Suzyq

I'm surprised no one else have posted anything about the new temporary visa? I've had notification from my agent to say that the bill has not yet been approved.

Source – MIA

Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa – Bill not passed

The Department originally announced that the new five year Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa would be introduced at around this time. However, the Bill enabling the new visa to come into effect has not yet been approved by the Senate.

2nd disappointment.

So pleased for all those with their visa in such close sight - every good wish to you all!! For those of us left in "the waiting room" commiserations!

My other half seems to think that he read or heard somewhere that the reason there was such a backlog of 143 applications was due to a large volume of applications in 2014. Does anyone know anything about that? I appreciate there's only an allocated number of visas granted per year, but how do the numbers applying stack up against those numbers? I suppose what I'm hoping for is a quicker turnover than we've seen this last year. Anyone know anything or have an opinion even?!

On 26 September 2017 at 19:56, SimonandSian said:

Can you open a HSBC account from the UK ?

Yep! My experience was a total pain in the bum but I had added complications of recently being married (so name change) and living temporarily at my sisters home after selling our home and waiting for a visa (address needed over a certain period of time).

We have an HSBC account in UK, have done for 40 odd years so thought it'd be easier to get an account agreed. We found that banks will only give you an account if you have a visa number, an e visitor not being sufficient, so I got a 600. That did the trick.

We just went into a UK branch and set off the process from here, passport ID, evidence of UK address and visa number, an Aus address and you should be away, a couple phone calls to confirm and reconfirm a few things and away we went. We set up online banking, a bit slower and slightly different from UK but it means we can access from anywhere.

On 9 September 2017 at 02:29, JustUs said:

 

Hey guys,

Just curious, is the 3 year 600 visa renewable for another 3 years? I've had a look around the DIBP website and there's not much info...almost feels like they are not encouraging people to come on this visa. It's relatively cheaper right?

Our story is basically that I'm looking to get my parents the visa. They've not decided whether to make the move permanently and they're both above 70. They would like to spend time with the grandchildren but probably move back when it's too cold or hot(or if they need a break...). So the 12 months in every 18 might just be the solution for now. My sibling and I are both PR's here and therefore we meet the balance-of-family test.

1. Can the 3 year 600 class visa, which allows one to stay for 12 in every 18 month period, be renewed? If it can be renewed, is there a limit to the number of times renewal is possible?

2. Is the application straightforward? Are character reports and health examinations required?

3. Bridgie, why did you just get 12 months when Suzyq was given 3 years?

Thanks in advance for your replies. I've tried looking around but haven't found any clear answers. Since you both have immediate real life experience in applying for this visa...would really appreciate your advice. 

Hi Justus, I'm sorry I don't know if you can reapply for the temporary visa (600) but I don't see anything to say you can't. There are a number of conditions that can be applied to the visa when it's granted and its seems to me, arbitrarily so! I know there's a no further stay condition but I really don't know what that means. I think it might be worth discussing with an agent, they really are worth a few bob to put you straight.

Re character reports and health examination, I provided neither. We are waiting on a permanent contributory parent visa but it's looking like. 3/4 year wait on that. I intend getting the new temporary visa when (if) it materialises in November. Not too much is known about it yet but it looks like it could be the answer to our 3/4 year wait and possibly your parents position too.

7 hours ago, Alan Collett said:

I hear what you say, but have you seen the processing times for Remaining Relative visas?

Best regards.

 

Are they even worse than the lowest priority then Alan?!!!

I've had news from my agent following a meeting between Migration Agents and the Australian High Commission in London, to the effect that 143 Visas are the lowest priority with the immigration authorities.  Fingers crossed the temporary visa due in November actually materialises. 

Rotten news but better than not knowing at all I guess.

Who can appeal to the immigration authority for feedback - Citizens? MP s?

4 hours ago, Kathss56 said:

@Roger Vanstone

https://www.pomsinoz.com/topic/50481-the-brand-new-pio-parents-visa-thread/

 

 

 

Thanks Kathss56, I tried a couple of times to copy paste the link, obviously unsuccessfully!!! 

17 minutes ago, Roger Vanstone said:

Is this chat on pomsinoz . I can't seem to find it. If not what  do I type in google to find it. Thanks maureen and Roger

 I have no idea how to copy a link within this site, but does this help?!

6 hours ago, Roger Vanstone said:

Can we keep in touch to swap notes and see how things go.

Of course! I usually keep on top of another topic chat, I've tried to copy a link, unsuccessfully! It's the new temporary parent visa chat, I think you'll find that useful too Riger. Nice bunch o folk too!

12 hours ago, Roger Vanstone said:

Thank you everyone for trying to help us. Just one more thing. The new visa coming in November, will we be able to apply for this with 2 years still on our visitor visa sub class 600.

That's what I'm hanging on being able to do Roger. I've got a 600 with a 12 months in every 18 condition attached, but I'm hoping to jump onto the new temp visa when it comes to fruition. 

On 27 August 2017 at 08:00, bridgie said:

Hi one and all,

 

Thought i'd give an up to date account of obtaining the second year on our 600 visa. Like many of us we were given a multi entry 600 visa for one year (with a year starting from the date of each entry) and although in essence it should be straightforward to stretch this to a second year we were very nervous doing this.

Our current 600 visa runs out on the 30th August. We left Melbourne Friday afternoon and returned early Sunday 27th  morning filled with trepidation. There were no problems, no questions, no hold ups. if you are thinking of doing it,,, do it.

 

For the record we flew from Melbourne to Christchurch with hand luggage only. Arrived midnight NZ time and stayed at the Commodore Airport Hotel which has a free 24 hour shuttle. The hotel was fantastic, it must be good because NASA and the American Antarctic Survey Dept, use this hotel as a base before they fly "Even further down underer". The hotel give you a free bus pass to get into Christchurch and the bus stop is outside the hotel. Christchurch Airport opens 4am and we caught a 6am flight back to melbourne arriving back at 8.10am. The hotel has a good restaurant, pool, gym. The shuttle is about a 5mins journey from the airport.

 

Coming back to Australia we were convinced we would be stopped by immigration at every stage but, we sailed through automatic passport control, past the beedy eyes of the Immigration officers, through customs (The arrival card you fill out says i am a tourist staying for......in our case 1year) The officer flicked through it and because we had nothing to declared waved us straight through. Massive relief to get another year.

If your 600 visa has the facility for multi entry, you will be able to use this method to extend the period granted. Make sure that you return to Oz before the final date of entry stated on your visa. If you are a Brit you are automatically granted a 6 month tourist visa on arrival to NZ.

 

Watch this space next year as we apply for an extension or have to go off shore to be granted another period. In August next year we will have been waiting 31 months so I don't expect we will have our 143 visa so it will interesting to see what happens.

 

A tired, but, happy Bridgie

Hi Bridgie, which section were you supposed to post in?! 

I've got a 3 year 600 but with a 12 months in any 18 months condition applied - bummer!  However hoping to get onto the new temp visa ASAP when it materialises. 

Without trawling back through your history, what are you doing about accommodation whilst you wait for your 143 if you don't mind me asking? Thanks, Sue

38 minutes ago, AMP said:

Hi Suzyq,  Im not sure that we are talking about the same thing here.  I know Australian Unity and Allianz will do medical insurance for people in Australia on a 600 visa, but the insurance that I think Kath is querying is travel insurance, particularly for flights to and from Australia.   The travel insurance on Australian Unity specifies that you must be an Australian resident to be eligible, as do most others.  That therefore excludes those of us who will officially just be "visitors".  Uk travel insurance invariably has the UK resident clause, which is another element which is difficult to meet for those of us who then no longer have a residential address in the UK.  Even if we give a relatives address we wouldn't be able to prove that we have been resident there for at least 6 out of the previous 12 months, so it wouldn't be valid.  We can make arrangements for the initial trip out to Australia but not thereafter.  Also many Uk policies specify that the trip must both start and END in the UK.  A few that I have found will cover a one way trip, good for those emigrating.  It remains a big problem however for those of  us who won't officially be resident anywhere but who will still want to /need to travel. 

If anyone has found a travel company who can cater for our specific needs as nomads then do please let us know!  Thanks. 

I wondered what I was missing!! We use our bank account travel insurance, but you have a point I will check the small print out. We will retain the UK account anyway even when we're in Aus. Just in case.

On 16 August 2017 at 02:28, Kathss56 said:

Is it a quote for one way trip long stay or an annual policy?  That's the big difference apparently! Read the t&c's / small print etc.

Tedious I know! ?

Those that I've looked at are specially for 600 visas, and I can't see anything in the quotes regarding one way or annual policies? Although I'm taking a one way flight in December, my future flights will be returns from Australia. 

Hi Kathss56, I haven't actually got one in force yet, but I got a couple quotes and will do so again before I go in December, and hope they've not gone up in the interim! 

Australian Unity and Allianz are companies I looked at. I'll go for the cheapest, which may not be the best, but to be honest I'm not sure there'd be a lot between them - unless of course anyone knows any different! 

Got my Woolies account, just need to be over there to use it!  I can't apply for the other as the system recognises that I'm not onshore in Aus! 

Everyones gone quiet, I've nothing to read in the evening!!!

Ah, I just reread your post and see it's a 12 month one. Did you apply for a particular time period or was it just was you were given?

Hi Nyorksgrannie, can you tell me what all of your 600 conditions are please, and is it a 3 year visa?

I got my 600 F & F in July, we had a quick 14 days in Perth and I've got a one way flight booked for early Dec. My conditions are as follows:

Condition 8558 - I must not spend more than 12 months in Australia in any 18-month period;

 Condition 8501 – I must maintain private health insurance whilst I am onshore;and

 Condition 8503 – I must not lodge any further visa applications whilst I am onshore;

I intend applying for the new 3 year temp visa as soon as it's available (fingers and toes crossed) and as one of my conditions is that I can't apply for any other visas whilst onshore means I really need to be able to do that in November!! I'm not even sure if the 600 condition can apply when the new temp visa is an online visa - you theoretically you could be in the AIR and apply ONLINE!!

Thanks Nemesis!

Can I ask what the cards give you please?

3 hours ago, Fisher1 said:

We chose PSS because they did a home visit and were substantially cheaper than our other quote. Didn't have time to do three as we are leaving on August 18th. We had to hang on and hang on for exchange of contracts on the house and then suddenly it's all rush rush ... But like waiting for the visa really ... I agree with you AMP it's like our special club in this thread   

Travel tip coming up for anyone who, like us, has decided that they deserve a bit of luxury on the journey out - after all the rushing round.  We decided that for once in our lives we'd do business class, and hang the money that should be going to our new life, house, expenses etcetera.   Now I once read that it was cheaper to fly long haul from an airport outside the UK so I had a look on sky scanner, using Singapore air from LHR and from Helsinki (don't ask). £5600 for two from LHR and no appreciable difference from Finland. Then I tried again with Amsterdam, and again no appreciable difference. I had one last try with Paris. .....

LHR - SYDNEY =£5600

Paris CdG - SYDNEY = £4002

I couldn't quite believe it, but we've booked, are going over the day before and are having an evening in Paris before we fly. Just in case anyone else is bonkers enough to travel to Paris with two great big suitcases ...

 

Wow!!! I'd have loved to have done that but I'm going on my own and hubby coming later!!

If it's any help - or it might just add to the mud already in the water!! - we went with Leatherbarrows. Our belongings were all packed up in a storage place already after moving house, we think the store was about 25 sq ft. We had Pickfords come and view it and guess at the volume - they reckoned it would fit into a 20 ft container. We realised it was a guess. We asked for phone quotes from several other companies, John Mason and another I've forgotten, based on the estimate from Pickfords. My husband had already been talking with a nice lady from Leatherbarrows for the past year or so, so I called her. Her quote was very similar and as my husband had already forged a bit of a relationship with her, we decided to give them the work.  Unfortunately by the time everything was unpacked and repacked ready for export AND we added in other odds and ends and emptied our newly sold Motorhome, we ended up with a 20 ft container plus! So we're looking at a 40 ft container now ??. We were looking at around £4000 and now looking at around £6000 so it's not a straight double the 20 ft container. (Plus Insurance)

So....question for those already happily living in Australia, if you had your time again, would you have brought anything else with you....or more of anything you did bring ?! I must admit I have brought a lot of things people may not, I think our family bits and bobs make our home what it is!

Thanks Alan. Patience is a virtue!

Well, our kit has been export packed and gone into leatherbarrows storage until we give them the nod. Unfortunately we're somewhat over the 20ft container! We're waiting to hear how much by so we can decide whether to add to it or not! Happy husband - not!!!

I spoke with our agent again about putting in for the 3 year temporary visa when it's open and available, I'm a bit disappointed as she said the visa hasn't yet been passed by parliament yet! Has anyone heard anything more about it please?

Thanks Susieroo and GeoffandGill. 

Renting may well have to be the route we take initially, and you're right, we have lots of time ahead of us. We moved out of our house early January and have been living at my sisters house whilst they've been away in Spain, back home now as its too hot out there for them! I just want to be in our own home...so however it may end up, we will be early next year with luck!

Regarding FIRB, so long as you're a temporary resident (and have a visa allowing you to remain on shore in excess of 12 months), you can obtain 1 exemption certificate, lasting for 6 months, to allow you to purchase an established dwelling, so long as it's your primary residence and don't rent out etc. The fee is $5500 I believe.