carob
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Everything posted by carob
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Hello Steve, as far as I am aware the Senior's card does not affect the AOS. We use it regularly, and are always asking for senior's discounts; sometimes the card is asked for, but just by looking at us they can tell, haha. Although, when we asked for a senior's discount at the Titantic exhibition for visiting UK friends it was not allowed without them having a card. It also gives free travel on buses and trains plus more things I am sure, if I cared to read the booklet that was sent. hope to see you soon over here ??
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Ooh, this is so true, although I don't remember the 5 ID's required. We were advised by a very helpful lady at the licensing centre, to put off getting our licenses until we had our Seniors Cards, thereby getting 50% off. Maybe we had enough as we had bank accounts already. We have been here a year now, and still get surprises. Of course, some of you will be too young to qualify for the Card! ?? all the best.
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Ooh, I did have to laugh when I read your reference to the A14. It obviously hasn't got easier since we lived just minutes from it! Now been in Perth twelve months. Sorry, realise it is not relevant to the thread but it did amuse me. Xx
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hello. With regard to the Bond, I thought it was $10,000 for the first person, plus an additional $4,000 for the second. Perhaps it has changed since we paid for our AOS at the end of 2014. If your sums are correct it does look to be so much more money than we forked out! All the best!!
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Hi there. I think you will find that everyone will need to complete Form 80. Knowing how long it took me to do our two, I would advise getting to grips with it sooner rather than later. An awful lot of information is needed, and a rough copy will prove very useful, in case you forget what you have been doing for all the years past!! Good luck.
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Summerskybird, I have sent you a private message.
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We have now been here five weeks, and have Medicare cards and the WA Seniors Card (bit like our bus passes, but can be used on all Transperth services, within certain time frames). This card also gives entitlement to many, varied discounts, including something akin to our Winter Fuel Allowance, providing you have registered by the end of May. Let's see if this actually works!! I think you are thinking of the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, this if my correspondence with Centrelink is correct, is not available until two years residency. We waited for our Seniors Card to be issued before applying for Aus driving licences, as you get 50% off the process. We have also set up private health insurance, to avoid the government levy on 'old people'! Going off the point a bit, but we are in the process of finding a rental property in Perth, as we have decided to live it up a little with our house sale proceeds Been a bit of a bumpy ride at times, but we are almost there now, and enjoying the cooler nights! Best of luck to all those still on the treadmill.
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Thanks everyone for your good wishes. Nearly there, phew, what a relief. Carolyn
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Hello to everyone still waiting, also those, who like us are waiting to depart. The packers are here at our rental, container tomorrow. Moving into a hotel for three nights (so we have time to do a spring clean!). Friend's house for two nights, up to Heathrow on Tuesday ready for our flight on Wednesday morning (don't want to risk getting stuck on the M25 'car park'!!). Arrive in Perth on Thursday. Have warned our daughter that she will not be able to see us behind the two moving mountains of luggage All a bit daunting, and we are a tad apprehensive; our last great adventure though. All our best wishes to you all, YOU WILL GET THERE IN THE END . Carolyn
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hello Vava. We are going out on the 143 visa in three weeks time ie we'll be there on March 12th. As these issues are also to be sorted out by us, as soon as I have got my head round things, I'll try to supply a bit more info on what is what. Providing I can make sense of them of course haha. Sorry your house hasn't sold yet. We were very fortunate in this area, but we are still getting rid of stuff, and packing clothes!! best wishes C
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Regarding extra baggage, I'm sure there have been other posts somewhere about this. We applied using the enquiry form on Singspore's site, giving visa details, flight and reference number with date. It has to be an unnvalidated PR visa, which the 143 is. A search can be done on PIO if you put in "extra baggage". We had a couple of emails from them, asking us to get our travel agent to issue another eticket. A couple of conversations ensued with my OH so I am a bit hazy on their content. However, the email does say that the extra will be confirmed at the airport, even though they state that we have got it!! Soo, make of that what you will! Obviously your ticket has to be booked to do this. I don't know about other airlines I'm afraid. Hope this makes some kind of sense, sounds a bit convoluted when I read it back.
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Ooh, you must all be very excited. Yes, understand about the shell shock! We arrive on Perth on 12th March, our 143 was granted about three weeks ago. We have the extra baggage allowance, which apparently will be granted at the airport, although we have email confirmation. The airline required quite a lot of additional info and they phoned us as well. As I said in one of my earlier posts it is akin to arriving at the bottom of a helterskelter. ?? Every good wish to you all.
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Any more news for you Veronique. We leave on March 11th, we have just realised that is only four weeks away. Oh my goodness. Didn't go for a PM this time. Hope you hear very soon.
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yes, we opened an account in London with Westpac last week. Very easy, and we now have had email contact with our account manager in Perth, complete with lots of info. Our debit cards are coming to us here in the UK shortly. We will change the type of account once we are over there next month, as the London office (as that is what it basically is) can only offer certain types. We already have an ANZ account, which my daughter used to pay for our visas etc. I opened this one over the phone with London, they were very helpful. Then we had to validate once we arrived, that process was not so simple. It did work out ok but I thought the person dealing with us in Perth was a bit flaky. Of course with ANZ, being on the older side we don't pay any charges. Which is why we will change the type of account we have with Westpac, after our free year. Hope this makes sense!!
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Thanks everyone for your good wishes. Would anyone like to help us get rid of even more stuff haha!! My OH was an ebay 'Virgin' 18 months ago, not quite sure what he would be called now though haha, as he has sold many thousands of pounds worth!!
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Thank you Margaret. Yes, you are absolutely right, we did get our visas yesterday. So have reached the bottom of the helter-skelter! Yesterday we booked our flights for 11th March, so we are now at the top of the roller coaster haha. ??. Once your final documents are asked for, it all happens very quickly, providing of course you are able to get going. Our daughter sent the final VAC cheque by registered Mail on Tuesday afternoon, so once the money is received it is only a matter of a couple of days, before the grant. We were rather worried that we might fall at the fence of Australia Day, as things tend to close down early on the Friday. Look forward to hearing when you get yours. It does feel very unreal though, I have to say. Lots and lots to still think about. My good wishes to everyone on here. ??
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We guessed that when they ask for the second VAC you would be granted your visa when payment was received by them. So people would probably go th Bali (for example) when they send their payment, and get the grant whilst they are there. Got to get all the ducks in line though if you do this I guess. We haven't had to do it this way though. Best of luck.
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thanks for the information, didn't know there were two cards with similar names, wonder which one I was looking at!! We are well over 65, and won't be working ? and receiving pensions, going out on a 143, so will be permanent residents as soon as we arrive. First job when we get out there is Medicare and ambulance cover haha. We are going to Perth so your info is particularly relevant.
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Hello. I've seen mention on here regarding the Seniors Health Card. Have had a look at what I think is the government site, but am not sure whether you must have been in Australia for ten years before applying for one. They talk about residency; so does that mean there is entitlement to the Card if you are on the 143 cont parent visa, which is for permanent residency. Bit confused, sure someone out there will know the answer.
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Frankly, we are so pleased we sold our house (like another postee within a week or two, yes quite a surprise) and now in a rental. We have just had a removal company visit, and it is so much easier when most of the stuff you don't want to keep has already been disposed of. I found this, long after I have been saying "if we don't go, we will always wonder?" I think it is particularly relevant to a lot of us. So, here it is. I PREFER TO REGRET WHAT I DID DO, rather than what I didn't. Great isn't it? Agree about the possible health improvements as well, my OH can't wait to leave the cold weather behind. All being well we should be out in Perth by this March.
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Thanks Tabitha.
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Thanks gjoe. Hopefully we can go out the end of Feb early March. It will still be hot in Perth in March, as we have found on a previous visit then. Just have to get all the ducks in line now. So in all for the time, as Steve said earlier, about 19 months, which is about par for the course. Carob
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Thanks for the good wishes. We quite like Mandurah, but our daughter would prefer us to be closer to her, Burswood area, so that she can keep an eye on us haha. Still think we will go for Mandurah, as long as I can have something to look at. We are planning to rent and just spend our house money, by living it up a bit . Having said that, we might just end up buying after we get fed up not being able to hang our pictures on the wall!! Anticipating flying out end of Feb/early March, but we will have to see how things pan out, after all, as yet, we have not got our visas. Carob
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Slight feeling of panic today, as the 2nd VAC has been requested. My daughter will be paying it for us (our money though haha) in Perth. Reducing our stuff outstanding on eBay!! Luckily we are already in a rental, having sold our house in September, so no concern there.
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Goodness Cassie, how organised are you then, getting a flight so quickly? Wishing you all the best in your new adventure. Is your heart in your mouth? Mine is a bit, as I am just behind you Well, Vava, we sold our house within a very short time, so guess we have been lucky this time. Unlike previous houses which have taken at least 18 months to sell! Just hang in there. Amanda, as of last year, Immi changed the 'what to do and when' times. We followed more or less what dates they asked us to do the police checks, medicals and AOS, so far is seems to be working ok. Our police checks and passport details were requested by email last week. The medicals are sent direct by the clinic you attend. So the last hurdle is paying the 2nd VAC, money already over in Aus and our daughter will pay it (that is unless she decides to go on a round the world trip with the money haha ). It's very interesting reading the posts on here, particularly when the light is showing at the end of the tunnel!
