AmandaJB
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Good morning/afternoon :-) Here's some good news for a Friday... There's room for two more in the final waiting room!!! WE'VE BEEN NOTIFIED OF OUR VISA GRANT TODAY!! and we are so happy!! so relieved! Here's to the end of November when we board that plane :-) Good luck to everyone else, I really wish you well - it's been stressful, long, I've become paranoid at times about what may happen/if I filled something out wrong/if I sent something to the wrong place/if I got the cheque amount wrong/if I deleted an e-mail before seeing it - it's amazing how so much goes through your head haha and I am sure I'm not alone on that!! I will keep checking here to check how you are all progressing. There are a few who will be right behind me :-) Farewell for now and all the best and thanks for all the support over the past 2+ years! Amanda
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Hi Moomin, I emailed the AOS confirmation to immi on Thurs 20 Oct and received the request for the final fee on Tuesday 25 Oct. You'll hear very soon :-) good luck! Amanda
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Hi, I've tried to reply three times already but then it drops out (hotel wifi), so I am hoping today will be better. Yes it was about 8 weeks from lodging the AOS application to the request for the 2nd VAC. Immi are aware of the centrelink delays and said that as long as they are satisfied we/assurer are doing our bits, they are happy to wait until finalised. There was no particular deadline given to us, so we kept our CO updated with events including a copy of the bank letter when issued. I think that's the best thing to do, let them know each step as it is done. Centrelink send the final confirmation to immi and to the assurer. Immi asked us to send it to them as there can be delays from them receiving it from centrelink apparently. Hope this helps. Amanda
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Hi everyone! We have just received the request for 2nd VAC woohoo!! We won't be able to finalise until next week but can't wait!! :-) good luck to you all too! Amanda
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Not long for you now Julie! Bet you'll make it in the nick of time :-) I've thought of our post-June 2014 pals and how slowly it is to get there, hopefully it'll speed up for everyone soon. Yep, still plenty of working years ahead of me yet lol, and a ton of adventures to be had over there :-) can't wait to get started! Hope NZ has been fab, you may never have had that experience without these delays. Keep on enjoying it, you'll be Aus residents soon enough!! Amanda
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Thanks, I'm glad to have the trip in the midst of all this :-) Lol, love your young comment! Many disagree these days, some at work look as though they should be st school haha.
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Hi everyone! It's great to read some of you are moving along now. My son lodged the AoS with Commonwealth bank on 10 October, then went straight to Centrelink that day with the bank confirmation letter and Centrelinks letter. They sent it on to the AoS team and my son has today scanned the confirmation letter to me that he has received from Centrelink, confirming it has been lodged (it may not have taken 10 days to arrive, they have been in Fiji for the past week) - the letter says they (Centrelink) have sent a copy to immigration, however immigration had advised me to also scan a copy to them , I guess it will be dealt with faster that way. So, I've now scanned a copy to immi and so I guess I'll receive a request for $87,200 very soon! I'm actually away next week, wonderful hubby is treating me to a birthday trip to Paris while we're still up this way (big 5...0.... treat, yikes!!). I guess I will be finalising our visa early November. WOW!!! I cannot wait!! Good luck to everyone else :-) It is stressful, but at least we all have each other here!! Cheers, Amanda An edit to say that the final process is slow - I had a CO on 1 September and my son (assurer) got straight on with the job of dealing with the AoS from the following day. It seems to be up to six weeks now.
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Hi Julie, good to know your daughter heard from them before you go off for your travels again tomorrow - at least you'll be able to relax a bit, knowing it's proceeding now. What a palaver though! We had an issue with the original lodgement bit too. Enjoy your continuing hols! Amanda
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It looks as though you shouldn't have to do another trip offshore :-) What date are you due back in Sydney? Great to know you're out and about in NZ and getting some tourist time while there. Amanda
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Hi Julie, here's hoping this week has better news for GBP! My son received his letter last week and paid the AoS fee today, HURRAH!!! One step away now :-) Your daughter will surely hear soon, I did read of further delays, it's all those extra applications backlogging this process too now :-( How is NZ? I hope you're making the most of the trip! Unfortunately, it really is all a waiting game that's out of our hands. Good luck, and hope to hear some good news soon! Amanda
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Bet it's great to be with family, but I agree about the exchange rate, it seems more terrifying ever day now!! I hope you're enjoying NZ.. Amanda
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Hiya, it's looking a bit dire for us all due to the slide in GBP every day now. We are also moving to Sydney. One option we are looking at is renting for a year or more (not just because of the exchange rate, but so we know where we want to be), but looking to buy an investment property for the short term - DHA (defence housing) have a number on their site if you google them. They have 9 to 12 year leases, and guaranteed rent, plus they pretty much do all the hard work, maintenance etc - and houses are cheaper than Sydney as they are generally in cheaper areas. Just one other option that may be worthwhile - of course, then there's tax etc to pay on rent received, but far better off than keeping it in the bank!! Have a good Friday!! Amanda
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Hi Dave, My son lodged the AoS application at Centrelink on 5 September. This is part of the info I posted on 28 September: " My son received his letter from Centrelink today (28 Sept) - it had been posted to his home address on 23 September - it gave him until 7 October to contact them with "further information" - the information was really just to call them and go through the interview process, also explaining terms etc. At the end, he was told he's been accepted as Assurer (thank goodness!! I can't say how happy we were to know this!!! I actually cried and realised how pent up I've been as it was just such a relief - we all need some tlc I think!). They will now post another letter to his home address, for him to take to Commonwealth bank and set up the term deposit account. I hope this info helps. I think I can see why they would send it by post, to check that someone is where they say they are perhaps? Now we wait again, as the post may not reach him until next week I guess. You will all likely hear very soon (and be checking that post box hourly I'm sure, I would). " He is now still waiting for the letter from Centrelink to take to the Commonwealth Bank - I understand there has been a public holiday today and so this will slow down things for you also. Your daughter was only a few days after my son and so I would think will hear from them this week. Cheers, Amanda
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I can't wait to skip to that bit, thanks for letting me know :-) Getting there now! Amanda
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Hi Julie, and all others waiting to hear from Centrelink. My son received his letter from Centrelink today - it had been posted to his home address on 23 September - it gave him until 7 October to contact them with "further information" - the information was really just to call them and go through the interview process, also explaining terms etc. At the end, he was told he's been accepted as Assurer (thank goodness!! I can't say how happy we were to know this!!! I actually cried and realised how pent up I've been as it was just such a relief - we all need some tlc I think!). They will now post another letter to his home address, for him to take to Commonwealth bank and set up the term deposit account. I hope this info helps. I think I can see why they would send it by post, to check that someone is where they say they are perhaps? Now we wait again, as the post may not reach him until next week I guess. You will all likely hear very soon (and be checking that post box hourly I'm sure, I would). Julie, I gave my notice in the day I heard from our CO :-) and with leave owed, I finish on 18 November, flying out 29 November - I CAN'T WAIT!!! :-) All the best, Amanda
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Hi Moomin, I too am wondering how the AoS team contacts the assurer and hope someone can confirm what happened with theirs - by e-mail or phone? If anyone can let us know it'd be hugely appreciated :-) Amanda
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Hi Tien, thanks for this info - you and I seem to have posted our updates at the same time so I didn't see your post until now. I really hope they get a move on, as we are over 21 days already. Amanda
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Hi Julie, I'm sorry to say, we've still not heard anything - it's over 3 weeks now since my son lodged it. Tomorrow, we are up to our 28 days with a CO. I have advised PVC that we are still waiting regarding the AOS and they have advised that they are aware of delays and that they realise there will be delays beyond the 28 days - basically because it is a third party involved there is some leeway with the deadline. I guess that due to the high volume of applications which caused delays in visa processing, this also impacts on the AOS processing too. It's a big shame for June 2014ers onwards :-( I will update when we hear anything. I'm not sure if anyone is able to get info from ringing centrelink regarding the AoS team and processing times. The numbers all appear to be local "13" numbers I can't try from here. It would just be good to know! Enjoy NZ from Saturday, and hope we all hear something very soon. Amanda
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Hi Julie, nope, still waiting, although there is more to it. I was paranoid that something wasn't right with my son having had issues at Centrelink with them accepting they do deal with the lodging and so I actually went online to the Centrelink website and went through their "contact us" section (there is no actual e-mail for them) and I told them of my concern and gave my e-mail and my sons phone number for contact. My son then received a phone call the following day from the AoS team who said they had received the application but needed further documentation(!!) - the local offices do not seem to know how to deal with these. Rather than a third trip to the local office, they told them he could upload the info and gave him the details and reference to be able to do that, which was Wednesday last week. Of course, as you can imagine, we really hope that worked! and we really hope he is accepted too, or we are back to square one. Anyway, that's just my experience of it, some seem to have flown through the process and some have had frustrations. We must surely hear more early this week. By the way, big congrats on getting a CO to you and to all the "23rd-ers"!! Good luck with the rest of the processes, won't belong for us all now!! Amanda
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Hi Alan, Thanks for sharing the info. It's a step in the right direction - shame they don't also cap it though. It can still be as high as $1735 for two. It would be even better and so easy if we could pay by online banking, maybe one day. In the meantime, it's the complicated bank draft for us. Cheers Amanda
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Thanks for letting us know your experience of it too! It will help others I am sure. Yes, my son eventually had his forms etc accepted and was told that it will be forwarded for processing (although the lady insisted that it is immigration who process it! - I do hope it has gone to the right place, surely must have). As far as I was aware, they conduct a phone interview and then make a decision - I am not sure if that is mainly to advise what the responsibilities of the Assurer are as it is not written anywhere else. Hopefully it will be finalised for us all very soon! Amanda
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Excellent news! and for all parents on your date too! You may get sorted before we do... Still no news this side for an appointment/phone interview. Let us know how you get on! It seems as though you may only need one trip offshore after all. Amanda
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Hi Steve, I can imagine how well that went down with you both, it can be so stressful! I can't really help with your computer problem I'm sorry, but I actually printed the forms and wrote everything by hand (one for each of us!) - it took a long time, hours and hours, and my husband said his hand was hurting in sympathy just watching - cheeky so and so. Then I scanned and e-mailed both our Forms, and our police checks, all as one document to our case officer and they were accepted. It might be something to consider, but you may prefer to complete them online. Good luck whichever way you decide! Amanda
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Thanks! This is really helpful :-) I hope my son hears from Centrelink soon then - do you recall how long it was between your daughter lodging the AoS forms, and have the interview by phone? Sorry, I may be pushing my luck asking you to remember so much now! Thanks so much for all your info you've provided though, I am certain it will be a great help to many of us as we are all in the same "new" boat. Amanda
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Good morning, hope you don't mind a question about AoS. My son lodged everything at Centrelink by Monday and was told they do not assess but will contact him with information as to how to pay the $14k - that seemed to be it. Did you daughter have an appointment at Centrelink or just lodged the docs and form there? Also, once all that was done, how long before she heard anything - was it Centrelink who contacted her or the bank (Commonwealth if I recall correctly). Any info would be hugely appreciated because we are in the dark waiting here... Thanks!