BrendaM

Hi all, We flew to Queenstown, New Zealand yesterday morning and two hours later our visas were granted! The end of a long and sometimes difficult journey.We're delighted but it hasn't really sunk in yet..probably when we get back to Melbourne tomorrow it will seem more real!

Good luck to the rest of you in the waiting room. Hope things speed up with immi and your wait isn't too long!!

42 minutes ago, Kpnuts said:

Thank you, that sounds realistic. Fingers crossed I will get something through in the next few days. Good luck


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Shouldn't be too long for you, hopefully!

34 minutes ago, Kpnuts said:

Hi BendaM
I hope you can assist please?
How long after sending the AOS Acceptance Letter back to PVS did you get the request to pay the 2nd VAC?
Many thanks


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It was about 8 days.

On 10/7/2017 at 16:21, Sooty said:

We spoke to our case officer by Phone/email we arranged to leave for New Zealand on the Monday and return on the Friday once she knew our arrival time in NewZealand she issued our visa. When we re-entered Australia the customs officers took us to one side for a few minutes and then it was all systems go I hope this helps it was a lovely feeling for it to be all sorted. Good luck. 

On 10/7/2017 at 17:01, Fisher1 said:

We were told our visa would be issued while we were here on holiday. We contacted the PVC by email and their email reply was initially not that helpful, just agreeing with me that we couldn't be onshore when the visa was issued. I emailed again asking should we delay our arrival and at that point someone from the PVC phoned my daughter and said that they could wait till we returned home before issuing it if we wanted.  My daughter told them we were happy to leave for a few days and they then emailed us and said that if we wanted to leave for a few days we should email them our travel plans and they would issue the visa after we had left. I emailed s screenshot of the online booking form and we flew to New Zealand a few days later. The visa was issued the day after we arrived in NZ.

An added advantage was that we didn't have to validate the visa by entering Australia within a year of its issue because it was validated on our return from NZ.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info! We've booked to go to New Zealand on the 16th for a couple of days and I've sent the flight details to pvc and they've acknowledged the  visa will be granted after we leave.

Does anyone who had to go offshore for their visa to be granted remember the procedure? How did you let them know you were out of the country and how long did it take to be informed the visa had been granted? Any info would be very welcome before I book our trip to New Zealand (unfortunately I've injured my knee, so want to be away as little time as possible, as I can't easily walk at the moment!)

15 hours ago, gafuk said:

Hi All

How does the AOS and Centrelink process work?. My daughter has been phoning to make an appointment and to ask what is needed but is on hold for literally hours ! She waited for 4 hours on one occasion !.

Can she just turn up to the offices or is their an electronic or email system ?

My agent doesn't know and thinks she can just turn up, anyone had similar experience and any advice please,

My son downloaded the forms and took all the info to the nearest centrelink without an appointment. Just make sure everything is double checked with AOS. Despite showing the correct identification at the time, when he hadn't heard anything back from them, my son phoned and was told they hadn't verified all the documents. He had to go back again with the same info, queue for another hour and submit them again!

Hi all, received the request for the second vac last night...posted off today. Beyond excited!!!

On 9/28/2017 at 08:06, Catlady2014 said:

Hi Julie, yes a very very long time.  But hopefully only a day or so now.  The bank cheque was sent by my daughter last Friday afternoon by registered priority post and takes 1-4 business days, but Monday was a public holiday, and the cheque is still "in transit".  Glad everything is falling into place for you, your "journey" kept my spirits up.  All the best for your new life.  

Congratulations!

21 hours ago, Catlady2014 said:

Just had a phone call from agent - second vac has been requested at long last.  Just waiting for email from agent with all details.  

1 hour ago, bryant said:

Hi roommates, 

Pheww after waiting for more than 3 years, we lodged on Sep 4th,2014. Yesterday PVC sent us the request for payment for 2nd VAC on the same day with Ms Catlady. My sister is going to the bank today for the cheque. Just want to let you know this . Btw i still have one more question is it sure that we will definitely  100% be granted the visa after paying the cheque? Thanks for the upcoming reply to this silly question of mine n have a great day mates. 

Regards

Congratulations Catlady and Bryant..glad your wait is over!

11 hours ago, NanaJan said:

And so, I thought it was time for an update.

I'm not sure of the exact dates as this last part has been a bit of a whirlwind. My daughter had her interview at Centrelink, lodged the $14,000 bond and the AoS application was accepted and uploaded to Immigration on 30th August.

All the other documents were already with the agent. The medicals were completed back in July.

On the 8th September we were asked to pay the 2nd VAC. We had already transferred the necessary sum from the UK and so arranged a bank cheque which was posted to the PVC by express post on 11th September. We booked a trip to Bali and flew out of Australia on 16th September.

From my sun lounger by the pool I can confirm our visas were granted today, the 18th September. We return to Australia on Wednesday and can start both work and serious house-hunting.

I cannot believe that after all this time it has actually happened.

Keep the faith those of you in the waiting room.

Hi NanaJan,

So pleased to hear your good news! Relax and enjoy your holiday, your new life is about to begin!

Hopefully we're not too far behind!

18 hours ago, Alan Collett said:

We submit to the PVC by scan/email.

Best regards.

Thanks Alan!

Hi all, For anyone who's returned their form 80, because of it's length, what's the best way to send it?

53 minutes ago, NanaJan said:

Goodness. It must be so frustrating for you. I can't believe how long it is taking. I expect to hear your whoop of joy over here in Australia when you eventually get your visa. 

@BrendaM how's it going for you? We are so close on our lodgement dates.

Medicals and police checks done and AOS under way. Just hoping we will both be in the next update for processing!

25 minutes ago, Catlady2014 said:

No, not yet BrendaM.  I spoke to my agent again this week and we expect to hear any day now.  She has several others still waiting who lodged at the same time as me.  Meantime, I'm trying not to stress about it, although it's difficult with the £ dipping again.   

Fingers and toes crossed for you it happens soon!

On 8/8/2017 at 17:38, Catlady2014 said:

Still no news.  I spoke to my migration agent last week, who had visas granted for September people, so we're expecting mine soon.  

I googled "my" local shopping centre in Aus and found that I can get a senior discount card that covers most of the shops in there, as well as some nationally.  It generally gives about 10% off.  It would be worth googling "your" local shopping centre to see what they offer.

 

 

Any update yet Catlady? I noticed a request for a second vac payment on another site for a 4th Nov 2014 date, you must be so close!

15 hours ago, Amytran1 said:

Congrat can you let me know ur timeline thx

Strange..my timeline seemed to have disappeared! I've done it again.

1st vac 5/12/14

Just had our request for AOS, medicals and police certificates! We're getting closer!!

Processing times seem to have reverted back to 33-35months! Good news or an error?

https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/143-

58 minutes ago, clerk85 said:

My mother has received 2nd VAC request. Application Date: 10th October 2014. I will try to send bank check soon.

 

Congratulations to you and your mother!

8 hours ago, AJ_143 said:

Hi all,

Just wanted to share a news. I got the request for 2nd VAC today.

My timeline is:
Date of visa application:                                                      15-09-14
Date medical examination & police certificates requested: 21-12-16
Date medical examination attended:                                   15-02-17
Date of police clearance certificate:                                     13-04-17
Date Assurance of Support completed:                               10-04-17
Date 2nd Visa Application Charge paid:                               10-07-17

Thanks all for the support. 

Cheers

Congratulations!!

12 hours ago, NanaJan said:

Yay, NanaJan has also received THE request for AoS, medicals, police clearance and forms 80.

Oh my word, it came as quite a shock after all this time. A glass of wine in hand at the moment and fully on the case tomorrow.

I won't forget the date either. It's our daughter's 40th today. She's out celebrating and we're babysitting

So pleased to hear that for you! Hoping I won't be too far behind!

8 minutes ago, Kpnuts said:

My date of lodgement for a 143 was 1st Dec 2014. I have just got an email from PVC to get police checks, medicals and AOS documents prepared.

No assignment to a Case Officer yet but this is the best news after such a long time.



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That's great news..looks like immi are starting to move again! NanaJan any news for you?

14 hours ago, nyorksgrannie said:

That's very interesting BrendaM processing times seem to be a bit eratic it would be nice to hear if any members on here applied in November and whether they have been contacted yet. 

17 hours ago, Catlady2014 said:

I can't see the timelines on that site, probably because I'm not a member.  But I did scroll down to the spreadsheet.  Hopefully, mine will be soon, but I've just passed the 32-month stage, so I'm not expecting to get the visa until late July/early August.

I was quite surprised by their spreadsheet, as it looks like there were a couple of earlier applicants who haven't received theirs yet ( and also Catlady's dates are earlier, I think?).

I assumed it would be in fairly strict date order (unless there was a delay in receiving documents)..like you say, processing seems a bit erratic!

I know we haven't had anyone to congratulate on getting a 143 visa recently but there is a South African forum similar to ours, where someone has just been granted theirs! Application date was 20th October 2014. Catlady, yours has got to be imminent?

6 hours ago, 8CPA said:

I think Immi only like electronic correspondence so just email the correct form to them. That is what our agent did with our change of address. You will have to fill in the most up to date information when you fill in the Form 80 but you should still let them know the changes.

I think they won't accept it online for a 143, it has to be sent via mail. I've posted it off, so fingers crossed!