Geoffandgill

Nope no sign of it, but the good news we are "priority", if we ever get it I understand we need to scan it and email a copy to immigration, I was informed by Centrelink they also send a copy to immigration. But whatever Centrelink tell me I tend to ignore as they have never done anything they said they were going to do anyway.

Hello, we submitted our 143 on 9th June 15, and owing to the obvious delay with Au Immi we are seriously considering an e600 visa . As you've been through the process yourself, can you give some sort of indication as to the thoroughness and how involved is the Australian medical, as this is one of our main concerns. Do you have any advice regarding medical insurance for the period covered by the e600 and any other info on goods storage and shipping etc.

Thanks Geoff and Gill

Did someone just slam the waiting room door????? Oh yes it was me on my way out. VISA GRANTED!!!!!!! Whoopee!

can,t believe it after all this time, Thinking of you Sadge, Tien, Steve 1 and Geordie Joe it will soon be your turn.

Julie

Congratulations, now you can look forward to summer!

Geoff and Gill

Hi Again

oh exciting news, we will be down on the Mornington Peninsular so not too far away. Keep in touch and if you would like to meet up when you come over let me know.

Julie

Will do

Geoff and Gill

Hi

our removal company who partner with Anglo Pacific export packed, wrapped and listed our belongings on a inventory (apparently they can do caravans too). They then took everything up to their store awaiting our instructions to ship. Storage is charged weekly and we did insurance through Letton Percival as their rates were much better. We filled in all the paperwork required (not much) and then waited and waited and waited and waited until finally when we got the AOS accepted we instructed our removal company to order the container and get a shipping date. We had had an email back in September from our case officer saying that we would go straight to 2Nd VAC once the AOS was accepted. You can imagine our frustration when Centrelink took over 9weeks to process the paperwork, not to mention the extra expense we have incurred on storage simply because their staff forgot to upload docs. I,m trying to forget the AOS process as I really thought we would never sort it out but unfortunately it's still a bit of a sore point.....nurse says I,ll get my sense of humour back soon ha ha....

Julie

Thanks for the info, hopefully we will be neighbours this time next year as back in September we purchased a plot at Diggers Rest and building should start June/July 17!

Geoff and Gill

Hi Alan

we have just paid the 2nd VAC and have booked our flights to NZ departing on Tuesday night, so I'm propped up against the waiting room door waiting to go.........

it's such a relief, we can now get on with our lives, bought a new car and now house hunting. House prices are rising so rapidly here we have decided to take a hit on the exchange rate and buy something now. Shipping container leaves UK on 5th Dec so no pressure to find anything! Feeling so much better now we are about to exit the waiting room.

Julie

Hi Julie, very pleased that you are on your way out of the waiting room.We will miss your regular updates. We are just under a year behind you and are wondering how you had arranged for your container to be stored when you left UK. We have a quote for the container as and when but had been informed that storage of the container would be expensive over a long period, therefore our worldly goods are in storage awaiting visa, likewise our caravan.

It would be more convenient for us to store altogether in one 40' container as soon as possible. Any info you have would be great!

Thanks Geoff and Gill

Hi,

 

Does anyone have an update on the processing date? No reply to me 'Test' email.

Just received my weekly check and it's still at 27th June 2014!

Hello Geof and Gill, best of luck for tomorrow's move and hope all goes smoothly for you. We are waiting for a completion date for our move. It's so scary as we have lived and loved our house for 20 years. We to are renting to wait. We have been thinking of buying a land and build package. May I ask when you found the land, did it take long to arrange for building plans and permission. Did you seek a builder or was one allocated to you. I hear that to build you pay as you build each stage. Looks like you got so much done. Were you in Australia for long to arrange all of this. Appreciate any info as we are one step behind you. Many thanks JJ

We actually moved out of our house (we had lived there for 38 years!) to our rental in June as we knew we would be in Oz at completion date. We knew there were lots of new developments near our family and the main infrastructure was better on the west side of Melbourne, so went looking. We liked the name of Diggers Rest and the train went straight from there into CBD, so paid a visit to sales office, found a plot we liked, paid $1000 deposit, arrange a conveyancer (one suggested by sales woman) to check contract, then paid full deposit 5%. We got completed contract and the whole process took a week to 10 days. We then had to forward copy of contract to FIRB with fee for approval which we got. That took less than a week! We needed this approval because we did not have residency yet. We then looked on line at different builders within that area and found one to our liking with good reviews, Mimosa Homes. Arranged a meeting with Sales Consultant, picked house plus extras that we wanted, and paid $2000 deposit. We then had another meeting with him to sign off plans and check over everything. This happened over the same period as the land deal. He is arranging a further meeting for us to choose colours,fitments etc before we leave Oz (end of this month) so the house can be completed if we're not here. Yes, you do pay for the house in stages, and was advised to get main stages checked by independent building inspector . The whole process only took two weeks

Owing to the drop in the exchange rate, we decided to go down this path as we figure we have saved in excess of $100,000 by buying a land/house package, plus you only pay stamp duty on the land not the whole thing. Also first time buyer grants are applicable!

Hope this helps!

Geoff and Gill

Haven't been on here for a while, been busy selling our house ( completion tomorrow 9thSeptember) and moving into a small flat for the duration. We are in Melbourne at the moment (Caroline Springs) playing Nanny & Grandpa to our brand new granddaughter. Whilst here we looked into buying a land/house package, and have secured a plot of land at Diggers Rest with an FIRB requirement. FIRB (Foreign Investment Review Board) confirmed OK within 3 days ( shame Immi can't work as quick)! Did cost $5000 but worth it as package is cheaper than buying established property. Picked our house design and are picking colours, accessories etc before we have to return to UK. Hopefully land will be ready for building May 17 and house will be completed 20 weeks from start. So we should be sorted by the time our visas are granted, fingers crossed!

Hi ther Bev50. Just seen your link and noticed you applied for your visa two months before me. We applied in September 15. This is all new to me messaging on Pomz. We have famaily in Melbourne that are waiting for us and we can't wait to be with them.

Just like to say hi to you both.

Regards JJ.

Hi, we are also Melbourne bound. We have a daughter, son-in- law with two grandsons in Greensborough and a son, daughter-in- law and a brand new granddaughter ( 6 days old) in Caroline Springs. We have sold our house, just awaiting completion, and are already in rented accommodation, with most of our worldly goods ( no furniture) in storage. We spent last Xmas there and are off again next week to see our new addition. Will probably not want to come home!

Hi Geoff and Gill,

,

We are 3 months behind you and will be moving to Wyndham Vale, NW Melbourne.

 

Bill and Sue

We'll have to meet up when we are both settled in our new homes, looks like it's only about 25 mins travel between the two towns!

Geoff and Gill

Hi Geoff and Gill

 

it seems everyone is going to Perth so it,s great to find someone else who will be heading to Melbourne. Keep in touch!

 

Julie

Will do :0))

Geoff and Gill

Hi

 

anyone for socialising in Melbourne, Mornington Peninsular? Not there yet but should be by July 16!

 

Julie

Hi Julie, we are a year behind you, but are hoping to move to Melbourne , north west area around Caroline Springs. Our daughter lives in Greensborough ( north east) and our son is in the process of buying a house in Caroline Springs, so we hope to move to that area as its a lot flatter country. So , would love to socialise but in a years time.

Geoff and Gill

You need Oz police checks if you have spent more than 365 days there in the last 10 years. At first CO asked me for one but I had spent 333 days there so was OK.

Regarding 365 days over 10 years, can you clarify if this is consecutive days or cumulative over a 10 year period. We have bee visiting our daughter over the last ten years for anywhere between 42 and 90 days. So max days spent is 90 consecutive but cumulative , including the coming year, will be over 440!

Thanks Geoff and Gill

Aged'parent reads onshore,going out on tourist visa and 'hoping' all goes well the way

I read it,I think it was stopped for a few months a while back then reintroduced , we looked at lt and decided the 'stress 'for us is better being in the waiting room,65 is no age if your in good health,winter is nearly over and Spring is on the doorstep.ruby

We are in the same situation as you, lodged visa 9th June 2015, and agree with your thinking re stress. My husband has just turned 68 and I am now 65, both in good health. We plan to visit both our children's families in Australia in August, one to welcome a new addition! Also to visit our eldest son in America for a summer holiday and at Xmas ( hopefully our last winter in UK). Keep occupied is our motto

Geoff and Gill

Hi Julie, our son travelled with Royal Brunei when they emigrated last year. He rang them up and all he had to do to get double the baggage allowance was send them evidence of his visa! we are also going to Melbourne when we finally get our 143, but are heading to N E Melbourne ( Doreen) as our daughter and family live in Greensborough, and our Son and family hope to live in Mill Park. We are watching all of you who applied in 2014, as we are a year behind!

Geoff and Gill

Hi CathnStev, we used an agent in The Emigration Group in Chester. They had a good write up and we thought it would be easier. No problems with them. A flat fee and off you go. We are coming close to retirement so we could afford to see our children and have been over twice already. We just decided to wait it out and get all our affairs in order!! Regards Kathy

We are using the same agent as yourselves, and see that you applied in Jan 15. Our date is 9 June 15, so we be keeping an eye on your progress.

Regards Geoff and Gill

Hi Julie

we were lucky and managed to sell last year so have been in rented for 12 months. This waiting really takes it out of you it feels like your life is in limbo. It's so good to see that others are in the same boat and it really helps being able to keep up with what's happening to every one else.

Linda

Hi Julie, test e-mail states 'currently assessing applications lodged up to 10 January 2014' this morning, so no further forward :0(

We have applied for a 103 visa which obviously won't be granted for many a year! The issue is that I was hoping to open a bank account to transfer money over whilst the rates are good and to use when we visit but with NAB it seems you can only open an account if you are within 12 months of migrating on a visa of at least 6 months duration. Has anyone opened an account, possibly with another bank? If not we are thinking of getting our son to open an account in his name (we can trust him) any ideas please?

Hello, we were advised summer 2014 by the NAB office in London and with their help we opened up a NAB savings account on line at our designated branch in Greensborough Melbourne. Xmas 2014 , on a family visit we went to the branch and validated our account where we were presented with two current account debit cards. Since that time, in conjunction with Moneycorp we have transferred as the market became favourable our savings ready for our visa application charges. As our account is active it has enabled us to transfer cash to our daughter/sponsor for the first visa application charge. This Xmas when we visit it is intended that we add our daughter/sponsor to the account which will make it straightforward for her to obtain the Assurance of Support and second VAC draft.

At the time of application, all that was stipulated was that the account was activated within 12 months.

Hope this is of use

Geoff & Gill

Hi Steve

i've tried too but nothing. Their last update was don't expect any change to the date for the next few weeks as they are finalising loads of visas. They didn't say don't expect no reply!:arghh:

 

Ah well the wait goes on......and on .....

 

Julie

I tried and after a couple of attempts, got a reply ...... still 6th December 2013

Phewwww thanks for putting my mind at rest .

I'll sleep better tonight now !!!

 

Lisa

Hi, we are in the same position. Our lodgement date was 9th June, so we can keep an eye on each other :0)) We have planned on getting medicals and police checks done this time next year, together with AoS, so that when we get allocated a case officer they have all the info.

Geoff and Gill

Hi Geoff and Gill,

 

No, we did not empty our van. It contains loads of CARAVAN RELATED stuff. Including 2 large awnings, 2 TV's, wastemaster, aquaroll, cutlery, bedding, plates, cups, steps, awning carpet, hitch and wheel locks, plus much more. We could only do this because the van is containerised. If it went by RORO then it would have to be completely empty.

 

i will keep a running total of what we have spent and let you know at the end. I think it might vary between states but can only tell you about NSW.

 

We were told that the electric sockets don't need to be changed unless you intend to sell your van but I will confirm this later after we get ours through.

 

We found that it was cheaper to use a container than RORO, plus we managed to get the car in there too which was a bonus.

 

where in Oz are you headed?

Oh, you are possibly our Hero!!

we have been stressing over which/what way to go, we had decided to go the container route, like you a 40 footer. Originally was wanting to take my Yeti but when costing to get converted for K-metres and new Tow Bar and what with the good exchange rate, have decided to sell here and get new when we land. We are going to Melbourne by the way, will be using the remainder of container to put our worldly goods as not intending to take bulky furniture, just mainly clothing, general toot and more importantly the contents of my garage ie tools.

Will watch with great interest your future experiences, best of luck and fingers crossed to you and your family.

Geoff and Gill

Hello everyone,

 

For anyone who is interested I thought i would post a few pics of our caravan and Landcover being prepared for shipping.

 

They are going in a 40 ft container and are prepared thoroughly as you will see on the photos. We delivered them to Hull on Tuesday and the shippers sent us these pictures today.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]31193[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31194[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31195[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31196[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31197[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31198[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31199[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31200[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31201[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31202[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]31203[/ATTACH]

 

as you can see, this is a big twin axel caravan 26ft long and a Landrover Discovery. There was still some room to spare at the back. Caravan sits snuggly across the width of the container.

 

We will be excited to get them back at the other end.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]31204[/ATTACH]

 

If anyone is considering shipping their car or caravan, I would say that so far it has been easy. I hope its as easy at the other end lol.

 

We did have to remove the air conditioning unit and the satellite dish from the roof and it looks like the shippers have removed the door handle in order to get it to fit in.

 

Hope this is of help to anyone considering doing this.

 

Metoo

Hi, we are planning on doing similar in about 18 months, as soon as 143 is granted. Did you empty the van completely of personal items, as by reading some of the horror stories, seems the safest way to go .?

Also would you be able to let us know what the landing costs are when it all arrives and any modification costs, ie gas pipe, electric sockets etc . Also any special quarantine charges, ie fumigation maybe ?

That will help with our budgeting for the big trip.

regards

Geoff and Gill

http://guides.dss.gov.au/guide-social-security-law/9/4/3/30

 

Best regards.

Hi, Alan, thanks for the link, however we are unable to find out what the 'Newstart Allowance' is for this year. The link only gives examples of what it was.ie $11,931, or is it still this figure.

thanks for any clarification you can give us,

Geoff and Gill

We have been searching for a definitive answer for income threshold info for minimum earnings required by sponsor for AOS, can anyone give an idea of minimum required earnings from sponsor

Congratulations to you, well done.

We have a NAB account with enough funds in credit, at what point in time did you arrange for Draft to be raised, assuming you do not have Credit card to cover, also at what point did you arrange the AOS.

regards G&G