audre

Hello helpful people

Simple inquiry here: I have PR (got it last January 2014) and plan to leave Australia soon for a period of 2 years and then return! I plan to visit Australia in these 2 years as well. Will I need a Return Resident visa to re-enter once I move overseas or do I have 5 years of coming and going on this current visa (regardless of how long I might be away)?

So to put it more simply: when is this RRV visa needed? Is it when the 5 years of PR expires?

Cheers!

Hi all

Another tax question: how does an Australian citizen who lived and worked in the UK for a couple of years, but is now back in Oz (with an Aussie address) claim their tax back? Are we looking at a long international phone call to the tax office? Anyone else done it?

Thanks so much!

Hi Poms! Greetings from NSW, where I have been loving life since January!

I have a rather silly question but I am certain you have been in the same boat. I have closed my UK bank accounts and moved to Oz in Jan. However, I received a cheque for a repayment of income tax to my old UK address. Now, can I cash that check in here in Oz, in an Oz bank? (The cheque has my old UK address on it). ...thanks all! :unsure:

thanks so much for all the responses and the debate. very sorry for people who have had bad experiences:/

of course, when i wrote free in britain, i did mean we pay for it through our taxes. but then again - why not. we all contribute to making a better society for all, not just for those who can afford it. no one should have to buy basic human rights like healthcare. if we are made to pay for healthcare out of our own pockets rather than supporting it through taxation, then only the rich and privileged will receive the treatment they need. i think the huge waiting lists in Oz reflect this aspect: not everyone can afford to dish out 5000 dollars - or even a flight to thailand as someone mentioned (through this seems to happen if we are to believe current affair).

and if my taxes help accessible healthcare for you, me and anyone who needs it regardless of social status, i am happy to contribute my share.

Hi all

let me see if i get this right: in britain, we have the NHS. free healtcare, or very low costs for most things (e.g. dental).

in Australia, we pay for most of the medical costs (those refunds wont go far).

AND we have been told some doctors bulk bill and some dont? and this entirely depends on them but most dont bulk bill? whats the deal with that?

so if your kid needs braces, will this cost like thousands of dollars? also, if you want to have a wisdom tooth removed, this also costs a thousand dollars? i know dental care is also paid in the UK but when im told teeth cleaning costs 200 dollars in Oz, i cant help but cringe.

what are your experiences? we are a young couple so never had any medical issues and have lived in britain, but im thinking of the future, kids etc...

i find myself missing NHS...:arghh:

hi lovely PIO people, i got my amazing grant, right around the 8 month mark:) I wish all of you May applicants speedy grants - you are next in line!

i just want to thank everyone for their support and updates, it has really meant a lot during this waiting time.

also many thanks for the advice offered and generally great community feel.

best of luck to all and many happy beginnings!

cheers! :yes:

BizLarker! Yess im definetly up for that :-) i cant wait...will feel like ice won the lottery ha! Aww i really do hope yours comes early Jan...all these flights are mad!

I think Audre is a May applicant too. it lools like Thailand is a good place to get a quick grand...5and a half months is super lucky!

hi all - yes, I applied first week of May so hopefully not too long now! nearing that 8 month mark :arghh:

Visa granted today!! May2nd applicant .. Merry Xmas to all and good luck to everyone waiting!!!!

whee! anther happy day! congrats!

do you guys reckon there could be more grants before new years or do we just expect January?

cheers and happy holidays all! :biggrin:

If it's been signed for, consider it application lodged they don't contact you to tell you they've received it. The application was sent registered post and signed for on delivery is your proof. The countdown clock is already ticking.

 

A CO will contact you in due course. For some this is a week after the application is received, for others it can be 2-3 weeks. I'd try not to worry as it's a funny time of year with Christmas and new year break, things tend to slow down a bit.

 

Has the application fee been taken yet?

agree with above! not to worry - the clock starts ticking from the moment they receive it (at least it did for me, although i heard from an actual co a couple of weeks later)

I have got it!!! I've finally got the email through today granting me my visa - a week shy of 8 months. Happy Christmas to me!

weeee!!! big congrats cheese!! enjoy your holidays and thanks for letting us know:)

:ssign19:

Yeeeeeay Congratulations!!! awesome awesome news. I'm a may applicant and hoping for a January grant!!!!

Who is your CO?

Keeping the faith

big congrats! and thanks for updating, enjoying the supportive circle we have here:) such a long wait!!

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!

that is fantastic! i wasn't given a date at all:( will call or email in January to ask (meaning: hassle) (8 month mark) if no grant until then... my flight is also booked for Jan ..i applied a few days before you!

best of luck! :cute:

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?

yes, you need to tell them of any address change. we changed our address during this process and i just emailed my CO to tell them.

xx

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!!!!

SUCH great news!! congrats!

Just wondering, does anyone know if Immigration directly contact the people that complete your 888 statutory declaration before they issue the visa?

 

I know that they have not contacted mine (not yet anyway). I thought that if they did make contact it might be an indicator of how the application is progressing.

i dont think they contact them unless there is a particular reason for it or a problem, but more experienced PIOs might know this one.

Hi All, I am not sure if this is the correct thread to ask this but here goes, hope you may be able to help. There are many of us that are waiting for our visa's to be granted, I used an agent and she has always told me that it would take 8-9 months for a decision to be made as to whether or not I will get the visa. My question is, I have done everything necessary and been waiting to hear if I have been successful. Is it a givens that because I have been waiting for 7 months I am pretty much guaranteed to have my visa granted or is there still a chance that I may be refused the visa? I have been told that there are no guarantees but if you were not going to get the visa I would have heard by now, or is it a case of I have done all they asked but my application is in a pile waiting to be checked and a final decision made?

 

I am interested to hear thoughts on this, thanks

 

Becky

i was wondering the same thing but I reckon they would have told me if something was wrong by now! so i am hopeful:)

So after my 7 month wait for my visa and over 4 years together with my partner we managed to break up a month before I was due to leave for Aus. Oops

oh dear! breaking up is very depressing, not to mention when the visa concerns and waiting to move get involved. sorry james!

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.

*

got that too... i'm not surprised people inquired, it was a rather confusing survey to receive :twitcy:

Yes does feel like that, I just want the grant

same here guys! got the email, few days shy of 7 months processing... :arghh:

agreed with above. in our case, PIO was the agent! we did it ourselves, preparing docs over the course of 2 months, by reading through the migration booklet and just about every PIO post and question on the topic.

and at times, even agents contribute to the forum, which is fantastic.

but in complicated circumstances, I see how an agent would be very useful (provided that one can afford one).

Congrats, that's super news! Man, I hope mine's next...

congrats to Chany!! do keep us posted everyone - fingers crossed for the other april applicants! xx

From what I can gather from reading on here, they seem to have changed their procedures a bit since we applied back in the olden days - way back in April. Folk that applied after us seem to have got sent off for their health checks after a short time, rather than wait a few months like I did and they're getting more feedback about which one they're getting. I didn't get told anything either, although I assume I'll get the 309 as I only went over the 3 years living together mark just after I put in my application. Can always hope though!

 

I was convinced that us Aprils would get our visa in November, but we're swiftly running out of days!

maybe people just did the health checks earlier than the 3 months? this rule was set because the meds expire in a year so people have more time to validate the visa as far as i know.

I did not receive any feedback about visa type, but I assume it will be 309.

Is there any point emailing our COs and asking for more info or would we get the standard response?

Mainly I am worried that the xmas holidays will push our grants to January:/

Still waiting! Hit 7 months since application this weekend, so really hoping it 's going to be this week.

Cheese, I submitted about 2 weeks after you, still waiting. Keep us updated:) xx

Hey Guys

Hows everyone doing? Anyone been granted this week?

i wish!!! :arghh:

Hi

 

I'm new to the forum but we sent application early 7th June, co (pw) assigned 14th June, police checks and medicals completed July, had most documents returned July so just been waiting, today I have received an envelope just containing passports photos we sent with application anyone else had this? I thought they'd keep the photos??

if you sent more than they needed, they return them...they returned our photos but we sent family photos, some photos from trips etc. they also returned the police checks (the originals)...