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surfersj

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  1. surfersj
    How true . Thought it was a two year wait when we applied but took four years and seemed like an eternity. However now we are here enjoying the lifestyle and climate but more important being near the grandchildren. Glad we applied when we did. Was going to hold off but now seeing the current wait time we are so lucky.
  2. surfersj
    I have worked for almost 50 years in the UK paying NI and retired to Australia and you think it’s fine that I don’t ever get an annual increase but it’s ok for retirees going to Spain or the USA
  3. surfersj
    Only looking for the same annual increase in the state pension that I have earned just as someone retiring in Florida or Spain would get
  4. surfersj
    Thank you Skani. Are you aware of the "work bonus" and how this may affect the calculation?
  5. surfersj
    We are more than 8 years away from this even being relevant for us! But in the meantime having looked further on Centrelink website and other internet sources it looks like two separate calculations are done - one for income and one for assets - and the one that gives the lowest result (least pension) is the one that is used. For assets, the home that you live in is not included. Your car and other possessions are included but at a value much below market value. And, more for Aussies, your Superannuation value is included. So unless you are a millionaire or have a property portfolio etc for most UK expats it would likely be the income test that is used to calculate entitlement. For savings, Centrelink will calculate income from interest earned together with UK state pension and any private pension income before arriving at a figure. From what I can see, the maximum age pension for a couple is $37,000 but you would only receive the maximum if your income as a couple was below $8,200 per year. So, effectively you will get nowhere near this amount as a couple on the UK state pension earn about $30,000 plus potentially a private pension. The income level whereby you are entitled to zero age pension is $82,000 for a couple. I am not totally clear how they calculate your entitlement when earnings amounts between the lower and upper limits of $8200 and $82000 The above is my own interpretation and as usual, need to do your own research or get professional advice to be sure.
  6. surfersj
    We are a married retired couple from Scotland who migrated to Queensland on a CPV 18 months ago. Much as we knew the situation about our UK state pensions being frozen I think this is a disgrace - because we moved to Australia and not for example Spain or Florida where we would benefit from annual pension increases. More so having contributed to NI for 47 years. However I guess rules are rules! I have read on this forum that we are entitled to the Australian age pension after 10 years of permanent residency but subject to income and assets assessment. Can this really be true?? Why should Australia help us out when our UK government cannot? In a reverse situation would the UK government consider giving an Australian expat living in the UK, a pension in retirement?
  7. surfersj
    Congratulations!
  8. surfersj
    The only slightly stressful part was the medicals or waiting on the outcome - we both have underlying medical conditions but everything obviously turned out fine.
  9. surfersj
    We applied July 2015 Actually received the request for the 2nd VAC May 2019 when we were in Brisbane on vacation. Will never forget that moment reading the email in the presence of our daughter and letting her know that our visas were being granted. We paid the balance, sold our house and moved to Brisbane October 2019 During the 4 year wait we had to update OZ immigration on various changes - new passports, family bereavements etc but found everything we had to do fairly straightforward thankfully.
  10. surfersj
    We found the forms straightforward and decided to do them ourselves. Visa granted July 2019 with no issues, so in our experience, go it alone and save on the agent fees
  11. surfersj
    Great news yesterday - our CPV143 now granted!! Original application 23rd July 2015. Additional documents requested December 2018 and submitted January. Our visa application was accepted 10th May pending payment of 2nd VAC. Paid 2nd VAC on 3rd June and visa granted 5th June.
  12. surfersj
    Thank you Ken, that was very helpful.
  13. surfersj
    I am aware that when moving from the UK to Australia my final UK tax obligation for that year allows me to earn the full tax free personal allowance of £12,500 Even in a situation where I am potentially leaving the UK a few months into the tax year. However can anyone clarify if the same situation applies to the higher rate threshold of £50,000 i.e. am I allowed to earn up to this amount at the 20% tax rate before the 40% tax rate kick in. So, theoretically, I could leave the UK for OZ at the end of June and would be able to maximise my earnings for this 3 months and be allowed to earn £50,000 before the 40% tax rate kicks in?
  14. surfersj
    Does anyone have any experience or recommendations on using GM Tax for tax planning advice for a new (retired) migrant arriving in OZ on a parental visa. I am looking for information and help with tax planning including affect of the UK/OZ double taxation treaty implications on my tax liability.
  15. surfersj
    Fantastic news today! 2nd vac request received today! Lodgement date 24th july 2015 and request for info - medicals, AOSB and police checks and form 80 received mid december 2018 All details submitted to immigation mid January 2019
  16. surfersj

    Nothing at all yet from immigration.  We originally received an email on 19th December with the request for more information.  We were given 70 days to reply but if this involved using a 3rd party the 70 days could be extended if you provided evidence that you have requested information from a 3rd party.  In our case extension wasn't necessary as the Police Certificates and Medicals were all carried out within a few weeks of when we arranged them.  We posted all requested information on 23rd January and received email confirmation of receipt from immigration on 5th February.  Now the waiting goes on!!   I have read some speculation that July 2015 applicants may hear nothing else until after the end of the OZ tax year on the basis that perhaps the 2018/2019 cap has been reached.   This may be correct but I believe in the past few years immigration has only granted about 6,000 placed out of the 7,100 cap  If this were the case then we still have some hope of hearing something before end June.   Would be good to know how many parental visas had been granted at any given point in time in the financial year!    

    1. Bear2015

      Bear2015

      Thanks Surfersj for the details. I sent my parents documents on the 25th of March but only received the auto email. I hope they send a seperate confirmation that they have received the docs. I’m assuming you are also a 173 applicant. Hope  you here some good news soon. 

      Take care,

      Judy from Perth.

  17. surfersj
    The exact same thing happened to my wife. The health clinic that carried out the medical suggested that she contact her GP to mention the X-ray result. Subsequently referred to a Respiratory Consultant who arranged for a CT chest scan which led to getting the all clear. Like you it was a worrying 4 weeks!
  18. surfersj
    I believe right now that there probably are parents being forced back to the UK - but because the UK government have frozen their pensions! Also, I think that there was a change recently about OZ pension entitlement involving having to have worked in OZ for 5 years - meaning a 15 year wait before being entitled. I for one will not be draining their finances on that one!
  19. surfersj
    I think us parents are just reflecting how frustrated we are feeling about the whole process. When we first applied July 2015 what we thought was a 2 year wait has become 4 years. Reports like this albeit I understand the sentiment just get you riled a bit. Saying things like we will be paying no tax are not correct as it depends upon individual circumstances. I would also say that we will be contributing in a meaningful way to the economy, as well as providing support with grandchildren to help our sons/daughters/in-laws careers to flourish!
  20. surfersj
    Well said jimbob007
  21. surfersj
    Can anyone who had an offshore CPV 143 visa application and private medicals carried out in the UK who has had their visa granted - and therefore passed their medicals - please indicate what feedback they received to that effect and also, how long they waited to hear something? I would ask this question also of anyone who encountered any health issues that were communicated back from immigration. We had our medicals done on 15th January and thereafter transmitted to immigration electronically by the health clinic. We both have existing health conditions which I don't believe to be serious and detrimental to our application, but we are anxious to know how long we can expect to wait to hear something back, good bad or indifferent! Is this process as long and drawn out as the Assurance of Support Bond process or should we hear something back fairly soon?
  22. surfersj
    Can anyone who had an offshore CPV 143 visa application and private medicals carried out in the UK who has had their visa granted - and therefore passed their medicals - please indicate what feedback they received to that effect and also, how long they waited to hear something? I would ask this question also of anyone who encountered any health issues that were communicated back from immigration. We had our medicals done on 15th January and thereafter transmitted to immigration electronically by the health clinic. We both have existing health conditions which I don't believe to be serious and detrimental to our application, but we are anxious to know how long we can expect to wait to hear something back, good bad or indifferent! Is this process as long and drawn out as the Assurance of Support Bond process or should we hear something back fairly soon?
  23. surfersj
    We made a paper application for a 143 visa back in July 2015 and were advised that form 80, passport page and police certificates had to be submitted as hard copy paper submissions and we were not allowed to send them via email. So, we sent them Royal Mail International Tracked which took 2 weeks. We sent certified copies of the police certificates and passport photo pages as the invitation documents that we received asked for this - so didn't want to risk incurring delays.
  24. surfersj
    COULD ANY OFFSHORE PARENTS WHO HAVE RECENTLY AND SUCCESSFULLY GONE THROUGH THE VISA GRANTING PROCESS PLEASE PROVIDE AN INDICATION OF HOW LONG THEY WAITED TO GET FEEDBACK ON THE PRIVATE MEDICAL THAT THEY HAD TO SUBMIT? WE UNDERWENT OUR MEDICALS ON 15TH JANUARY AND WE ARE NATURALLY CURIOUS AS TO WHEN WE SHOULD EXPECT TO HERE SOMETHING.
  25. surfersj
    We had our medicals yesterday. We are both over age 65 Included was Chest XRay, Blood sample, Urine sample, blood pressure, eye test, ear inspection, mouth inspection, general physical examination incorporating sounding of chest and lungs, checking reflexes, balance, flexibility and questionnaire and discussion of medical history - pre-existing health conditions, medication, hospital admissions. Height and weight. It may have gone to 56 months for more recent applications, but as far as I am aware, not as far back as July 2015 applicants. I think applicants from around this time frame were expecting a processing time of about 40 months - well I certainly was!
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