Lizzywills

Hi all My in-laws are planning to join us ASAP. We have been looking at both Contributory Aged and Non Contributory Aged routes. They are aged 70 and 71. We thought we were pretty set on Contributory, but having looked at it again, we're not sure! As far as we know (and please set me straight if any of this is wrong) on the Non Contributory they get: - Bridging visa whilst waiting for grant (which we know will never happen, so they effectively spend their life on bridging visa) - They get reciprocal healthcare via UK agreement with Oz whilst on bridging visa - including access to PBS (although prescriptions not as cheap as if they were residents and not 'visitors' on a Bridging visa) - Cost is much much less than Contributory! It's only the certainty that appeals for Contributory. They wouldn't even get Medicare and full PBS until 2 years after grant, so given waiting list for Contributory they'd be looking at 5-6 years of paying anyway. What are everyone's thoughts? Anyone been through this?? Contributory would use up a massive amount of the money they do have. Thanks guys, any advice appreciated as we're going round in circles.

Thanks for your response! Yes, we know that they can't travel out once the bridging visa kicks in. Hopefully the processing times won't be too long by the time we apply but thanks for the heads up. Really useful info.

We will have been here 2 years by June 2017, when we plan to apply for a Contributory Parent Visa for my in laws. The question is, can they come and live with us here whilst they wait for it to be processed? They do fall under the 'Aged' category. I believe it's possible (technically) for them to come out on subclass 651 (3 month) tourist visa to visit us (which they have done regularly, it also doesn't have a no further stay as a condition), and then 'decide' to stay permanently? So applying onshore for an 864 Contributory Aged when they are here....which means bridging visa whilst they wait for processing? However, I'm mindful of the rules/purpose of the visitor visa in terms of it being to visit us/holiday. Which they would be doing anyway. And also, is the 3 month 651 the best option? Would a bridging visa come through in time if they 'decided to stay?' I'd welcome any advice.

Hi everyone We are planning to emigrate to Sydney in 2015, unsure about taking our cat with us. She will be roughly 16 when we go...in good health. Has anyone got experience of taking a cat this old on such a journey? Are there also any restrictions in NSW regarding cat curfews? Any advice/stories appreciated....thanks all in advance

Based in Warrington, Cheshire - we used an agent in Sydney (George Lombard) and occupation we are emigrating under is Accountant (General)

Visa grant today! Timeline on signature below

We got a case officer on 6 June! I'll update my timeline.

We got our visa grant today!!! Email this morning from our agent, then a personal call from our agent George to congratulate us all the way from Sydney. We are so thrilled, it's like winning the lottery!! Good luck to all those waiting.

Don't worry about CSE and O Levels - they wouldn't be concerned with these as these qualifications aren't something they'll be familiar with. It's only high level education they will be concerned about apparently!

Ah I have absolute faith in our agent, I'm not concerned! He will sort it with the CO. Hopefully we will hear good news soon - congrats to you Drpob!!!

Email from our agent this morning - we have a case officer Team 02, GSM Adelaide.... ...Who promptly requested evidence of hubby's educational qualifications - ie. his ACCA. Which has already been provided and uploaded (ACCA/FCCA certificates, full transcripts). I think we have been allocated a case officer who has never dealt with an ACCA-qualified accountant from the UK before! Our agent is going to explain what all the info is that we have provided - he said as ACCA isn't a university degree that's prob where the confusion has come from. They also requested our Form 80s (again already uploaded by agent) and 'evidence of health' - our medicals were completed 22.5.14 so will be uploaded already. I wonder if it's common that they ask for things they already have...!! At least we have progress

Wow that's quick! Congrats doudoustlu!!

Hi all So I asked our agent for a progress update today - they said they've not heard anything about us being allocated a case officer, and that apparently there is a backlog of skilled migration visas as they come up to financial year end (??) so it may be a few weeks?!! Bit weird considering that folk in the May 189 thread appear to have case officers already....I am thinking that we must have too. I hope so!

Hi guys I'm not officially 'May' gang as we lodged on 10 April...but my agent said today that they'd not heard anything about us getting a case officer...and that there's a backlog of skilled visa applications as they come up to financial year end..!! Whether they just can't tell if we have got a case officer or not I don't know. But everything is loaded now, we did our medicals last week which was the final thing, so we are just waiting on news of a grant or any news really that things are progressing. Good to see that some of you in this group have case officers, it gives me hope that we have too perhaps! Good luck everyone.

Hi Ashftc Yes, as Alan says full ACCA membership is the equivalent of a Bachelor's Degree. ACCA alone was enough in its own right, without a degree, we had a positive skills assessment from the CPAA. Just make sure that if you have any exemptions in terms of the ACCA papers you have sat, that you get proof of passing those. My hubby had done some parts years before with CIMA and so was exempt when he sat ACCA, we had to then get an exam transcript from CIMA as well as ACCA.

We had our medicals today, it was good fun actually!! Dr Million said we'd hear over the weekend if anything untoward was found, otherwise they'd be uploaded ASAP. Hubby's will be referred cos of existing medical condition, but he said that shouldn't delay things by more than a week. Hopefully we all hear good news soon!

I have flown to Sydney with Etihad from Mcr, they were brilliant. They have Flying Nannies now (didn't have these when I flew with them) to help with the kids, they have special kids meals in animal boxes (my daughter had a pear mouse with a chocolate tail etc, it was brilliant!)...we are flying with them again in Dec. Highly recommend them.

Yes, some ppl who front load only hear something when they get their visa grant! So likely we all have CO's by now and they're just cracking on with it. We may only hear from them if there's something outstanding (or in our case not at all, they will liaise with our agent in Sydney!) Wish every one of you in the April gang swift success

By 22/5/14 I mean that is when the medicals are booked for...and by 'all documents uploaded' I mean all the other things like Form 80 etc. The medicals are the only thing outstanding I will change my signature so it is not confusing....

Yes!! We are planning to see Dr Million at Bridgewater, I've heard they're really nice there, hope so as we have a 2 year old, a 6 year old and a 9 year old....thanks for the reassurance....wow great news about your CO, so it looks like things are definitely on now! Oo-er..!!!

Thanks! Our agent hasn't advised we have a CO yet, apparently tho the CO's have 2 weeks to let you know they have started on your case, so we could have one...just not know yet. We also sent through Form 80 to our agent this morning. So it's just medicals now. Good luck to you too Alonsd (ps you are only down the road in St Helens - we're in Warrington LOL! This forum is a small world...!!)

We submitted our application 10 April. Specialist report currently being drafted for existing medical condition - booking medicals in the next week or so. Good luck everyone!

Yes thanks wrussell we have the 'plan' of what the report will need to contain..we are now awaiting a reply from an ophthalmologist our optometrist knows to see if she can see us (hopefully outside of dreaded NHS waiting lists - willing to pay to go private!). The issue is that optometrists are not 'qualified' to comment on prognosis...even though ours will have a very good idea of where it's heading and can comment authoritatively. MOC may simply not accept it because of the difference between optometrist and ophthalmologist training.

Thanks both that's really useful guidance. I've asked our agent if he can get any further clarification. The condition was actually diagnosed by hubby's optometrist, it was then confirmed by Manchester Eye Hospital who basically said 'no cure, no treatment...just keep monitoring it via your optometrist'. Ps calNgary...we are from Bury too!!

Hi all So we need to take a letter with us to our medicals outlining my hubby's eye condition, prognosis etc. The issue is that since diagnosis he's always been under the care of an optometrist. Not an opthalmologist (eye specialist). Our optometrist has all the equipment including very latest technology, and has done all the necessary visual testing every year, for the past 14 years. He knows my hubby's history and progression of his condition inside out. But I'm not sure whether MOC will accept his opinion given that he's not an 'ophthalmologist'. We are at the moment trying to clarify with our Panel Drs in Manchester whether his opinion is enough, but has anyone any experiences personally? It's so frustrating. We could try and find a private ophthalmologist but they'll literally be looking at his latest tests and forming an opinion, it won't be anywhere near as informed as that of our optometrist. Any guidance much appreciated, Thanks all in advance for keeping me sane on this....