TeeTMI

Thank you for letting us know.

Gill spent many many hours researching and assisting many migrants (including many years ago myself) in her detailed and often often sensitive/caring/blunt/humorous and where she disagreed argumentative and inquisitive way.

She stood up for migrants with health issues including submissions to the Australian parliament on the unfairness of the visa application process for people with disabilities

Gill also let us in on pieces of her life, her mother, calling out an electrician (or asking the odd electrician on here for advice), gas or IT repair guys when things went wrong.

A host of warm memories of her go through my memory. So long Gill.

Hi Sydnewbee Welcome to the forum. There is the potential for a health waiver to be considered by the DIBP under certain circumstances when using the ENS transitional stream. The MOC estimated costing for someone living with HIV is generally considerable and I suggest you obtain advise from someone with experience with this condition and health waivers prior to hearing from your CO. This will enable you to know what circumstances would permit consideration of a health waiver, know what will be required and to prepare in advance of the CO contacting you. I'm assuming from your username you are in Sydney, if so you might contact http://halc.org.au/ for some initial advice.

Hi Guys

I hate popping into your thread with bad news but I just thought I would mention the visa application fees will be increasing 1st September by about 15% by the looks of things.

http://www.comlaw.go...ils/F2013L01534

Tee

Do you know the place in this year (July 13-14) was released or not yet?

 

I was told to further proceed my application in Jan. I am wonder we need to wait any vacancy until Jan 14.

The 2013/14 quota for Other Family visas has more than halved from 1285 places down to 595 places. This category includes both offshore and onshore applications for Carer, Remaining Relative, and Aged Dependent Relative visas. Within this category DIAC have stated that Carer visas will continue to be prioritised.

It is expected that there is likely to be a significant increase in processing times for all applications for these visas. DIAC advises that they cannot predict processing times but estimate a wait of approximately 16 years for a Remaining Relative or Aged Dependent Relative visa.

Tee

As a first step take a look at whether her occupation is on the SOL or CSOL, if so maybe check out whether she meets the points for either the 189 and 190 on here

http://www.immi.gov.au/skills/skillselect/

You'll be giving them names before you know it!

Good luck with it Sioban, I hope you can get there good on you for being prepared to give it a try

Tee

Good luck Sioban

I'm another of the gecko lovers and am really jealous, I miss not having them chattering around in the place where I currently live.

Brilliant entertainment value and if you have a few there can be a daily soap operas going on between them defending their territories.

Had a thought that you might try find a recording of a male territorial noise that might deter others - but no idea if it would work? You might end up attracting more.

I like the idea of training your kids to assist if the gecko's get too close.

Sorry I can't resist but suggest maybe try allowing the gecko's within a certain distance of you, for a certain time, before they need to be moved and try to work on the amount of wine, time and distance over time?

Just a thought - since it's already possible to get a one year tourist visa for £100 (or so I believe) does this new five year parents visa actually confer any benefits at all? Seems to me it just entitles you to have a series of one year visas????

You are quite correct for some people there may not be much benefit in obtaining the visa. However, for others e.g. parents from some countries have to provide a lot of information in their tourist visa applications, it could make things a lot easier for them not having to repeat the process each time. Although it will be interesting to see the wider policy, they may still find this harder to obtain for the full duration?

Hi Phoebe

That was what was on the DIAC web site. I have been trying to get onto the site which details the actual wording and policy relating to the legislation - but the site appears to be down with a network error.

Once I can get on I will take a look at the wording

Tee

A quick update on the earlier parent tourist visa announcement

The Longer tourist Visas for parents of Australians came into effect on the 24th November.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/whats-new.htm

It comes under the Tourist Visa subclass 676

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/676/

Parents of Australian permanent residents or Australian citizens (must apply from outside Australia):

• Parents in the subclass 103 visa queue - up to 5 years validity, allowing stays of up to 12 months on each entry
  
• Not in Parent Visa queue - Tourist visa of up to 3 years validity, allowing stays of up to 12 months on each entry..
  

There are requirements including:

• health insurance to cover healthcare costs during the stay
  
• Parents granted Tourist visas are expected to maintain extended periods of absence between visits to Australia. They are not expected to stay in Australia for more than 12 months in any 18 month period.
  

Tee

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A link for the new Parent Tourist Visas (discussed above - not yet released - I understand it may be soon?)

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/whats-new.htm

Im assuming you wouldn't be able to work on this visa same as normal holiday visas?

 

Just on another note I wrote to my MP not like me but really annoyed about the fact if you emigrate to a foreign country your pension goes up with inflation. I eventually got a reply yesterday to say she has brought it to the attention of the MP for work and pensions and will get in touch when she has a reply. I'll keep you all posted when I hear but don't hold your breaths :swoon:

 

In the meantime Neuro Surgeon appointment for me Monday 9.15 and biopsy for hubby Monday 3.45

 

Phoebe

Good luck for your hubby's biopsy

The details for the visa are not out yet - but from what has been said it is going to be a tourist visa therefore I would expect holders would not be allowed to work (the actual conditions will be available when it is announced).

Also although it will be valid for 3-5 years with periods of stay up to 12 months at a time, it is also worth considering that this probably means you would be expected to leave for a reasonable period of time after a 12 month stay, to show you are a genuine tourist, rather than just pop over to NZ for a day or two?

It will be interesting to see the actual policy that goes with this visa as well as the regulations.

Hi Jane

This came out on the 4th Sept - I have not seen any further announcement yet

04 September 2012 Longer Tourist visas for parents of Australians - expected towards the end of 2012.

Towards the end of 2012, parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents will be able to apply for Tourist visas to visit Australia for longer. Under this arrangement recently announced by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, the department will consider granting on a case-by-case basis:

• Tourist visas of up to five years' validity which provide a stay of up to 12 months on each entry to those parents who are outside Australia and are in the Parent (subclass 103) visa queue
• Tourist visas of up to three years' validity with 12 months' stay on each entry will be considered for parents who are outside Australia and are not in the Parent visa queue.
  
  

We have proudly become Aussie Citizens this year in July and we are now looking at bringing over my parents - dad, aged 83 and mom, aged 79. I am the only child and flying back and forth to South Africa yearly is costly not to mention the worry of being so far away and them not having any support close to them. I have a very supportive and wonderful husband who has suggested we bring them over and convert our one double garage for them into a large bedroom/kitchenette with an en suite. They have never flown over to visit us as they are financially dependent on us - South African pensions are not enough for them to survive on. We would need to take care of them here financially - I believe the non Contributory parent visa (offshore) is the way to go. Does anyone know the costs involved with this? costs of medicals etc as well ? I would need to bare all these costs so really need to look to see if it is something we can take on and afford, especially having a son in high school and a part time job! :-) any advise would be really appreciated. Thanks ever so much all :-):smile:

Hi IslandDreams Congrats on the citizenship.

As mentioned by other posters the offshore non-contributory parent visa can take 15 years - but this is the cheaper option.

Given your parents are over 65 there is an onshore non-contributory aged-parent visa option - which several people have mentioned.

However, if your parents are on South African passports it is likely that they will be given a "no further stay" condition on their visa should they travel to Australia on holiday. If the no further stay condition is placed on their visas it would prevent them from being able to applying for this visa onshore unless the condition was removed.

The Charges are here http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/parent.htm it does not make happy reading.

See also Westly's post on your other thread.

There is a new Parent Tourist Visa to be announced later this year - not what you are after but potentially of use to some.

"Expected towards the end of 2012 Parents of Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents will be eligible to apply for an extended Tourist visa of up to 5 years providing stays of up to 12 months for each visit."