the pit of my stomach' feeling.

cshowell, thank you. I shall speak to my CO tomorrow see how far off things really are, then start looking at RMA's. Does anyone here have good experience/recommendation of a RMA?

Was very excited a few hours ago to finally receive the email from my CO to say they had received my visa application. As I read down the letter I came across the final paragraph; Section 1: further information required. My heart sunk. It stated:- "To be eligible for a defacto spouse visa you must show evidence that you have lived as a defacto couple for a minimum of 12 months immediately before lodging your visa. One of the requirements is that you must live together or not apart on a permanent basis. From the information you have provided it appears that you have never lived together so therefore will not meet this requirement." It then went on to say that if we are able to provide any compelling or compassionate reasons why we have never lived together they could waive this requirement and we have 28 days from today (07Feb) in which to do it, before a decision is made based on the application this far. Our problem is that we have both stated in our statutory declarations, and sent supporting evidence explaining why we are unable to live at the same address, which is purely down to circumstances beyond either of our control. I really don't know what else we can do. We spent so much time beforehand trying to work out a way, but it is what it is. We have a 'genuine and continuing mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others', but present circumstances avoid us from residing at the same property, surely this is possible? My partner will be returning to Oz in the next two months and then how are we ever supposed to live together? If anyone can offer any advice or comments, we'd appreciate it.

Many thanks Petals, I will do!

I am planning my move out to Australia later next year :biggrin: (provided all goes well with my 309/100 visa application) and obviously looking at job prospects for when I'm there. For the past 13 years I have worked in aviation, firstly for an international cargo airline, then for a flight support company. It is quite a specialized area of work and from what I noticed when holidaying in Australia last April, not a very 'in-demand' role in the current job market, therefore I am looking to increase my prospects by re-training, in a trade career. Back in college I was interested in electrical work, and did technology courses and a summer of work experience working with a 'sparky', it's an area I've always found interesting. :GEEK: So, essentially I would like to ask all of you here who are electricians in Oz where do I start? Is there anything I can get 'started' on from here in the UK before moving out. Presently I do not have any qualifications in this area, but understand from what I've read online that UK qualifications aren't recognised in Australia anyway? Thanks for your thoughts and assistance.

Well the waiting truly begins now... Sent off my DF Partner 309/100 visa application Tuesday morning and it was delivered yesterday morning at Australia House, London. Got it in just before the holiday period. Our situation is a little complex, but hoping from all the great info on this forum site and from reading (and re-reading) through everything in the Booklet 1 from the Immi.gov.au website that we satisfy the DF requirements and my application gets granted. :unsure:

Hi all on PiO, I have been registered on here a little while now, and have spent time looking at a few posts. As I am looking to move to Australia (Brisbane) spring/summer 2013 and will be submitting my 309/100 visa application in the next 2-3mths, I thought I'd introduce myself - no doubt I may need the odd bit of assistance here and there. I also hope that I can add to the banks of information here on this site by helping others with my experience and progress. MrStocks80