Mims

hi Theresa, i I can't help in regard to the quota but I can confirm that it was 6 weeks for me from lodgement,I actually didn't upload medicals until about 3 weeks later so only about 3 weeks from all docs being uploaded to grant notification. fingers are crossed for a quick turnaround for you too!

Congrats!!!

Thanks for the responses. Flights aren't booked yet but we want to get them booked ASAP. Will do some more reading up I think before making the final decision.

Cannot believe the stress that has desended following receipt of our visas on Friday, we were desperate to get it, surprised to get it so quickly and now in panic stations trying to organise everything for a 1st may departure. We are ultimately headed for perth and the dogs will fly a few days after us I think to Melbourne, they are spoilt sausages dogs and I don't think are going to enjoy the experience so our thoughts have always been to collect them from Melbourne and drive to perth, we've driven it before so that doesn't bother us, we just want to save them the trauma of another flight and it will be a holiday for us. We know that whatever vehicle we buy in Melbourne will need converting to a WA rego when we get there, we have converted QLD to SA and SA to WA but VIC to WA is a new scenario to us and from memory I recall people saying that VIC registered vehicles are the worst to own because the rego rules are stricter there or something. we will happily fly to Sydney and buy a NSW registered vehicle instead if we will be better off that way somehow, please do share if you know of any pitfalls we need to be mindful of and if we will be better off buying one rego over another perhaps. we know we will have to go over the Pitts in WA and that there will be a cost involved in that. We could hire a vehicle but that just feels like wasted money when we ultimately need wheels and it will likely become my hubby's work van. thanks in advance for any advice.

Hi Theresa, we we are looking to go ASAP but realistically 1st may ish I think and we are off to Perth but again that doesn't have to be set in stone,we've travelled all states so we will go where work takes us and where feels right =D. youre not too far behind with your dates so fingers crossed you have your visa very soon!

Visa grant received this morning!!!! 6 weeks to the day after applying!!!! So excited but I don't know what to do with myself, we are supposed to be getting ready for work, no ones answering the phone either!!! Can't believe I did it and on my own too. good luck to everyone still waiting and thanks to everyone that's helped us along the way!

Hi Theresa, we lodged 8th Jan. i think our police checks came back within a week or so. Health checks were booked and completed in the same week and results were back a week later. Here' hoping we all get speedy grants like pildav!

Very much feeling bombarded with negative at the moment too Jamie but I've read that it's only a very small percentage of people that the move doesn't work out for,like you say the ones who are living the dream are too busy enjoying themselves to post about it. It's the same with reviews of absolutely anything,there are always many more negative ones than there are positive ones! We aren't yet in a position to post a story, just waiting for a visa, but I will endeavour to add our story when the time comes, hope to read yours also in the future, all the very best!!

I had the same thing, panicked me no end, don't understand why they did it like that

Thanks for the clarification. yeah it is just a pain in arse that its got to be done but it will prove useful to pick up more of the differences I'm sure. Steven worked as a plumber there for 5 months before but it wasn't a very above board company although they did get his worked signed off by a licenced plumber. Fingers crossed for some good plumbing positions!

Will do mikee. We were going to do 190 but before NSW could reply our 189 invite came through so we've gone that route instead. Got to get out heads around getting a plumbers licence the other end as will you need to, think that could be harder than the visa process, I think you have to do a year as a plumbers mate and with college involvement but aside from that I know nothing! Do you know anything about the process at all?

Plumber and plumbers wife (that's me =) ) - visa lodged 8th Jan, everything front loaded, just waiting now, obsessively checking my emails and immi account! Also aiming for June at the latest all being well.

Waited not so patiently by checking my emails 100 times....

Hi Lisa. Google Golden Arrow shippers and give them a call. They are a small company and I've found you get a really personal service, they will write to you with all the costs laid out clear as day. The reason quarantine costs are listed seperately is because you have to pay those direct,not via the shippers. Our two dogs are very small and we are looking at paying £4K max all in if I remember rightly,that's including rabies etc, if you've got big dogs the cost will be more. Good luck!

Booked our medicals, £640 for 2 people =O!!!! Do prices vary or are they all much of a muchness? I wondered whether I should ring one of the other options and compare....

Best to unlock, buy a $2 sim (servos sell them), we had one that gave us 3c a minute calls to the UK. O2 will work but it will be really expensive.

Follow the link in the invitation email you've been sent, log in and press 'Apply Visa'

We got our 189 invitation today! Earlier than expected! :chatterbox: Had a 190 invite 4 weeks ago, filled in the form for that, paid $300 and we are yet to hear so a bit of waste really but thought it would be quicker going that route, seems not, feel more comfortable with a 189 anyway so all good. Whoop, time to apply for a visa! :cool: Good Luck everyone waiting!

Costly business!

Its a long old road isn't it but hopefully it will be worth it =). Hmm yes, I'd love to spend more time in the NT in their winter but last Nov when we were just passing through the humidity was off the scale! Hopefully neither of us will have to bite the bullet,like you we will be uploading every possible bit of info to help counter balance, fingers crossed it works! i haven't read the email properly but I think it said 14 days to apply so I'd best get on it! Our grants may come through at a very similar time too, keep us posted! When do you actually hope to go?

Amazing feeling! it's been a long time coming for us. i know, we are worried too but if you're employer were to outright refuse what can you do? I think my hubby's might. From what I've read the case officer might request more info. I don't think they will outright reject you without giving you the opportunity to fix the problem and if that happens to us then my hubby will just risk losing his job to try and get the signature if that's what has to happen.

Hi Claire, Ditto! We got an invitation from NSW today too =D! we are in a similar situation, we are relying on a reference from a colleague rather than hubby's boss, we got through the skills assessment this way, I would think the former manager refs would suffice but once you get issued a case officer perhaps it will come up then and you can explain the problem, we are clearly not the first or the last to be in this situation and I would hope there is a level of understanding but I guess only time will tell! it was so unexpected to have an invite today I'm all in a tizz! Congratulations and good luck!

Golden Arrow too =), we took our two mini dachshunds to see them end of Nov, its a beautiful spot they've got, Yogi sold himself well by immediately toileting on the office carpet - so embarrassing! He'd NEVER do such a thing at home but take him somewhere new..... I do worry about them being cold for the time they're in kennels at Golden Arrow, they are exposed to the elements somewhat but they do have a heater under the beds and they will have each other to cuddle, its not in front of the fire or on the sofa though is it!?

Yes and like us you have two of the pesky hounds =). Have you made a decision on who you're going to move them with as yet?

=O this is news tome too Major Tom. By the looks of things though the daily accommodation charge has come right down, I thought it used to be $149 per animal per day!