AJ235

Thanks for looking that up. I only applied last Thursday. Going to give them a call this morning and see where it is up too. I agree, surely others have been in this position and need it urgently.

Hi Snifter, yes I have done this. They advised that they don't have a priority service for this and I can't collect it in person either. All they could do was send an email requesting it to be looked at as a priority but couldn't give a definitive answer on when I may receive it.

Thanks for the replies. I could get her an Australian passport in 2 days, however, I can't apply without the evidence of citizenship certificate. Thanks Nemesis - that is definitely worth looking into. I will be close to London and after looking online it would seem that I can get an Australian passport from there of someone forwards me the evidence of citizenship.

Hi all, Wondering if someone who may have been in a similar situation could advise... My husband and I are both permanent residents in Australia (waiting on citizenship ceremony) and my 3-month old daughter who was born here is entitled to citizenship here. We need to urgently travel back to the UK due to the death of a relative but are having difficulties re; a passport for her. We can't get her an Australian passport as we don't have the evidence of her citizenship (we have applied but they can't say when we will get this) and I'm worried about her having difficulty getting back into Australia if we get her an emergency UK travel document (we have applied online for her UK passport just before this happened). I have called the British Consulate and can get her an emergency travel document but will she has issues arriving back in Australia if she isn't on our visas and doesn't have an Australian passport? Any advice would be great on how we can get back to the UK and then back to Australia again! Thanks!

Hi everyone, I'm hoping someone would be able to help or advise me where to look...my mum is looking to buy a house in Northern Ireland but she wouldn't be able to get a mortgage. She would need a mortgage for about 20,000 GBP after putting the rest down as cash (The purchase property of the house would be about 90000 GBP). I would love to help in in some way and I'm wondering if I would be able to get a mortgage for that amount to buy the property. The property is in Northern Ireland and I am a permanent resident with a stable job in Australia. Is this possible? Google searches is very confusing for buying overseas! Many thanks in advance, AJ

Hi all, If anyone is experienced in drug and alcohol counselling and working with a forensic population, my employer is currently recruiting and are willing to offer sponsorship (most likely 457). The positions are based in regional Victoria (Shepparton). Please send me a pm if you are interested or would like to know more. Thanks

They have started May. My visa was granted yesterday and I applied 1st May. I'm also Melbourne and it was processed in VIC. Occupation is drug and alcohol counsellor.

I would assume May because I didn't apply for the visa until 1st May after the nomination was approved so I would have gone into the normal visa queue.

Thanks! Occupation is drug and alcohol counsellor

Hi all, It's my turn to share the good news! PR granted today- timeline: Nomination applied 18/12/2014 Nomination granted 28/04/2015 Visa applied 01/05/2015 Visa granted 04/08/2015 Direct entry- MA used for nomination, no MA for visa. From low risk country and included form 80, police checks and medical. No change or request for info - went from application received to finalised. Good luck all- looks like May has started! Processed VIC

Hi drpepper, I agree with verystormy; my employer started to do it themselves but when they realised how much was involved (they had only ever sponsored on a 457 before not a 186) they decided to get a migration agent to do it. I did my own 186 direct entry application (still waiting on approval) which is very straightforward if you have a straightforward case (all work references etc) but I run into a problem getting a work reference which with the stress of trying to get sorted I then wished that I had of used an agent! Although a lot of money, if you are not 100% sure that your application is straightforward and that you have all the required documentation, I would seek some advice. Some do a visa application checking service and that may be a bit less. Also, is the $4000 for the employers side of the application as well as yours? Maybe your employer would pay for a migration agent for their application and then you could pay for your own? Good luck!

Hi dunesurfer, i'm not an accountant or tax expert so hopefully someone can come along to who is, however, my brother left Australia last year and he came away with about 70% of the amount he had in super.

Hi Peach, I think close to it, yes. I spend at least $200 per month on fuel and the quote also includes comprehensive insurance for a multicar policy with my husband and his car (i source the insurance myself as it was cheaper than they quoted and they just included this). Also registration which is $700 per year. I'm seeing my tax agent next week for end of tax return so I may ask him then! Hi Bungo - yes you can do it on a new or used car that is over $10,000. They pay the finance remaining on the car and you effectively pay that amount to them in the lease agreement.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I currently pay $685 on just the finance payment per month and that has just under 3 years left. I have been quoted $754 for a fully maintained lease for 2 years with a balloon payment of $9000. I have also just gone up one tax bracket so with some of the payment coming out pre-tax it should drop me a tax bracket again. I am inclined to think that this is worth doing but perhaps I should get some financial advice to make sure.

Hi all, I'm just wondering what peoples thoughts/experience are with a notated lease through your employer? I have a car on finance and I have received a few quotes about changing this to a notated lease instead. When I do the math, it seems better to go with the notated lease, everything is included and I save some money on tax. I will eventually own the car as there is a balloon payment at the end of the 2 year lease. Any advice or things I should look into first? Many thanks