nyorksgrannie

Hi Sue

i went through all my Xmas decorations and removed everything natural, but it would appear that they supposedly found 4 decs with natural stems! I really don,t know what they were. You are not allowed to be there or see what is going on. The options were gamma treatment at 545 dollars or destruction at 71 dollars, we opted for destruction. I have to say that I was more worried about some of our gardening stuff like chain saws and wheelbarrow etc I thought we might have some trouble there but it appears they were more interested in Xmas decs.

good luck with the sorting, it takes forever. Going to the tip in Australia is expensive, not like at home so make sure you get rid of everything you don"t want before you get here. Op shops are a good place to find bargains and also donate stuff. Hope that helps.

Julie

Thank you Julie looks like I will have to be very selective and make sure everything is easy to inspect, the charity shops are doing very well at the moment! Do they have the kerbside pick up for unwanted goods where you are? I have seen it in NSW where on certain days in the year the local authority pick up unwanted items from the kerbside and before the collection passers by take what they like!

Back to the sorting....

Sue

HI

Thought I would let you know that some processes move very quickly. Our container left the Uk on 5th December 2016 and arrived Melbourne 21 January. It has now cleared customs and Dept of Agriculture checks (got stung for 71AUD for destruction of 4 Xmas decorations that they didn't like). Got the call yesterday asking to deliver goods on 9th February........oops don't get our house until 1st March! I've got so used to waiting for everything relating to our move to Australia that this has taken us by surprise. Oh well more storage to pay for.

Things are slowly coming together for us, we have a building plot and a design company (another waiting list!). A unit to move into in March, bought a car, two kayaks plus trailer, Medicare cards, Aussie driving lics , just got to sort out HMRC and the ATO....oh that bit might take a while.....

the climate on the Mornington Peninsular is lovely except when we get the odd day of 38C, it's great to be able to walk to the beach, we have seen loads of dolphins, pelicans, sting rays, loads of wonderful birds. I'm still having trouble adjusting to seeing Camelias out in October! We are now immersed in a world of self build, finding out that the Aussies do a lot of things very differently, some better, some not so. There seems to be legislation for just about everything you want to do, a permit for this and a permit for that.......

Just to add to the wildlife, we had a koala in one of the trees on our building plot, how great is that?

Good luck to all of you still waiting, I hope you get some movement on the dates soon.

Julie

Hi Julie, great that you are making such progress, quick question re Xmas decorations, what didn't they like? I have been removing fir cones or anything wood from artificial garlands etc., is there anything else that is not allowed other than obvious berries,

natural products etc ?

We have been trying to clear our loft, bookshelves etc. in readiness for selling our house and putting things in store.

Good luck with the self build we too like the idea if we could find land but goodness knows what the price will be by the time we get there.

Sue

I've only been asked to do Police Clearance and provide some more docs that are peculiar to my circumstances. I think they maybe don't ask for the medical until they know the other stuff is right. Likewise with the AoS, that would only be asked for once they are happy with everything else. But it's still progress and I'm happy.

Great that you are making progress and a mystery with dates, hope it all goes smoothly for you. It will be interesting to hear if anyone else near your date is allocated a case officer.

Sue

Thank you Sue for the update. I have been assured by my visa agent that Xmas just gone will have been the last in the UK. Fingers crossed. Good luck to you also hope yours comes through quickly.

I do hope your agent is right, our agent said probably Sept/Oct so hoping but not convinced! Lets hope the processing speeds up.

My agent also said they are requesting medicals and Police checks in advance of the Case Officer being allocated. I haven't been asked for my medical just yet, but the agent expects it to be any day and has said I should go ahead with the Police check.

You are making progress at least, nearly there, good luck.

Sue

I have been looking at your website for nearly 2 years now and cannot believe the wealth of knowledge and friendliness. I lodged my 143 visa application (contributory parent visa) back in July 2015 (18 months of sheer frustration:arghh: ). Is anyone else currently lodging the same visa application are you in the same boat. Does anyone know why it is taking so long. I have a daughter, 7 year old grandson and son-in-law I can't wait to see.

 

Any information would be greatly received.:ssign16:

Hi, it is taking so long due to the huge increase of applications in the summer of 2014 and immi have an allocation per year so if they reach the allocation before the end of June they don't process any more until July (their new year), what none of us know is whether applications dropped off again after summer 2014 and how many are in the queue ahead of us. It is as you say very frustrating we are not getting any younger and missing out on grandchildren growing up both our daughters are are in Australia and we have no immediate family left in the uk. It also seems to be taking longer once a case officer is allocated too, particularly with Centrelink, perhaps they have cut back on staff?

We just have to try and be patient hopefully for not much longer.

Sue

OFFSHORE APPLICANTS (subclass 143/173) - We are currently assessing applications lodged up to and including 18 August 2014.

 

TEMPORARY TO PERMANENT APPLICANTS (subclass 173 to 143 and 884 to 864) - We are currently assessing applications lodged up to 8 February 2016.

 

We are on the move again, it may still be at a shuffle but at least the date is moving forward - well done IMMI!

Hooray, hooray, good news to start the week with

Quick update on the Centrelink saga. My daughter finally spoke to someone who actually gave a dam and the upshot was she received the confirmation letter on Monday. The other good news is we finally received the 2nd vac request yesterday afternoon, so it's time to give them some money and book a little holiday to Bali.

 

Joe

Fantastic news, congratulations! have a lovely life in Oz

Sue

Thanks for the reply, I only just noticed it it. Hope you had a great Christmas.

Many new year greetings to all forum members. Let's hope it's a memorable one for all and the beginning of new adventures for all.

We de decided not to tell anyone quite literally so it is great to have a place where I can at talk about Australia as well as ask questions about the process. It's a big secret to keep.

I also noticed the advice on how to update profiles so I'll check that out, thanks.

Cheers

Nita

Welcome Nita and good luck with keeping it secret!

Happy New Year to everyone on this site and to those who are processing the backlog of applications, lets hope it is a good one!

Sue

Fantastic news Sadie, you must be so pleased after the recent ups and downs, time to enjoy Christmas.

Congratulations! great news, enjoy!

We applied 1st June 2016

does anyone know an approximate time scale as to getting a visa?

it was 24 months but now seems a lot longer.

any guess or ideas greatly appreciated

Hi, I would say at least 30 months and could get to 36 , what we don't know is how many people are in the waiting room ahead of us and when immi are going to reach the years allocation, the year starts 1st July and this year there was a backlog of applicants to process. We all just watch this site for latest updates and pick up lots of helpful advice on the process from people ahead of us in the queue, welcome !

Hi Fisher

interesting you mentioned UPP,s that's next on my list. I know it's OK on a state pension, do you have any info on pensions other than UK state?

tax file numbers came through this week, still waiting for Medicare. We went straight off to the bank, no problems changing the account from a migrant account, no problem with getting a debit card. A credit card is a different matter, they want Oz regular income, foreign income doesn't count. All our pensions going into UK bank account. The bank then said that if they could see regular income coming in every month from UK they would consider it! Unfortunately that's just what we are trying to avoid as we want to change our money as and when the rate is OK. Living off a lump sum at the moment. Anyway another interesting thing we learnt is that by going into our local branch we could obtain a better interest on our Oz savings than those advertised on their website.

just heard that our container sailed on Tuesday, is off Northern Spain at the moment, arriving Melbourne 23 January. Only problem is we don't have a property to put the furniturei in! Oops don't panic Mr Mannering!

Happy Xmas to everyone in and out of the waiting room.

Julie

How lovely for you to be almost over all the hurdles, I will watch your progress on here re tax, pensions etc and hope your furniture arrives safely and you can find an inexpensive way of storing it until your house is built.

Happy Christmas to all new and older (sorry should say more experienced) members.

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

Whoopee x10 at last Julie, you have certainly been on a long frustrating journey, so happy for you that you are there at last, many many congrstulations! Sue

I know - it really is depressing. Surely things must improve soon.

We just have to hope the numbers applying dropped after June 2014 if they continued to be much higher goodness knows how long our wait will be and when they will reach the years allocation. I see you are just a month ahead of us Pertenhall so I will be watching your progress. Good luck to those almost there after a frustrating wait. Sue

Hi everyone! We have just received the request for 2nd VAC woohoo!! We won't be able to finalise until next week but can't wait!! :-)

good luck to you all too!

Amanda

Congratulations Amanda - a double celebration in Paris! So glad there is some movement at last.

Hello all

we have applied for the 143 parent visa in December 2015 in total limbo as regards processing time

has anyone any idea what is happening ,,as we all know it's impossible to get any info from perth

regards to all

Hi Kevvo, looking online gives you the date they are currently working up to but it has been very slow changing recently due to the allocation being reached before Immis year end (end June) and the huge increase in applicants in May/June 2014. As these are likely to take almost half the years allocation it is not looking so good for us 2015ers. I think we can assume it will be at least 6 months longer than expected maybe more - I hope I am wrong.

Thank you Bev and good luck, not long for you now! We are going out just for holiday in December can't wait to see our little grandson again.

Hi Lorraine

i have applied for and received an e600 visa. It was granted very quickly about 7 days, and I have 12 months after the grant date to arrive in Australia and then allowed 12 months to stay after date of entry.

So my grant date is in Feb 16 . I have to arrive before Feb 17 and when I arrive I can stay 12 months from that date.

i am going over in November and hopefully my CVP visa will be granted around June 17, but I have a few months leeway should I need. Hope this helps.

Bev

Hi Bev and Lolly, I remembered the subject of the e600 and managed to find you again. We are considering this option if we still haven't received our 143 visa by next summer and have sold our house. Did you do UK police checks first or can you do online from Australia? I notice case officers are asking for police checks just before granting visas or is this the Australian police checks?

Any information would be appreciated as the visa procesding is taking longer than we were originally advised and looks like could be nearer 30-36 months (I hope I am wrong but with the large numbers that applied May/June/July 2014 I assume the years allocation will be met long before June 2017 unless the numbers applying dropped drastically after July 2014).

Sue

Great news at last! hope things move quickly for you all, you will be skipping down to Centrelink!

Hi

one form each I'm sorry to say, my advice would be to do the jobs and holiday bit in pencil until you are absolutely sure you've got it right, I had to re write those bits several times.

Julie

Thank you Julie, better to know now than at last minute.

Sue

I am not looking forward to the almost there stage, I am getting stressed for you all and it must be hard for those trying to process so many too, no chance of them putting more people on the job I suppose?

Hi Steve, I can imagine how well that went down with you both, it can be so stressful! I can't really help with your computer problem I'm sorry, but I actually printed the forms and wrote everything by hand (one for each of us!) - it took a long time, hours and hours, and my husband said his hand was hurting in sympathy just watching - cheeky so and so. Then I scanned and e-mailed both our Forms, and our police checks, all as one document to our case officer and they were accepted. It might be something to consider, but you may prefer to complete them online. Good luck whichever way you decide! Amanda

Good (early) morning/afternoon fellow parents waiting oh so patiently. So, I'm happy to report that I've now heard from our case officer! Hurrah!! For those I know who are wanting to hear of other docs (Hi Julie :-) yep Form 80 has been requested. I believe they ask as a matter of course now. We have no convictions, have funds to take (as specified on application), live in just about the lowest risk place anywhere and in good health (they've had our medicals already). But right now I'm just so happy it's moving forward! We have 28 days to get everything back including AoS finalised. Hopefully not long now before all other 'Junes' will be hearing from them too. Skipping my skip o'joy today :-)

Amanda

Fantastic news for you Amanda and all those in the queue, this site has been so quiet with nothing happening, at last we have some movement, not long now for you Julie. We sadly still have a long wait but hope the worst of the backlog had been worked through and it improves from now on.

The 143 is supposed to be the fastest option other than getting a tourist visa, the 600 visa gives you up to a year and many people at the end of their wait for 143 have done this when the visa has been delayed due to high numbers of applicants and allocation being full before the year end, Immi year end is July 31st. If in Australia when the visa is about to be granted the applicants would need to leave the country and then re enter when visa is granted to validate it. We have been waiting since April 2015, it seems longer and it is difficult to plan anything when we don't know how many are in front of us. Good luck

Do we assume that the number of applications increases every June? We know it did in 2014 and now 2016.

I wish they would publish how many applications they have had in year just ended.