Rosiejaq

4 minutes ago, LindaH27 said:

Thought that was for visas not yet granted - it can be done online in immi 

I couldn’t get the Immi account to work , Linda, the confirmation took about a week. 

I realised a few months ago that I hadn’t linked my new passport, just faxed off form 929 

11 hours ago, Juniper said:

I read with mounting fury today that Boris Johnson has asked Scott Morrison for special dispensation to allow the Uk cricketers families to accompany them to Australia for the Christmas Test Matches!

I was incandescent!  There are thousands of us who would love special permission to spend Christmas with our families who live in Australia & whom we have been forcibly separated from since the outbreak of Covid 19, including new grandchildren whom we have never seen!

Boris Johnson will probably not even be aware of our heartbreaking situation but I am sure that Scott Morrison is only too aware!  Surely this cannot happen?

 

 

 

Scott Morrison is well aware.  We have sports people moving with families all over Australia at the fury of families who can’t see each other…especially at the NSW/Queensland border….they are obviously more important…..NOT . I understand your fury.

19 minutes ago, LindaH27 said:

Wellll - the senate enquiry into parent and partner visas was supposed to report in August. It’s now been put back to  November - but that could be a moveable feast as well ! 
The last  report into parent visas in 2016 made 4 recommendations 

1) reduce the quotas 

2) increase the prices of the visas 

3) stop 804 except for verified compassionate reasons 

4) introduce a paid long term temporary parent visa  

They've brought in 1 and 4 - wonder if 2 & 3 are next to be brought in?? 

That same report estimated the lifetime costs of a parent to be up to $410k -  so they consider the $50k ( in total cost) nowhere near enough ! 

I wonder as well about visas prices and also Aos salary /income levels…maybe they’ll try and raise that again?

2 minutes ago, LindaH27 said:

The biggest problem is the misleading website quote of 58-64 months. It should be made clear that that is only how long it’s taking for the ones they’re currently processing ie May 2016. It’s been stuck on that for well over a year ! 
I’ve trying for two years to tell people on social media how long the wait is - and they’ve consistently refused to believe me because the website has told them therefore it’s correct !! 

Yes health could be an issue but  again It’s the costs of old people, as they age,  to the taxpayers. Think they’ll get rid of 804 as they keep trying to do - actually easiest way to do that is to make every visitor visa have mandatory condition no further stay! 

Dependants will be a scarcity in future I think as they will simply be too old given the lengthy wait time.  

For applications after June 2018 they are starting to assess them now rather than at the end of the wait. That way they can filter out those likely to be refused so it could be advisable to include a notice that some dependants are not likely to be granted a visa and  could perhaps instead work towards getting their own visa. All up in the air due to the lack of info from home affairs. First thing that’s certainly a good idea would be to warn people on the website of the true and realistic wait time 

Totally agree with you LindaH27. I think with borders virtually closed and the chaos of sudden lockdowns still in some areas the federal government isn’t really bothering to think about this out loud.  I wonder how much the pandemic is covering up and what decisions have already been made!

4 hours ago, LindaH27 said:

You may be surprised to learn that for new applications it’s like this - 65k already in queue and cap of annual quota of 3600 - which means new applicants are looking at 18 years!!!!

And because people are unaware of this (going on website prediction of 58-64 months ) still they apply - and there’s already been 8K applications this year alone ! 
 

Im June 2017 so already waiting almost 4.5 years and looks like another 4 to go! 

Goodness!!  And I thought waiting 52 months when promised 18-24 was bad.  I wonder if the lure will still pull as hard when you realise how old you could be before you get there and whether the government will make health a big issue? I think dependants will almost certainly disappear as they will be well over 23 ??

2 hours ago, andyjay said:

The Parent Visa 103 is a non starter as the waiting list is so long you'll have to wait 30 yrs (yes 30 ) to  get it. See:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/family-visa-processing-priorities/parent-visas-queue-release-dates

So apply 30 yrs before you retire. The contributory Parent Visa is soooo expensive.

The contributory parent visa is a long wait…about 10 years I think.  We drew down some pension money to pay for the visa as it was more important to be in Australia than not!  We’ve just drawn in the purse strings and adapted to life here…..definitely worth it

On 16/08/2021 at 17:49, Flangela100 said:

Hi 

Thanks for you help suggesting an international shipper for my stuff.

Seven Seas will only take my stuff to Melbourne or Sydney, they won't bring it to Lavington, I'm on the Vic/NSW border.  So I'm looking for recommendations for getting my stuff from either of the capitals to Lavington.

Has anyone used a reliable removalist to do this please?

Tbh I can't see why Seven Seas can't do it as they pass by my door, taking it from Melbourne to Sydney!!

Thanks in advance for any help 

Cheers

Angela

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you watch the tracker of the ship’s progress you will see it docks in Sydney and Melbourne! Don’t think they use roads 

8 hours ago, Marisawright said:

Australia was the envy of the world  at the beginning  of this year. If they hadn’t made such a pig’s ear of the vaccine rollout, it still would be.  Unfortunately they dropped the ball in a big way

Totally agree and as I now work at a medical centre it is more than frustrating that the vaccine supply is so slow. 

29 minutes ago, Ollie1234 said:

I'm with you. I just read a bunch of submissions from the visa enquiry and they all talk about a 4.5 year wait for 143. Even the people in gov discussing whether this is fair or not have either no clue or are refusing to acknowledge that the website is deliberately misleading people, given that actual wait times are currently double that if applying today. 

It’s been misleading people for years.  When we applied in 2015 it said 18-24 months so we planned jobs etc with this in mind.  It took 52 months in the end and thankfully our job was flexible around this

2 hours ago, LindaH27 said:

@Rosiejaq Actually you can apply onshore!! You would have to be offshore for grant though - in normal times. During the border closure if your 143 is ready for grant and you’re onshore a special Covid concession from 24 March 2021 allowed you to remain on shore. 

Sorry LindaH27 didn’t realise that!

1 hour ago, BargeUK said:

I think you have to be offshore to apply for 143 but I might be wrong.  I can't answer your other questions except to say it is a written application and not an internet visa.  Anyone on here will probably tell you if you have several questions then you should use an agent to get the correct advice

Yes you have to be offshore to apply for 143 if you aren’t on a 173.  All conditions and many answers are here https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/contributory-parent-143#About

2 hours ago, Marisawright said:

 Then, many will have brothers and sisters still in their home country, so their parents have no desire to move.

We have to remember the balance of family test!

2 hours ago, LindaH27 said:

It would actually help more if realistic processing times were shown on the generic email -  the quoted 58 months seems to apply only to the ones they are currently processing - not the actual wait time for a new  application. Something that gave a lot of us the wrong impression. When I applied June 2017 it was showing as 18-24 months - and next month it will be 4 years since I applied !!

 

It was showing 18-24 months when we applied in August 2015 and our agents thought this was the processing time as well.  We took 52 months until we got our visas ....we thought they were never coming and the various setbacks were so dispiriting. I just wish everyone that’s waiting a stressfree wait.

1 hour ago, Kathss56 said:

WELL!

they have stuck to their word and started issuing parent visas to those onshore as from today. 
Got my grant this morning after 5yrs 5days!
Good luck to the others waiting, as at least we know now they saved us a place !

Congrats you’ve had a long wait...it definitely is worth it....enjoy being an Aussie

52 minutes ago, Alan Collett said:

The comment is intended to highlight the importance of moving quickly when requests for medicals and police clearances are requested - you can jump up the processing queue if you are on the ball.

Having a supportive migration agent who is on the ball - who is able to anticipate the request for medicals and police checks - can therefore help you achieve a faster visa outcome - and hence be with children and grandchildren quicker.

Hope this makes sense.

Best regards.

 

I would definitely recommend a supportive migration agent!  saved us a lot of stress and hassle.  

7 hours ago, Kathss56 said:

Not great reading!

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files/2021/fa-210200113-document-released.PDF?fbclid=IwAR1szQ2x-RxSn3yvz2SWj7aF4qbTHGmPKoFea8h5MPKVXoBw1CP0Zd4r_Rk

Looks like distinguished talent visa is the way to go!  seems the Aus gov doesn’t think parents are important enough!

58 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

At the moment, I don’t think you’d even be allowed to cross the border into Victoria

They were even talking of stopping international flights in a few days ago...not sure what they’re going to do!

4 hours ago, Sadge said:

Have a look at SevenSeas using their MoveCube.  Absolutely satisfied from start to finish.  

I found they were very good as well 

2 hours ago, Kathss56 said:

I’m in Oz that’s why

Sorry didn’t realise.   

3 hours ago, Kathss56 said:

Reply from pvc team states that I have to leave to activate my visa in the next 3 months and before my police and medicals exp early Feb.

Really hope the NZ travel bubble opens up soon then! 

I’m surprised as I’m sure we had 12 months to validate?  Have they changed things?

1 hour ago, Samvaz99 said:

Hi friends,

finally , got Visa granted yesterday..

Good luck to all .. 

thank you so much to everyone for sharing their experiences..

Really helps to keep the heart up.

Thank you so much to the administrators who created this thread, without this , this particular journey is like walking in the dark.. 

Many thanks to everyone.

Congrats....time to party

31 minutes ago, Marilyn said:

I received request to pay 2nd VAC today - onwards and upwards!

Hurrah!  I’m so pleased you’ve got it so soon......party time eh? Restrictions allowing! Xx

8 hours ago, Marilyn said:

Today I celebrate 1 amazing year in Australia, my new home. I arrived during the drought with heavy water restrictions, then we had the horrendous bush fires, then we had torrential rains and then Covid-19. Waiting 4 years and a lot of $$$$$ going through all that has been so worth it. I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity to get this visa which is not available for many others so all I can say is be a little bit more patient I promise you it will be so worth it. 

I totally agree with @Marilyn and @Di dee  It is a very painful, at times soul destroying process. Ours lasted a long long time due to problems with Aos, but now we’re here it’s brilliant and we really don’t want to live anywhere else.  COVID has restricted us at the mo but we hope to gradually explore Australia for its natural beauty, history and people.  Looking forward to the day we become Australian!

1 hour ago, Marilyn said:

They told her to check her mygov account every day so here is hoping its soon.  I can't wait to be a PR and not do this for a long long long time till  5 years then its citizenship.

Me too!