vickyplum

On 18/12/2019 at 14:11, Chiwy said:

I read that we will not be eligible for Medicare despite the new 491 as our visa will still reflect as 489 . We are planning to move with our dog and am trying to look for apartment that allows small dog. 

Hi @Chiwy, having a dog in apartment will depend on the body corporate (strata). I live in a new-ish apartment block, and there are two dogs here (one chihuahua and one other type I don't recognise - small-medium size). I think my lease indicates 'small pets' may be permitted with prior consent, or words to that effect.  There is also a small-medium terrier type dog who lives in the apartment block next to us. One of these dogs I mention is on the ground floor with a small garden but the other two only have balconies as outside space.

Use the council that matches the residential address you've put on the application.

Yes it's a passport photo. The post office should be able to confirm it will meet your requirements.

4 hours ago, Sigemup said:

Hi guys

Is there any particular place where I can get the photo as per the specifications for the form 1195 ? 

Such as some store that I can go and say I need to take photo for form 1195 - and they would know exactly the specifications of this. 

How did you ensure that your photo was as per the specified dimensions and other aspects for the form 1195 ? What did you ask or say ? 
Did you take the specification format description to the store and show them ? 

Thank you 

I had my photo taken at the post office (same format as passport photo).  If you feel reassured, take the dimensions of the required photo with you and ask them to confirm they will take a photo of that size. 

8 hours ago, Silver_Swan said:

Haha, yes we've been looking - we've found some places within the correct price range (mostly to the south though) and to be honest its the same price as we pay at home, so not too much of a surprise. 

The biggest issue is trying to understand which area will have the nicest "vibe" for us...!

Are you in Aus or the UK at the moment?

Very hard to analyse "vibe" without checking out various areas first. Are you looking to secure a rental immediately or you have hotel/holiday accommodation to  start with?

10 hours ago, Silver_Swan said:

Hello,

We're currently doing some research and trying to narrow down our choice of suburbs for house searching, and would love some input!

We are a professional couple in our late 30's, no kids, pretty outdoorsy - like cycling, diving, surfing, climbing, walking etc, but equally enjoy a nice glass of wine.

Our dream property would tick all the following boxes (and I realise we'll likely have to compromise on some!)

1. Nice area which has a bit of life to it - a couple of nice places to eat and drink would be ideal
2. Within 30 minutes drive of a surf beach
3. Modern property 
4. Minimum 3 bedrooms, 4 preferred
5. Garage (for storage) and parking for two
6. Within one hour (by car or train) to work (my husband will be working right next to North Sydney Station, I work in financial services - so I expect to be near central Sydney somewhere, my husband will also be flying fairly regularly)
7. A decent sized outdoor space - we want to be able to have a barbie! 
8. Under $800/week. Could stretch to $1000 if we really had to

Which suburbs will tick the most of our boxes?!

 

Hi, lots of suburbs will work for you! 

Anywhere on the North Shore (look on map from Milson's Point up to Hornsby and East/West to Mosman, Balmoral Beach, Neutral Bay, Greenwich, ) - close to work for your husband, won't be much further to the CIty for you to commute and airport not too bad either (1hr-ish on train depending on exact location and connection speed!).  Around 30 mins drive to Northern Beaches for surfing.

Northern Beaches. Ticks all boxes but will be longer for the airport and no trains, only buses to North Sydney and the City.

Somewhere like Caringbah or Cronulla. Makes North Sydney into a longer journey (change trains at Redfern / Central / Town Hall) but close to beaches and airport. Plenty of cafe life.

The  only issue I see for you, is getting a 3-bed for $800pw or less (with plentiful parking and outdoor space). Check Domain.com.au or realestate.com.au for prices/slap in the face (I say this lightheartedly!)

EDIT: there are of course plenty of other places that you can look into that would match your criteria:  Eastern Suburbs (Bondi, other beach suburbs, Paddington, Alexandria) or Inner West (Balmain, Rozelle, Newtown, Marrickville etc). 

42 minutes ago, t2529 said:

Can I double check, is it necessary to have the original birth certificate for the citizenship interview?

I won't be able to apply for two years, but won't be going home too often and wouldn't want to have my birth certificate shipped by mail.

You can order a certified copy from the General Register Office (GRO). I used this for my visa application(s) and citizenship application. Can't remember the cost but wasn't much in GBP. 

Don't think I've ever had a problem with it:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/what-does-it-mean

@Lauraloz to be honest I can't remember! I let my partner deal with most of it, and it was four years ago now. I suspect if Seven Seas offered insurance as part of the deal, we would have taken that. I certainly don't remember trying to find our own provider.  Will see if I can dig out some info. 

Tallawong :)

Haven't tried the metro yet, but I have no cause to be heading in that direction for anything in particular. Will probably use it for Macquarie Centre at some point!  A lot of my colleagues are now using it, when before then had to come 'the long way' on the train or do a double shuffle on the buses. Certainly seems to be very popular whenever I am passing through Chatswood station!

Looks like it's part of the immi portal - see discussion on another forum below:

https://www.australiaforum.com/visas-immigration/286311-form-40sp-online-version.html

I applied via the post, so printed out the form, but perhaps given it's an inbuilt part of the online process, it's no longer a standalone form.

Weird!  Are you applying online?  Usually there are helpful links in the portal somewhere. I just looked on the Dept of Home Affairs form library, and there's nothing there either... 

using google it's here:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/40.pdf

My understanding is that this isn't negotiable.  The  enter by / initial entry date, is based on when your police/health checks etc, expire. 

Google 'initial entry date Australia visa' or 'extend australia visa entry date'.

You can always enter and leave again - or go on a short holiday. It's an expensive way to do it, but your first entry doesn't have to be to live there. 

10 hours ago, Darley Dale said:

Hi Vickyplum….. yes unfortunately if you have only just applied the road is long and the waiting frustrating.... but there is a light at the end of the tunnel as they say.... I have been waiting now 15 months and 1 day... each day counts... all the best....you may be one of the lucky ones that gets through sooner rather than later...Richard

Thanks, appreciate it! 

We used Seven Seas - medium move cube - London to NSW. Can't say I loved their service, but nothing was damaged on arrival.  Note we did our own packing and boxing up. 

Hi All, just checking in on this discussion. I applied only this week (18 June 2019), so clearly nothing will pop up for a long time yet!! 

Don't worry, it's a fairly standard check. I was concerned about mine, and apart from the trying to pee in bottle part, it was fine!

That's a funny one - the form says:

Quote

This form must be completed for each member of the family unit aged 18 years or over whether migrating or not. If there is insufficient space to answer, provide details under ‘Additional information’ at the end of this form.

So I would assume all of your children who are aged 18+ have to complete the form regardless if they are migrating or not? 

No!  They are not checking if you're got a cold or not... They will weigh you, take blood pressure, measure height, do a chest x-ray,  check eyes/ears, breathing etc (I can't remember every step). 

1 hour ago, Garry-88 said:

Hi, do i need to fill form 1195(identity declaration) to apply for citizenship?

Is it a requirement  to get that form signed from an Australian citizen working in one of the 38 listed occupations in the form and should have known the applicant for at least one year?

I don’t know anyone working in the occupations listed from 1year. What should i do?

Yes you do need to complete the form and have it signed by one of the listed occupations. Your GP or dentist can do it, if you have been visiting them for 1yr+

(2)  you ask them. Or they can show their passport. 

(3) again, the form clearly states the person must know you for at least 1 year. Applying from inside or outside of Australia, the person must have known you for at least 1 year and be in the list of specific occupations

If you actually read page 1 of the form, it will answer your questions.

It's very clear on the form, that the person must have known you for at least one year.

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/1195.pdf

The information you need is on the form, if you take the time to read it. 

51 minutes ago, Shingekinokyogin said:

@vickyplum yes ur right.. 

Unfortunately i don't know most of the people in those specific occupations personally. So was looking for clarification from some of u who have applied for citizenship? Well i don't go to GP too much so don't have a personal GP or something like that.. Who can give me that reference letter 

@Shingekinokyogin, I asked my dentist to sign the form - as I see her every 12 months, she has known me for at least 1 year. She doesn't know me well but knows that I am who I say I am,  has personal records about me, etc. 

1 hour ago, Sigemup said:

Hi Guys,

I am also looking to get the details of the citizenship application and this topic helped to get to know one of the steps in the process. I have some questions on this step. Could you please let me know:

1. Could you please let me know if a Cardiologist or a Urologist can sign this letter ? And how about a dentist ?

2. Where could I get a list of people who can sign this letter ? 

3. What does know personally mean ? Because usually GPs are not known personally but on general visits correct ? Can someone who we visit such as a Tax consultant or a Bank manager sign it and Would they sign it ? 

4. Is this letter like a standard form or do we have to create this letter and get it signed ? If it is a standard form, could you please give a copy of the letter ? 

Thank you

You need to look for identity declaration form 1195. The list of people who can sign, is contained within the form itself.

The form is also linked from the online citizenship application portal.