Aprilfool

Hi all,

glad it's not just me asking this! Although I've had little advice! Here's our plans at this point... H will join the equivalent to yr 11 as soon as we arrive in Jul/Aug. He will continue to work through QLD yr 11 & 12. If he doesn't get enough credit from his U.K. Results to gain an OP then he will look at repeating another semester at the end or go TAFE to boost his grades for a good OP. My cousins son is repeating Yr 12 there now as he wasn't happy with his grades so it's quite normal practice there for kids to do it. My older son will have 6 months off when we get there and hopefully work and save some money before starting TAFE in Jan 2018. It's a bit of going in to the unknown but both boys are focused on what they want to do so they will find a way to achieve it! So much easier with the primary age child!!

They just say recommended. So we haven't done one as our kids are ours and not from a previous relationship. If they ask for one I can do one.

 

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I didn't do it till I was asked x

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Nope

@jacquiandpaul - I was the sponsor for my husband and they required me to do 2. One for U.K. And 1 for Australia as I lived there as an adult. This was even though I provided enhanced DBS checks from my work.

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Hi

I am just wondering if anyone has any experience with applying for their child's GCSE results to be credited towards their final senior grades/OP.

We will be moving to Brisbane after my son finishes his GCSE's in June 17, he will begin the 2nd semester of grade 11 on 10th July. I am hoping his GCSE results (which are predicted to be very good) will be enough to credit the missed semester.

The school I have spoken to have advised that from previous experience with South African students their results didn't credit enough.

They advised if they didn't credit enough he would have to continue past grade 12 to achieve the missed work from semester 1. He is fine to do this but I think it's a bit extreme given the amount of GCSE work he will have done.

I had my grades converted for university in the U.K. And my Junior Certificate converted to GCSE equivalents in A-C's so I am thinking UK/Aus grades might be more compatible than aus/SA.

Any advice/experience of moving kids after GCSE's would be much appreciated.

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Hi Everyone.

Just a quick update. Our daughter is staying behind in the UK to finish her schooling and joining us at the end of June.

We handed in our resignations, booked our flights for Christmas Day and have managed to secure a fully furnished rental property right across the road from our sons school.....all within 5 days :jiggy:now just left with the mammoth task of selling all of our furniture.

We will keep you updated.

Many thanks to all who have shared our journey so far and given us great advice.

Hi I hope you don't mind me asking but what schooling level is your daughter at? We can't move until 1st July next year due to various commitments here in the U.K. I've just got back from a quick trip to Brisbane to sort a few things out, I spoke to schools whilst I was there and they were very keen for my son to be there to start the school year in Feb. However he completes his GCSE's here in June. I am hoping he can have some of the work credited towards his grades in Australia but the school I spoke to seem to think the credits might not be enough to cover the full semester he will miss. It's left me in quite a Dilemma with him. My feeling now is that I want him to finish his GCSE's after all the hard work he's put in, plus if ever wants to come back here he has them. If he needs to do some extra work at the end of grade 12 in Brisbane to get a good OP then so be it.

Interested in other people's situations with older kids?

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Yes I was thinking it was a good sign for an earlier decision and grant we are quite a simple case wife born in Australia to Australian born parents, married 2.5 years, defacto 5 years with child who is already a citizen. I've asked for pr rather than temporary based on our time together and child.

 

my case worker is part time you're right

Sounds like it's all fairly straight forward then. My husband & daughter were granted PR as we have been together 12 years, married for 7 and our daughter is 9. I am PR as my parents emigrated when I was 13. I then had my older 2 children there returning to the UK in 2003 after separating from their father. I got my Return Residency Visa in 2014 based on my significant ties to Australia which was a simple paperwork exercise and took only 2 weeks to be issued.

We applied march and visa was issued in July. I think it would have been quicker but we had one glitch - a non migrating dependent medical was requested for my 15yr old step son who on the day of the medical discovered his passport had expired!! So we were delayed in doing that until the new passport arrived.

I really don't think yours should take too long at all. Be nice if you heard by the end of the year. Good luck xx

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The estimated time from start to finish was quoted to me at 6-15 months. Ours was sorted in less than 6 months. @Pingpoma You have been Assigned a case officer in around 6 weeks which is good so if they're asking for medicals and police checks then they should make a decision within the time they are valid for.

A lot of CO's only work part time and also it all depends on the current demand for their services . It's a frustrating wait but worth it.

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Wow, not long for you Mark! Super fast timings. We are still waiting to sell our house - been on the market for nearly 4 weeks. My husband may be offered a job in Sydney (we find out in the next couple of days), so we may end up starting our Oz journey there! Exciting times for us all. X

so today my journey begins @CelinaOz @Aprilfool I'm sitting at Heathrow waiting for my flight to Singapore then onto Brisbane........how are things going your end?

Omg! So excited for you!! We head to Brisbane 6th November for 2 weeks to validate hubby & daughters visas as we won't be moving before their medicals run out in March x super excited to take my daughter for the first time. Our plans are still for moving in July once college/GCSE's etc... are finished for the older kids.

Wishing you the best of luck in your new adventure @QPRMARK

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Thanks, that's the reason for choosing the autumn so we could ease the kids and the cat's into the warmer summer. Time is definitely going to fly by with lots still to do,looking forward to the move but slightly apprehensive after living in the UK for 16 year's.

My thoughts exactly! I will have been back in the UK almost 14 years when we move back so I share your apprehension! Although I am extremely excited!! Just booked to got for 10 days this November to look at some schools and organised a few things. I am really excited as it will be my 9 year old daughters first trip there!

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That's fab news @squiz! My husbands went straight to 100 also. We can't go until next July due to GCSE/college commitments with our kids but I'm sure it will be worth the wait! Your wait will definitely fly by with a newborn!!! Good time of year to move too you can break the kids in gently to the weather starting with Autumn, winter then spring before the experience an Aussie summer!

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Maybe I did have it when I lived there before then! Lol X it's so easy to forget things quickly!

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Does woolies really have an English food aisle now??!! I'm excited! Moving back next year after 13 years back in the UK and there are certain foods I will miss that they never had before! Can you tell me if the you have seen any of these...

Heinz Salad Cream

Jaffa Cakes

KP Skips

They are the 3 things I craved when I lived there before and could never get!

Have to agree English tea and chocolate are much nicer!

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Just answered my own question! Didn't realise they were no longer region locked. I have some happy teenagers now!

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Do UK PS4's work in Australia then?

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INSIGHT REQUIRED PLEASE

 

Lodge a visa from Canada on Feb 8, 2016 and was asked to complete medical and police back in April. Have not heard anything since and wondering anyone offer insight on likely next step? Do I have to have a chat with CO on phone? I've been told I am low risk and it should be relatively quick, but I just want to make sure I am not missing anything.

 

Thanks!

It's just a waiting game I'm afraid. I know it's hard but try to be patient!

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Hi all,

 

Starting to get quite antsy about our application- we are nearing the year mark we have an uncomplicated application for PMV- heard from CO (V) back in December saying she had everything she needed and earliest we could be approved was 25/7 (8 months before wedding). Still nothing! We have plans to fly to Aus on August 28 - have tried contacting through European service center online but no response. How has everyone else gone about contacting CO to inform of travel plans? Wondering whether it's worth calling the call center? Anyone have any suggestions? Trying to stay positive but so so ready for an approval!

I also had V as a CO for my husband but ours wasn't PMV, they seem to take much longer. When I needed to get info across to her I either put an email on our application or I ring the main number and get them to pass on details to her.

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Just what I was thinking. Lucky us, hey! Exciting times ahead.

I agree! We should all meet up for a drink once we are there!! It's been great to share this journey with others! The forum has been so hopeful and reassuring x

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Yahoooo! That's brilliant news, so pleased for you. It's a weight off your min is t it! We're planning to head to Brisbane early Dec to early Jan, depending on our house sale etc.

Had a hugely emotional day at work so it just took the edge off it! Don't feel I can quite celebrate yet after the day I've had but I will do!! So jealous of you getting to go that soon! We will be in Brisbane by the start of July next year!! I'm sure it will fly by. Hoping to squeeze in a quick trip this November x

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Husband and daughters visas granted today!!!! So excited!!

Straight to 100 too x 6th March we applied so just over 4 months!!!

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Well, today is THE day, Visa approved........straight to 100.

 

Really mixed emotions, but a great relief that everything has now been confirmed.

 

This forum has been a god send over the last 6 months, so thanks for all your input, comments and support.

 

Now, just like everyone else, we have a house to sell and jobs to resign from!!

 

Next stop Bribie Island..........

Congratulations!!!! So happy for you [emoji4] x Bribie is amazing enjoy xx

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Excited for you! Arranged mine and my non-migrant daughter's medical at Spire Aston Hospital for early August. Awaiting police check. Had an earlier request for a few bits of further info but no further queries. My Case Officer is N. I am relocating from Leicester to Melbourne...interested to know where you're heading

Small world Angela x we are in a small village in NW Leicestershire x Spire Little Aston is lovely x we are moving to Brisbane as that is where my family and school friends are as I grew up in QLD xx

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@QPRMARK it's got to be our turn soon! Fingers crossed for us both x what's the initial of your CO? Mine is V. I'm fairly sure she only works part time as we don't hear from her a lot at all.

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Well confirmation today that my step sons non migrant medical has passed and no further action required. So that's it CO emailed last week stating that was all she was waiting for! So fingers crossed we get the news we are waiting for very soon!

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I don't see that is a delay. If they requested extra stuff and you are providing it within the time given or agreed, I don't see the issue. If there wasn't a timeframe as such, again, I'd not panic it will 'delay' things, so long as you are providing it sooner rather than later (ie at the 7 month mark). At the 4 month mark they can still be waiting on the police check or your own medical so its not a biggie to have this. Partner visas can take 7 months, they can take 11. There is no rhyme and reason to the grant process

@snifter what I meant was that the medical was delayed because his passport was out of date and we didn't know until the medical date. If non of that had been an issue they would of had everything required to process a few weeks ago. Which is why I said mine may take a little longer as we haven't been able to provide everything in the time frame requested due to the passport issue.

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Not sure if I'm asking a silly question, but do I as the sponsor need to have the police check? Thank you in advance.

I sent in my UK DBS and its wasn't good enough they requested I do an ACRO for UK and stated because I had lived in Australua for longer than 12 months after I turned 16 then I needed to an Australian one also.

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