vickyplum

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.

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.

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?

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).

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.

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: 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).

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.

@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.

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.