LGannon

Thank you, I'll investigate that.

Have a look at STA Travel for your flights. They offer a package where you are able to change dates!

I have always used them for my flights although never had to change dates apart from on my whv as i went for a yr i had to push my return date back by a month and sta sorted everything for me.

Fingers crossed you wont be long now!

Hi all,

 

Good to hear so many good stories, but sorry to hear whats happening to you Juliusoz . Hopefully you'll hear something very soon.

 

I am pulling my visa pack together and was wondering, how long to the police checks from Australia last for and how long dose it take to come through.

 

Any more visa granted out there?

 

Thanks

Hi bigboy

Aus police checks have 12 months on them.

I applied for mine online. Took something silly like 4 days to arrive in uk post!

Depends on the airline. I asked Qantas for FIL when he migrated to NZ and the 'migrant' fare was £1000 more! Was told it would be cheaper to buy excess baggage.

 

Saw on here recently that Singapore Airlines automatically give the unvalidated visa holder extra 10kgs, plus they have upped their economy allowance to 30kgs!

Hi guys.

I booked through China Eastern Airlines includes 2 pcs luggage plus £100 for an extra case.

Flight only costs £495 so just a bit of a bargin!!!

Hi everyone, just looking for a bit of reassurance. My visa application was received on 11th Dec, we know from checking bank balance that payment was taken the same day. However, we did not receive a receipt. We have since received our paper statement, had thought there might be a receipt number linked with the transaction-no such luck. Is this the norm? Is there no way of tracking your application until a CO is assigned? Thanks in advance!

You will eventually get a reciept. Ours came through with supporting documents that our CO returned to us.

Wow last crimbo in england!!!

Good luck to those who are still waiting! And for those who have had their grants through!!

Pomsinoz has been a great help through the long wait!

Wishing you all the best for the new year guys!! Roll on 2014 in the land down under!!! Something tells me christmas may never feel the same or cold lol

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!! XXX

Hi guys, I contacted by CO to update details and she replied thanking me and advised my visa would be approved the week before I travel to australia in jan which will be roughly 8 months. Very happy with the news as I hadn't asked for a date, relief to know I won't have to go offshore!

Oooh sounds good hun but u never know! Ill keep my fingers crossed for a nice xmas prezzie for u!!! Either way ur get it!

Where did you guys say you were looking to move to?? X

Yaaaay awesome news!!! Same CO as me too, vey exciting! Seems like getting in contact with them almost acts as a reminder or something...

 

Does anyone know - we're moving back in with my parents for a few weeks prior to flying to australia, do we need to tell CO this address?

Hi Lucy!

Not long now hun u wont be long! Did u book ur flights already?

Get in touch with her by giving ur new address.

Ive never hasseled her. She has always been polite with emails.

When i sent my copy of new passport today i simply asked her to confirm she had all documents needed otherwise i will immediately get anything else sent over. She simply emailed back thank u and she has everything needed.

When got that email didnt think my grant would be there 2 hours later!!!!!

I was so excitedly scared to open it haha mixed emotions but i sat staring at it before opening and yes i cried lol in my office at work!

Ive never asked her for dates etc. But i submitted only few days before u so wont be long!

Keep in touch x

OMG!!!!!!!

Recieved my passport yesterday as had to change my surname from maiden name!

Sent off a copy via email to my CO and she has now given me my grant!!!!!!!

I want to scream and tell everyone but the hubby (in oz) is in bed and not answering his phone grrr!!! Lol i want to tell him before friends n family!!!

Our application took 7 months and 1 day!

And i got the 100 with indefinate leave!!!!

Hi guys

For those who got the survey, i just recieved this one too... guess a few people enquired!

Dear Sir/Madam

*

Yesterday I sent you the email below, which referred to your application having been finalised between 1 March 2013 and 31 August 2013. Please note that in some instances, this is not the case. Your case officer will advise you when your application has been finalised; this survey is taking place separately from the application process for your visa or citizenship by descent and does not have any bearing on your application.

*

Are there any April applicants that have been granted yet?!?!!

My Canadian friend submitted her application last month and was given a 12 month wait!!! BUT shs has actually been given her grant this week! One month it took!

And just for a bit of background their not married lived together for a yr in canada n been together 4 years in total!!! Crazy!

I know all countries work different but 1 month!!! Lol

Seems very quiet on the April applicant grants!

Please give us a shout if you have had ur grants!

Excited May applicant here counting down my final days till Australia and being reunited with the hubster and step kids!

Has anyone found uk police checks seem to take ages!! My Aussie one took only 3 days! Uk is 2 weeks and counting!

Just need to change over passport name and finally all done!

Hi guys

Im currently looking at flights to Sydney for the end of March 2014.

I am looking to take 3 suitcases with me.

Can anyone recomend a reasonable airline with low additional costs for extra baggage.

British airways want £1300 one way but cheaper to book return. Excess baggage reasonable.

Quantas baggage costs are crazy since their merge with emirates.

China Eastern Airlines.... never used them before. One way £450 and you get 2 bags and additional 1st bag about £100.

Looks reasonable.... has anyone flown with them before???

Thank you

OH had medical today, extra £20 for urine analysis! Also waiting for detailed medical history from GP. I'm now expecting 3 month referral

 

Reckon ours will take the full 9 months.

Dont panic too much i was worried too about an extra 3 month wait as i also was asked for extra information from my gp.

Everything was straight forward actually. Gp done letter that cost £25!! I faxed it to the medical place and 2 days later my co had it.

I just sent a polite email to her basically asking if they had been recieved and if she could tell me if im likely to get held up in any way.

She simply emailed back and said they have been recieved can i have ur police checks please.

I saw that as good really. I know they cant say much but was good enough for me!

Fingers crossed ur be fine x

Hi everyone!

Good to see theres some visas been going through lately!! Congrats to all!!

I completed my medical on the 30/8, just waiting for appointment with my gp tomorrow as I am waiting other blood results that were being carried out previous to my medical! and then have to fax over letter from my gp to the medical team and then off it goes to my case officer with no problems hopefully :-)

Cant believe now at the half way mark! Cant wait to see the hubby in the new year!

Any ideas on other forms of evidence anyone?

 

We don't have:

1. A joint account

2. Mortgage

3. Joint loan

4. Utility bills

5. Individual financial or legal documents showing the same address

 

Any suggestions would be great.

 

Thanks

Stuart we were similar,

we couldn't provide any of the above as we only have lived together 9 months back in 2009. Since then we fly back and forth until my visa is granted. We have now been married a year.

I haven't been asked to provide anymore evidence as what I did was sufficient enough.

I submitted:

Phone bills

Money transfers bank and western union

Flight info when we have visited each other

Plenty of Photos

My NAB statements as their registered to his address and my old Rest account details as their also still registered at his address

His visa application to get married here in the UK last year

Proof of joint purchases for our wedding

Our marriage certificates and notice of marriage

Joint travel/days out/tickets etc

Plenty of supporting statements from our families and friends here and Australia

Emails and postage proof of letters/parcels

Cards from bdays and xmas

Joint invites for weddings and occasions

Work through year by year of your relationship and provide anything that you can think of even if it may seem ridiculous if your history together and the more you put in you have a background to show.

To be fair some of the other stuff I sent was prob not necessary but sent it anyways to back ourselves up as much as possible!

Hope that helps!

Hi guys!

Hope everyones plans are coming along nicely!

Has anyone who had RE as their case officer now been handed over to somebody else???

X

I hadn't even noticed that til you said... Mine says 100 too though and I'm definitely not eligible!

 

when you say you got your evidence back, did you get it all back? I didn't and now I'm (hopefully needlessly!) panicking there's something wrong with the bits they kept! Pretty sure it wouldn't have all fit in the envelope I provided though....

I got most of it back Lucy. Although I got my birth cert didn't get the hubbys but then I dunno if that's maybe because he had a few documents as his surname changed when he was young.

How long have you been in a relationship ?

Hi Kevin

Weve been together 4 and half years. Weve only lived together for 9 months when on my whv. The last 3 and a bit years its been a case of flying back and forth. Weve now been married a year.

LGannon, I got the same thing, thought I was getting the 100, but my CO told me I met the requirements for the 309 recently so I'm not in luck I think! I would just keep it in mind, I think it might be because you've paid for the 100 visa because you don't pay again, you pay for both temp and PR in one go.

Thanks Tulip! Thought that might be the case was just a lil bit of wishful thinking!

Hi guys

I dunno if anyone can help..... when I received my evidence back last week I also received an invoice for payment.

It states I had paid for a 100 (permanent visa) nothing about the 309 just wondering if this is just the norm or if im possibly going to get a 100 straight away??? May just be wishful thinking haha!

thanks tulip, i just rang the london office and spoke with somebody, he said that the parcel should not have been refused with the address i sent it too, he is going to look into it and ring me back.

 

so angry, but things happen for a reason, what ever the reason maybe

 

Andy

Andy like Notts has also said there are 2 addresses 1 for special deliveries/recorded post (which is the address given by above) otherwise couriers have to use a different address. Give them a call and confirm which one you need.

might be cheaper special delivery and its trackable on the royal mail website, thats how I sent mine!

Nice one! That's weird I didn't get a date for medical, perhaps because I already included police checks. I think they're recommending you don't do it before August, that way it should give you about 6 months from grant to enter by. Police checks 3-4 weeks from memory.

The date was given for meds and police check in the same sentence on your medical letter lucy. Which CO were u assigned?

im sooo glad me and the hubby know when were next see eachother now!!!

they usually give a not before date to get police checks medicals done. u pick date yourself to suit ur first entry date. police checks took three weeks I think

it asks to provide both medical and character checks 1st august...... doest say before or after so thats why a bit confused

​would u recommend do both at a similar time or can I apply for police checks now? Thank u!

Yay! Co assigned :laugh:

No further info requested. Processing time 8-9 months from date application received which was 09/05/2013

can anyone advise.... it gives date of 1st August for health check is this when I have to book it for/by/or submit by then???

has anyone recently done Uk & Aus police checks? How long do they take to process???

​thank you!

I've finally submitted the visa app! I was glad to see it go in the end as we have been working on it since Jan! Would have had it in earlier if it hadn't been for hold-ups with Stat Decs. It all seems real now and homesickness is fading!

Welcome to the gang - im a may applicant too

Seem to be few of us so far!