CharlieV

Wow, that's brave to do it without the grant! Would you just have it sent to a storage facility until you arrive and how long does shipping typically take? We're having a big clear out this week and will then start on getting some shipping companies over to quote

Less than 6 weeks until July is here, I just need to keep busy and stop thinking about visas!

Anyone had any updates yet? Nothing here. Still waiting....

Hope you're right Melbourne!

They must be onshore applicants...otherwise they've skipped those that lodged in January, like me! Spoke with our agent again recently - she hasn't had any 190 grants come through for quite a few weeks now...not looking hopeful to get anything before 1st July

Like I said previously, it's about choice as well as cost...the number of comparable shops in the UK is far greater than in Oz. All of the major supermarkets stock 'cheap' kids clothes, Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons. Then there are the high street stores, Primark, H&M, Mothercare etc etc Target is just one option. Although the costs are comparable, it is still just one option.

I agree - we've been to Oz every year for the past 4-5 years (my parents live there) and some things are either much more expensive than the UK or they just do not have the choice available that we do. For example; if I want a very cheap t shirt for my toddler to wear and get messy in I could go to Primark/Tesco/Sainsburys/Asda and pick up one for £1 or £2. In Oz they don't have anything similar....possibly Target, Big W or Aldi but even then they are more expensive and don't have same the choice that we do. I understand that over time we will get more familiar with the brands/shops/what's available in Oz but since we are paying for a container anyway we may as well make most use of the space and budget and send over a couple of additional boxes. Plus, then we know what we have and don't need to budget for those items once we arrive.

Glad we're not the only ones that do this!! I've got a box full of cosmetics (skin care, shampoos baby products etc) as they're expensive in Oz. I've also started stocking up on t shirts and shorts for our 2 year old so that we don't need to worry about buying him new things for a while once we're there! It's a good excuse to do lots of shopping :wink:

Hi - I had to do the same but didn't have all of P45's and/or payslips from all those years ago so I called my tax office and explained that I needed proof of employment and they sent a letter listing all of my employers and the tax code I had while I was there. It took them a while - about 3 weeks to send. Good luck!

Another vote for Sort My Visa here! We lodged our application in January so are now just waiting for the grant. They have been great - especially in identifying the best visa for us. Other agencies we contacted said we weren't eligible for a visa at all and should consider re-training...but we've passed the skills assessment, IELTS, have received state sponsorship and now just waiting for the grant to come through...

My advice would be to book them both their own seats. We flew to our with our son when he was 7 months - at that time he fit into the cot comfortably and slept well but I think as soon as they are mobile the cots become too small and they need the space to be able to sit and play with toys. When our son was awake the space was very limited - my husband and I took it in turns with him on our laps and then one of us would stand so he could sit and play. We'll be travelling to Oz again soon and will be booking our son his own seat - he's too tall and heavy now for the cot and I think having space (and his own TV!) will be a big help. He can also lie across us when he needs to sleep so hopefully will be comfortable.

I included payslips from each of my jobs - for a couple of jobs many years ago I couldn't find any payslips (or P45's) so called my tax office and they sent a letter stating the names of the companies I have worked for over the last 10-15 years along with the years I worked there and my tax code at each job. This just helps prove that I did actually work for the companies I said I did. I also had two references from my current employer along with a copy of my job description. Hope that helps!

Fingers crossed you get your grant before end of May! We've got it set in our minds that we'll get ours in July when the numbers are refreshed (if it happens sooner that will be a bonus), at least this way we can start making plans based on a July grant...and that's only 7 weeks away now. You're very lucky they are holding the job for your partner, what industry in the job in? We're just starting looking around at jobs now to see what's available....

This long delay is definitely not helping in making plans!! We've sold our house already and are living in a rented house which requires 8 weeks notice before we move...trying to judge when to hand in the notice is very tricky! Plus getting packed up and getting the shippers over.....so much to do!!

Hi Sujiz - no updates here. Lodged in Jan, assigned a CO and then received the delay email. Our agent is optimistic we'll get the grant before 1st July but I'm not so sure....still July is only 8 weeks away now so it could be worse. Our agent has a meeting with immigration at the end of May so if we don't hear anything before then she might have an update at the end of May.... Which state are you going to?

We lodged in January, assigned a CO but still waiting for a grant....timeline below

Nothing here either. Our agent is meeting today with an Australian Immigration team so hopefully we'll know more tomorrow about when we might expect a decision. She says she hasn't received any 190 approvals since those delay emails were sent out....

3 months today since we lodged and still waiting.....about to email our agent now to see if she has any updates

The waiting is certainly tough! Now trying to check emails only once a day and focus on other things...hopefully it will make the wait go quicker! Not sure why the 189's seem to be coming through faster - maybe they are a higher priority group, not sure

Hi Melbourne! Did you receive the delay email? We got that a couple of weeks ago but our agent is confident we'll still get the grant before end of June - hope she's right! I keep looking at the 189 tracker and seeing all the grants come through...very frustrating but hopefully we won't have too much longer to wait! Did you front load your police and medicals?

Any new on your application yet?

Hi - I submitted my state nomination application on 6th Jan this year and received the invitation to apply on 16th Jan. So pretty fast. This is for a 190 but with SA and a different occupation (Health Information Manager) so may not be the same for NSW. Hope that helps!

Any news on your visa yet? I received the email saying 190 approvals are slowing down now as they reach the ceiling for this year - hoping that visas lodged in Jan might still be granted soonish

Still waiting....my agent just emailed to say that the number of grants will be slowing down now as they get towards the maximum number of visas for this year. The numbers are refreshed again on 1st July. Has anyone else heard this?

Hi all - my agent has just advised that the grants will be slowing down now as we move towards 1st July as the number of visas for each year are limited. This is for a 190 visa so I'm not sure if this will be the same for 189's; has anyone else been advised of the slow down? Thanks!