nyorksgrannie

3 minutes ago, NanaJan said:

Fantastic news. Hopefully we won't be too long behind

Great news Catlady and you are getting nearer NanaJan!

5 minutes ago, bry45 said:

At this rate, I'm wondering whether we should have gone for the 173 and saved the $100,000

The wait is certainly frustrating when there seems to be little movement, I am wondering if they have almost reached the years allocation or whether they have just had a huge increase in applicants. We are all just guessing ....

Just checked, date still at 22nd September 2014 , let's hope it moves when they have been back at work for a few days after the Easter break.

Hi Bryan, I feel for you as we too waited to apply due to still having a parent here in uk at the time. I didn't know about Poms in Oz at the time I wish I had. The new proposed 5 year visa may suit you but everyone is waiting for final details, due in July I think.

Good luck, it is awful being away from family, especially grandchildren who change so quickly.

Sue

2 hours ago, AMP said:

Oh no, such complications with all these different streams!  Sue (nyorksgrannie) please can you advise which specific one you applied for?

Hi Angela, I have been checking our print outs and it is the Visitor (subclass 600) visa

Under Visa conditions it lists 8101 No Work & 8201 Maximum 3 months study.

I suspect the 8503 might be to deter people from going on free three month visitor visas and expecting to keep renewing, I don't know, that's my guess.  We have applied and paid initial fee for 143  2 years ago so I would hope immi would realise we are serious applicants and have a good reason to visit and support our family.

Relax, and enjoy your easter eggs!  

Sue

1 hour ago, bry45 said:

Hi all

Having been to Oz 4 times in the last 5 years, my wife and I also applied for the 143 on 1st June 2016 for much the same reasons as fisher1 above. Our daughter has just given birth to our second grandchild last November and thankfully we were able to be there for the big occasion.  I'm already sick of the time lines constantly being extended, don't get me wrong, I understand the reason behind it, but I can't help getting more and more annoyed.

We discussed and pondered the move for quite some time before making the decision to apply, but we decided that we only truly feel at home when we are in OZ and can't wait to get there. We've already sold our house, so the money is ready and waiting, we just want to get out there and not have to come back. I'm now 50, and on current time scales we will be 53 before we even get a case officer, which means I'm always becoming more unemployable.

Having read this trail, I'm wondering if we too should apply for a 600 visa just to get us out there. However, my concern is that I don't want to do anything that will effect our 143 application and as far as I can see the 600 visa only allows you to stay for no longer than 12 months. I understand Sue's explanation above says her visa is valid until March 2020, but I wonder if this is correct? Does that not just mean the visa is valid for use until March 2020? Unless I'm wrong (which I hope I am Sue) that doesn't mean you can go for 12 months, leave for a week and return for nother twelve months and son on until the visa's expiry date.

I truly hope I'm wrong Sue and if I am, I too may be applying for a 600.

Best regards

 

Bryan

Hi Bryan, firstly you can't work on the 600 visa.

We applied for the 143 two years ago and are retired ( well almost, my husband works part time but will retire in a couple of months) so we hope it will come through before the expiry of the 600.   We thought when we applied we would be there in under two years but there was a surge in applicants.  Depending on your're skills you might be able to get sponsorship for a work visa but not sure if there is an age limit on that.

Sorry I can't be more optimistic, you need patience in this waiting room.

Good luck, Sue

48 minutes ago, AMP said:

Many thanks Sue, that is very reassuring.  Do you have any idea why it states up to March 2020?  Did you specifically apply for one which is valid for 3 years?  Did you at any time specify on the application that you are awaiting your 143 visa?

Hi again Amp, The on line application form asks for any specific time we want to be there, in our case, to help when second grandchild due, they also asked if we wanted multiple entries to which we said yes, it also asked if we knew dates of entry for each occasion to which we said No and put it depended on family circumstances and progress of 143, all of this is true, everyones circumstances will be different. You could start the online application and you will learn as you go along, it is quite tedious.

I was previously under the impression that the visa time started on entry and we put July for our arrival and yet it says valid up to March 2020 (we applied in March). I hope this will be more than long enough and we are granted 143. I did say we had applied for 143 with lodgement date on the application. I didn't want to leave the application for the 600 until the last minute in case there was a delay or change of visas.

I hope this helps,good luck with it.

Sue

1 hour ago, AMP said:

Thanks for all the medical insurance info which is really helpful.  However I am now totally confused about the 600 visitor visa as what you have said seems to totally conflict with info in other posts.  I had been lead to understand that on this visa it is possible to leave , say after 11 months and then return on the same visa as long as it is within the initial 12 months period after the visa is granted.  Then I understood that on return another 12 months stay is possible, whilst still being on the same 600 visa. Can someone clarify please?  This info is pretty crucial. 

Hi Angela we recently received our 12 month 600 visa (although not going until late July)

On the paperwork it says "your visa allows you multiple entries to Australia until March 2020. You are allowed to stay for a period of 12 month(s) on each arrival"

I hope this helps.

Sue

3 hours ago, Fisher1 said:

I know, I feel the same way. I'm currently diverting myself from sprucing up the house every five minutes by browsing the Facebook community page for Kiama every five minutes. It's very helpful ... Most places seem to have community pages on Facebook now ... If you know where you want to settle you might want to give it a try. I'm finding out all sorts of information about social groups and developments in the town ... I feel as though I'm almost there! 

Kath

Hi Kath, just looked where Kiama is and it looks like we could be quite a long way from there, we were over in December and drove down to Wollongong along the coast from Sydney and stayed a night in Bowral, we liked it very much, it is just not near our family although our younger daughter has thought of moving in that direction. We will be renting after staying with family until we hopefully get our 143 visa then will build or buy not sure where that will be now that the £ is worth less and prices going up in Oz. Sue

1 hour ago, clarkesville1 said:

Hi All,

Its been a while since I went on this forum and now it seems to have resurfaced.   Initially I was ramdomly asking questions as my daughter and son-in-law were thinking of moving to Oz.  It has moved on very quickly and they emigrate out to Mount Eliza Melbourne on 15th May.  I have been informed, and this is my question to you guys, that once they are resident for 2 years we can apply for a parent visa and join them to stay permanently??   Is this correct, I hope so as she is our only child and its killing me thinking of them going and taking my 2 little grandsons, one is 5 and one is 10 months.   What is the best way?

Hi, yes you can apply for a 143 contributory parent visa if not living  in Oz the costs are around Aus $100,000 for two people plus a bond and it is currently taking around 33 months from application, immigration are changing some visa costs and there is a new visa due that allows parents to stay for up to 5 or 10 years I think without being able to work whereas the 143 allows people to work and gives basic health care. There is a fee when you apply but the balance is asked for when you are near the stage of being granted the visa.

It is a couple of years since we applied so hope others will be able to correct this if I am wrong. There are other visas if onshore.

Go to www.border.gov.au

You can visit on a tourist visa  e600 (up to 3 months is free) 12 months about £80 each

Hope this helps and good luck.

Thanks Kath, I will look into that I am not on facebook but my husband is, thought I might join when in Oz.

Just now, nyorksgrannie said:

Thank you for your good wishes Fisher, trying not to think about flights until we have exchanged on house but aware prices will be going up! We are not sure where we will end up in NSW bit likely to be at least an hour north of Sydney, we have one daughter in Sydney (no children) and one in Berowra but as you will be aware it is not a cheap place to buy and prices going up too quickly. We would ideally like somewhere with a view but so many houses are crammed too near together with a fence to look at.

As you say we might get chance to meet somewhere when we are both there hopefully with a happy ending! that would be lovely,  In the meantime there just seems to be so much to think about my head is spinning!

 

1 hour ago, Fisher1 said:

No, I'm not getting the by line at the bottom of people's posts any more either. I don't know where I got the idea but I thought you were off to Melbourne!  NSW is a big place but maybe one of these days when we're all happily installed in our new homes, we'll be able to organise a meet up.  Mean time, may the waiting pass quickly, may your flights all leave on schedule and may Coles never run out of sun cream.

Thank you for your good wishes, trying not to think about flights until we have exchanged on house but aware prices will be going up! We are not sure where we will end up in NSW bit likely to be at least an hour north of Sydney, we have one daughter in Sydney (no children) and one in Berowra but as you will be aware it is not a cheap place to buy and prices going up too quickly. We would ideally like somewhere with a view but so many houses are crammed too near together with a fence to look at.

As you say we might get chance to meet somewhere when we are both there hopefully with a happy ending! that would be lovely,  In the meantime there just seems to be so much to think about my head is spinning!

38 minutes ago, NanaJan said:

Have you ticked the 'Show other people's.....'?

Hi thank you everyone for you're help, I have found now however that they are showing on main computer just not on my ipad which I use most of the time! as you say not everyone adds it but it helps those of us who do. Sue

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Kathss56 said:

Since the revamp you have to reset your show signature box

1 hour ago, Kathss56 said:

Since the revamp you have to reset your show signature box

Hi again Kath & Zee, checked my settings again and box definitely ticked to show signatures but not getting them! technology,  good when it works....

I hope you don't either - if you apply for the e600 the 143 will probably arrive! 

Hi Nana Jan, we have the 12 month e600 visa think it was about £80 each, it gives more flexibility as it enables you to come and go in the 12 month period and if you leave at say 11 months when you re enter it gives you another 12 months ( only up to 2 years in total).Sue

Happy Easter to you too

29 minutes ago, Fisher1 said:

Yes.  It's a shame, all the parents on here just now see to be off to Perth or Melbourne. Would have been nice to meet up!   

We are heading for NSW  - I don't seem to be getting everyones dates etc., at the bottom of postings since the new system and my settings look ok, maybe because I am on an ipod at the moment, is everyone having this problem? Sue

Hi Kath, good luck with your house sale I hope someone comes along to buy it soon, and then theres no stopping you, medicals done etc., am I right in thinking you are going to NSW?   Sue

Hi Zee, good luck to you too, it is difficult to know what to do but we feel like we have been waiting for ages as I still had my Father to consider and I couldn't have left him otherwise we might have applied earlier, with both our daughters and son in laws there and our second grandchild on the way it was a no brainer. We will of course miss friends here and lots of other things but think as we are not getting any younger we need to get out there and enjoy being nearer our family, in particular our grandchildren as we have missed so much of our little grandsons baby/ childhood.  I do understand though your concerns about leaving the house you love, we sold three years ago and bought a new house instead of renting so I don't feel the same attachment to it.

Let's hope the 143 processing will speed up and make all our lives less stressful. I hope it all works out for you. Sue

Hi Fisher, congrats to you too, we are hoping our house exchanges contracts soon otherwise I could be there by myself too or at least for some of the time!  We had thought we would go out in the Autumn if our 143 still hadn't arrived but the baby made us think again! don't think we will get a rest when we arrive so we are having a holiday in May in Italy think we will need it despite all there is to do here. Hope all goes well for you. Sue

8 hours ago, juliew1499 said:

Hi Sue

it took 4 days of packing, 3 blokes working everyday! We had everything in store for 6 months in the Uk the shipped which was really quick and a further month in store in Melbourne.

it's a thorough job export packing everything and doing an inventory, they worked very hard!

Juliue

Thank you for the info Julie, whenever we have moved house before we have done our own packing so finding it difficult to hold back now when we want to sort and clean cupboards,  lots of things will be going in plastic boxes I think until the packers arrive. I have been stocking up on good bed linen and towels too as it is so easy to buy in the sales on line.  I just wish we could get on with mecicals etc., but will just have to try to be patient. Good to hear the exchange rate has improved, we have just got back from a driving trip round Scotland where wifi isn't reliable so I didn't know.  Keep posting - its nice to hear when things come together for people after the struggle getting there, it gives us all hope. Sue

7 hours ago, juliew1499 said:

just popped in to say Hello, I'm in the waiting for a house to be designed and built waiting room now. Since our grant on 30/11/2016 we have been busy sorting out our lives in Oz. Settling down has been so much easier since our stuff arrived from the UK. I can fully recommend bringing as much as possible.

bed linen and towels are expensive out here and of course only come in AU sizes. bring as much from the Uk as you can. DIY tools and gardening tools are worth bringing, hubby cleaned them up, spray painted anything that looked rusty and we had no problem. We even brought a wheel barrow and that was OK.

we are finding that some things are cheaper out here, electricity, gas, rates, petrol, hardly ever pay for parking. Food and eating out costs more, shoes are expensive I've just mail ordered some in from UK. Directly factory outlet shopping malls have some good bargains. 

This morning the exchange rate jumped upwards so that was a pleasant surprise. We have pensions paid in the UK and the exchange rate is a constant source of concern. Luckily we did our budgeting two years ago and although we are living at the lower end of our exchange rate acceptability level we are managing. 

I'm so sorry to hear that the waiting time is now so much longer, our visa took two years 5 months and two weeks (sorry I'm still counting) and can believe the wait is now in the realms of 3years. Let's hope that whilst you are all waiting the exchange rate improves!

Good luck everyone, it seems to take ages and time drags by real slow, but when the grant comes through life become a whirl wind and flies by!

Julie

Great to hear how you are doing Julie and at least you have some control over the design and build waiting room, exciting!  We are waiting to exchange contracts on house, finalise moving dates etc., but furniture will have to go into store here in uk. We hope to then go to Australia on e600 as our daughter is expecting our second grandchild in August and we need to look after our little grandson. So lots of stress but exciting too. How long did it take your removal men to pack up? We were expecting a couple of days but have now been told a week! we are wondering if this means less men on job. Sue

Hi everyone, today is the two year anniversary of our joining the 143 waiting room - it's getting a little crowded in here! I do hope there were fewer applications in late 2014 and early 2015, then we might all shuffle up the queue a bit. Good luck everyone.

On 31/03/2017 at 9:06 AM, AMP said:

Hi everyone.  I'm having withdrawal symptoms since no one has posted for 3 days!    Anyway, seems as though quite a few of us are now so fed up with the long 143 delays that we have been giving more consideration to the interim 600 visitor visa route.   I also have decided to go with this so am putting my house on the market then going when it is sold.  I've actually quite a lot planned for the summer here so have to carefully consider the timing!  Hopefully I won't develop any major health issues in the intervening period before my 143 application is finally processed.  It's a risk, bit then life is full of risks and I reckon now that it is one worth taking.  If the worst should happen then ,hey ho, I'll just have to come back and rebuy here, but at least in the interim I will have had 2 years with my grandchildren while they are still at the enchanting ages!    

I've been looking at medical insurance options for when I am there. There seems a fair choice.  Any advice from  those who are already in Oz on the same basis and re which it is best to go with? Presumably the type of insurance has to change once the basis of being there is no longer a tourist visa?

 

 

Hi AMP, we are still in uk but have e600 to go out this summer. We have annual travel insurance but this will expire in the autumn and we read that on entering Australia you may have to show you have adequate cover. We were advised by an agent that they may require full cover with a company like Bupa or Medibank - comparethemarket.au, which we are looking into. Good luck.

Sue