Cheeky Rascal

it's been two weeks since they requested police check reports and health record (MIL had them done here in Oz last year) She's sent in the requested documents, they had one query over her spouse status (she's single but they want to know how she has an Australian citizen by decent son) We've still heard nothing, I hope theyre sending to the correct email address this time... Guys, what happens after they request police and health records? surely we should have heard something by now... Congrats @maisydaisy

Hi Steve, I get confused with all the visa numbers so my post may or may not be relevant. I know that there are two type of CPV, onshore and off shore. My MIL has applied for the off shore (173) since she was in the UK when she sent in her application. She needs to leave Australia to re enter in order to activate the visa. On shore visa, I think speaks for itself Hope this helps.

Ah that's fine and yes I understood. Thank you for the email address you supplied. MIL emailed them and received her response, the reason she hasn't heard anything yet is because they'd got her email address wrong :arghh: So she HAD had an email requesting all her documents (police and health checks) on the 18th of March. Lucky she did something now as she had 28 days from that email to submit everything.... 2 days to spare. So, silly question, is it the case officer who requests the health checks police checks?? Thanks so much, you've been so helpful

Hi Maisy Daisy I've noticed your timeline of events there and they're not much different to our mother in laws who is back in the UK waiting for her case officer. She submitted her application in the 11 April 2014, has had her health checks and police checks but still no word from IMMI at all. Any advice? I'm not sure what you can advise. Is there some way of contacting IMMI. I hope you receive yours very soon. It's an awful wait!!

Hi Again Folks, my mother in law posted her CPV 175 application 11 April 2014, test email is now saying processing dates are now at 29th April 2014 (FINALLY) :cute: Of course she's in England panicking and now I'm starting to a little also... Does anyone here have any idea when she should expect to hear something??? Thanks all

Hello Lovely people, It's been a while since I've been through these posts, but I was wondering what the latest was on the Processing time? My MiL is currently here on a visitor subclass 600 visa (March 2015 - March 2016) She submitted her CPV 143 in April 2014. Sponsership money from my Husband has been collected and medicals for MiL and police checks have been completed... What's next? Does anyone know what the latest it on waiting times? Thank you

Brilliant, Thank you for that, Freesia

Please Help advise. We're really not very good with official visa speak even when they ARE making it clear. My MIL is in the process of applying for a CPV subclass 143. We're hoping her visa will be granted within the next 12 months (submitted in April 2014) Meanwhile, She has applied for a Visitors visa Subclass 600 with a view to stay for the 12 months, returning to the UK to receive her CPV before heading back to Oz again. She received this email from the visa site. Other Requirements Parents of Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents, who are outside Australia, may be considered for the grant, on a case-by-case basis, of Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream visas with up to: Three years’ validity with 3, 6 or 12 months stay on each entry for parents who are not in the Parent (subclass 103) visa queue and have a history of compliant travel. In addition to mandatory Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream visa requirements and conditions, parents utilising these arrangements will be subject to the following three conditions Condition 8558 - Not Resident Prevents the holder from staying in Australia for more than 12 months in any 18 month period. Your visa may be cancelled if you seek to return to Australia and stay for a period which would result in you spending more than 12 months in any 18 month period onshore. Your visa will automatically cease if you stay in Australia for more than 12 months continuously. Which visa are they suggesting will cease? The CPV or the 600??? Thanks in advance?

Hi Xenon. He does have a skill that is required for FIFO but we're not sure how long we want him to do it for yet, he quite often works away atm, though he's not rosta'd. We know with his skill that he could get a job in the CBD but obviously, the money would drop considerably too, so we're trying to cover all basis. We still want SC but we must remain open minded We'll be down at the end of November for a little holiday and cruise round. Thanks so much everyone for your input. The mind boggles at the possibilities hahaha

Thanks Every one Xenon4017. We've been in Mky 3 years now and honestly, I'm dreading the summer. Its hotting up already. Mky was only ever meant to be a starting point for us. We like it here but it's time to move on. We're looking into FIFO for hubby for a while and most fifo flies from Brisbane, it just makes more sense to be down that way. vixenpops. Thannk you, we'll look into Eaton Hills too

I guess, seeing from the jokes and the cartoons here, that asking if anyone has approximate timelines is a waste of time and I may as well ask how long a piece of string is BUT.. Mum in Law received her email today acknowledging her CPV submission (from March this year). They're now asking for health checks and paperwork from my husband.. Is this a ball rolling phase? or just another wait and keep dreaming phase...

Thanks Tina2 I had a quick look at the area, there's not a great deal of information about North Lakes. Properties seem very cheap there. Is it a new new up and coming place, there was mention of a proposed rail link to the city.

Hi, We currently live in Mackay and have done for the last 3 years and we are thinking about relocating. We'd really like Sunshine coast but heard the job situation there is pretty poor and the commute to Brisbane can take a good couple of hours so now we're expanding our search to The suburbs north of Brisbane. Anyone already there? which areas are the best for a family of young, school aged children, close to the beaches, good schools, shopping, cafes etc??? Thanks

So am I reading this right?? Its taking 18 months to be processed. Now does that mean from date of application to visa grant date? Or visa application to being assigned a case officer? My mum in law submitted her application in April, we're trying to get her over on a 12 month tourist visa. Part of that application however, asked if she was applying for cpv, then it asked for a processing date, which we don't have, so we can't move forward on.the tourist visa application!!! Any advice on that please???

My mum in law submitted her application and cash directly to Oz consulate in London in May this year and still hasn't heard a single thing from Perth by email. We're all fried hahhaa just acknowledgent of monies received would be nice. We heard that we can get her over now on a 600 visitors visa (12 month) for now while she waits on processing of her CPV. Anyone heard anything to the contrary??? Long old, painful wait!! Good luck every one

so now that it's 2014, a good couple of years since this thread started, what's the general opinion on Mooloolaba now? This is the area my DH and I are hoping to relocte to from Mackay. Thanks in advance

Interesting Thread here. We've been in Mackay over 2 and a half years and it's settled down to a more sustainable level now. Housing is plentiful now. We are looking to move though and Sunny Coast, Noosa has our interest. So, my question is, how is the job situation down there? I keep asking this question over various areas of this site and not getting a response GAHHHH! Job situation and average wages/living costs.. all the usualy and very valuable info would be great please

Hey, We've been living in Mackay for 2.5 years now and are looking to relocate to Bris, northern subs. Does anyone there have an idea on the job situation? what's the standard rate of pay for a Crane operator etc. Just trying to get a feel for the place Thanks in advance.

Hi Fanya, We've lived here for 2.5 years now and have gone between loving it and hating it here. It's certainly a great place for very young kids like yours, beaches and parks etc, however, there's not much to do on the days that are too hot to be out in or rainy days (of which unfortunately, happen in the 6 week summer holidays) I found it to be very difficult with my 2 until i had a good friend base. Play dates are the only real rainy day option. It's settled down here in the time we've lived here, it was quite souless and cut throat for a while when the mining boom was at it's peak, but things are at a more sustainable level now which is better for those of us who have remained here. Mackay is a very transient town, you will have to get used to people coming and going, it's good to make money, more so now as rentals are plentiful and much cheaper. Wen we arrived, it was a landlords market and awful.. it's now very much a tenants market. I know people who have fallen in love with Mackay and are happy to settle here for good. It's not for us however and we are looking to move on. It's frustrating that the things you would like to be availible, you have to order in. You can expect to pay much more for your groceries here as the transit costs are high and the quality of the food can be pretty poor because of this. Depending on where you have come from, Mackay is quite a culture shock. There are pockets of 'it's a mans world' and women are still pretty low down on the social ladder. This isn't true of Mackay as a whole but don't be surprised if you find yourself struggling with the kids in a busy shopping cue and a man just pushes in front of you (this has happened to me many times). Drivers are impolite and ruthless at times. Don't be bullied on the roads, sadly, you have to become an asshat amongst many other asshats to avoid the dumbass mentality of "I'm bigger then you, move over' Britain has become so PC, Mackay is so not! Just a wee warning. Mackay is a pretty town, quirky little shops in it's centre, nice walks along the river and more beautiful beaches than you could ever want (just watch for crocs and stingers). Anyway, I wish you all the very best when you move.. where ever you decide in the end. You'll be arriving at a gorgeous time of year too, perfect temps I'm painting a conflicted picture of Mackay, it has it's beautiful and it's ugly points thats for sure

Hey there. We have lived here for little under a year but in that time, this is how I feel about Mackay. It's not a major city, not even a small one and it is growing at such a phenomenal rate that it can't cope with the demands. Child care is a huge and very expensive issue here, if you have children of Kindy age (pre-school) then expect to be on a waiting list for at least 4-6 months bofore getting a placement. Nurseries charge around $75 a day. The schools could do with heavy investment and A LOT of room for improvement there too, but I was so used to UK style of teaching, having said that, My 5 year old is very happy and is full of enthusiasm and I'm very pleased about that. The rental situation is diabolical and as previously mentioned, expect up to 20 rejections before success, you certianly don't have to option of choice.. I've seen people having to simply accept what they're given. Over priced in many areas. The Northern becahes is very popular with expats and this is where we live and we're pretty happy. Actually, we consider ourselves very lucky here and love the area. (re: pool, I would ask your wife to reconsider as in northern beaches, there is a resort called Dolphin Heads that allows people to use it's pool for free and it doesn't get too crowded, therre's also the lagoon in town which is free.. Pool are generally only used from November through March because the rest of the year it's simply too cold.. but the filtration and cleaning of the pool is a year round financial obligation... is it worth it??) Mackay is very expensive so here's a little rundown of what you can expect to pay in household bills. Rent: $500-600 per week (approx) Elec: $110 per month Gas: $180 per bottle (lasts 3-5 months so hard to approximate) Food: $200 per week (family of 4) internet: $78 per month mobile phone $60per month (depending on your tariff) car rego: $360 per 6 month $630(ish) full year petrol: $1.48-$1.52 per litre These are just the basics off the top of my head. There's plenty here to do if you look for it, but it is a town where nothing is really permanent, people come and go, it's a mining town at the end of the day and the mining money is what makes this place tick. I feel it's pretty souless for that reason. But the beaches are pretty, the sopping centre, Canelands is modern and has funky resturants and cafes. The centre of town is quirky and nice to walk around and discover. It's a 2 hour drive to Airlie beach and the ferries to the Whitsundays, there are national parks around so plenty to do at a weekend. As long as you prepare yourself for the cost of living and the very laid back way of life, you'll be fine, you may even grow to love it ) I know plenty of expats who've really settled well here and made a great life for themselves, I also know a lot who hate it and can't wait to leave (Marmite situation... or vegemite) I hope this helps, I don't want to paint a negative picture for you here, just an honest one.

Hey> I posted recently on life in Mandurah but since re-evalutated that as it's just too far for hubby to travel to work in the CBD. So now we're swinging our sights to Rockingham. From the realestate.com.au reviews of neighbourhoods, it seems really lovely, the beaches are amazing, cafe strip, plenty for the teenagers to do (if you're an involved parent, this is one thing I keep reading over and over again: feral kids and Bogans!!?) We have 2 children 4 & 5 years old. So in many way, it ticks all the boxes. I'm looking for the usual input here. Thanks

Hi, I'm looking into Mandurah as I hear lots of nice things about it and it looks lovely from the websites. My husband is a crane driver so i suspect most of the work for his field will be in the CBD itself so it's refreshing to read your post, Bluebelle, as it was this long drive that put him off Mandurah in the first place. What's is Mandurah itself like for employment, does anyone have any idea of the local wages for my Husbands line of work. The properties look amazing and very reasonably priced to what we're used to.. Any info at all on Mandurah would be helpful )

I think if you're going to the more built up areas where the Gorvernment are investing money, you'll find a very different QLD to the one I'm describing. We live in what is essentially, a city built for miners. It's a pretty sexist place here and I don't recall ever coming across this when I was backpacking Oz. I've set my sights on Mandurah, it looks and sounds lovely there. Roughly where are you based?

Hi, I can't speak for all of QLD as we're not in the major cities here (up near Townsville) Our general feel of the place is that it is about 30 years behind. It's very beautiful, there's plenty to do and lots of opportunities work wise. But I find the schooling a little old fashioned, their attitudes towards things like safety just aren't what I'm used to (But then I do accept that I am from blame culture, nanny state UK) The transport system is non existent so having a car is a must. (NOT like in Brisbane) We just don't feel that this town in particular is where we want our children to grow up, but like I said, we don't live in the Cities. Maybe we would feel differently if we lived in Brisbane.. but the education system is still in the process of being modernised here and is still currently, quite dated. BUT, please don't take what I say as gospel, this is just my opinion of North/mid QLD. Talk to people in Brisvegas and Sunshine coast and I guaruntee they'll tell you it's amazing ) Where in QLD are you headed?

Hi All, I'm new here so please be patient with me. My OH and I moved here (QLD last year and have already decided that it's not the place for us.) I have my sights set on Perth since I spent almost a year there back in 2000 as a backpacker. From what I remember it has a little of everything for every-one, great night life, great family city, beautiful suburbs and of course, the surrounding towns and cities. So, that was some 12 years ago, I'm looking to find out about nice places to live in and around Perth. What are the schools like? (I return as a different person, I'm now a mum of 2) I see that Employment rate is healthy there so and very confident that my OH will find work relatively easily. I've looked on realeastate.com.au at houses for rent/sale. And my mind boggles, where to even start looking.. Any opinions about the housing, areas, amenities would be greatly received. Thanks in advance. :cool: