Suzyq
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An update on our situation if it helps anyone! Firstly our bank account - we applied to our own bank, HSBC, as we thought it might be easier after being told in Australia at NAB that we couldn't have an account without having a visa (we only had e-visitor). After much question answering and many phone calls, checks and double checks we got a daily account set up! We validated our cards in Australia a couple of weeks ago on holiday. All works fine. Unfortunately our hopes of transferring cash at the beautifully high rate of £1.75 in May were dashed by the fact we didn't have an account set up at the right time and our bickering ministers are ensuring sterling is still unstable! In order to transfer we've opened up accounts with Moneycorp, XE and FairFX and will use whichever will give us the best rate when we do transfer. Easy to set up and no fees. We looked into buying a property close to our son and found that in order to buy an existing property you must have a visa enabling to you to be continuously resident for more than 12 months and you must apply for FIRB approval. This is where we have a problem! Although I now have a 600 Friends and Family Visa, one of the conditions is to stay onshore only 12 months in every 18. My 'safe' view on this is that I don't fit the criteria. We want to stay on the right side of any rules and regulations, unless anyone has degrees in law and can tell me different! We also looked into the 'Bare Trust' option and were frightened off by two different solicitors - neither recommended it. As our belongings are being packed up by leatherbarrows today and tomorrow ready for storage and shipping towards the end of the year, we really need to be able to buy! We don't want to rent, it's just too much upheaval again, and as I feel we've moved from pillar to post enough as it is, I just don't want to! Our only option now is to for me to apply for the new temporary 3 year visa, as I'm sure this will mean we fit the criteria to buy an existing property. I see there's been some more information on the visa, but has anyone any other snippets on it? Anyone else going to apply for it? I plan to go early in December, have the dogs sent over as I leave so I can be settled there for their arrival and then have our belongings sent on. We've made our bed now, we need to lie on it! I'm so pleased we've made our decision and can't wait until our things are wrapped and gone tomorrow!
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I wonder how the immigration people make their decision as to what conditions they apply to each 600?!?! This is the wording of my response regarding the conditions applied: ""Dear Sirs, I understand the following Conditions and agree : 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 have quotations from various Health Insurance providers and will activate this as soon as my travel arrangements have been secured."" This is a 3 year visa, so I doubt I can reapply for another until those 3 years have elapsed. If anyone knows anything different please let me know! My current plan is to return to UK for 3 months every year, which is a lot and very inconvenient! But we can't think of any other way around it! Bry45, what conditions did you have attached to your 600?
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Hi Kathss56, there is only one quarantine centre now - in Melbourne. Following the 10 days quarantine they will be flown to Perth so we'll pick them up from there. We're using PetAir UK and they seem to know what's what. I feel mean for putting them through the flights and quarantine but I know they'll forget the experience after a while and purely selfishly we don't want to live without them! I still don't have my 600 but we don't fly to Aus until 27th so they've got a few days left!
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Hi Bri45, I still haven't heard anything from my agent other than when I was asked to sign and return my agreement to the terms of the visa but we don't fly to Aus until 27th so perhaps it won't get granted til closer to that date. I will chase later today though, just in case something has gone awry. I am still a tad worried about the interpretation of the "12 months stay in every 18 months" statement, but whatever the outcome, I will work around it. I wonder who can formally explain that?!
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Blimey that was quick! I sent mine through my agent, I also sent to them on 23rd finally - let's see when I get mine!
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Thanks all for you input, I will double check with a shipping agent, I'm sure they would have experience of this. Fingers and toes crossed! Thanks Bridgie....I hope your experience wasn't a lucky mistake!
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Wow rogeliz!!! What a stressful time you've had! I'm so pleased to hear that it all came good for you though and you're there! And your overall queue time looks to be 2 years? We're looking at at 3 years now o:( I'm interested to hear that you can't ship your belongings on a 600, this could be a show stopper for us so I'll look into that first thing Monday - unless some kind Pom in Oz knows anything different?!! Thanks for sharing your story!
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Excellent Bry45! Your plan is better than ours time wise but I can't wait! We really are in limbo having sold houses and living in temp accommodation - we really didn't think the process would take so long given we were contributing (appreciate the shortfall calculated but the government). Anyway, looking forward to the day we get there! Best of luck Bry45...btw, where are you bound for? We're planning to go to Ellenbrook (Perth).
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I checked with Pet Air and they don't need evidence of a Visa! Yippee!
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I've not been asked anything so far about a visa Kathss56? Good point though and I'll call Pet Air tomorrow to double check. If there is an issue I'm sure my son would take ownership of them for me. I pretty sure you are able to purchase dogs / cats and have them shipped over so long as they go through the correct process. I'll find out and let you know!
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You've come around to our way of thinking - good for you and your daughter! We just wondered what we were waiting for. The 600 gives me 12 months in any 18 months ashore, but I'm hoping to come back to UK to apply for the 3 temporary when I need as I can't see the 143 queue being managed down at all. No one has told me I can't do that....so waiting for a response! My husband will continue to work offshore and visit on an e visitor, he's unlikely to ever need to spend more than 3 months at a time in Aus. We know we're sticking our necks out a bit but I just feel like I'm waiting for my life to go by here so it's work the risk of something going wrong for us! If I do have to spend 6 months out of the 18 months (if we can't take out the 3 year temp) I'd just break the time frames up a bit and as we have a wonderful daughter in law, she would look after the dogs for us! I like your bosses attitude!
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You've come around to our way of thinking - good for you and your daughter! We just wondered what we were waiting for. The 600 gives me 12 months in any 18 months ashore, but I'm hoping to come back to UK to apply for the 3 temporary when I need as I can't see the 143 queue being managed down at all. No one has told me I can't do that....so waiting for a response! My husband will continue to work offshore and visit on an e visitor, he's unlikely to ever need to spend more than 3 months at a time in Aus. We know we're sticking our necks out a bit but I just feel like I'm waiting for my life to go by here so it's work the risk of something going wrong for us! If I do have to spend 6 months out of the 18 months (if we can't take out the 3 year temp) I'd just break the time frames up a bit and as we have a wonderful daughter in law, she would look after the dogs for us! I like your bosses attitude!
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I thought you'd decided to wait for your 143 Bry45......changed your minds?! I've just signed to agree to the conditions on my 600 and will look to see what happens in November with the 3 year temp. We're visiting for a couple of weeks end of June and then when our dogs are ready to fly in November I'll be off!!!!
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I thought you'd decided to wait for your 143 Bry45......changed your minds?! I've just signed to agree to the conditions on my 600 and will look to see what happens in November with the 3 year temp. We're visiting for a couple of weeks end of June and then when our dogs are ready to fly in November I'll be off!!!!
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Thanks Geoff and Gill. I may be stuck then as I want to stay! I don't mind leaving and entering again but I want the time to be endless! Haha! So, I stay for a couple off days short of 12 months and then I have to leave. Can I then apply for a 600 again I wonder?!
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Thanks Kath, I had read this but wasn't sure about the chances are of getting something different from the 12 in 18 months returned. I'm sure my agent mentioned the possibility of getting different options back. This seems to be alluded to in the italics of the article.... Officers are encouraged to consider granting parents who have a history of compliant travel to Australia a Tourist stream visa with 3 year travel period, 12 month stay and multiple entry so that the parent can visit their family for longer periods on regular occasions. I'm wondering if anyone else has had any different options on their 600s?
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I'm probably going about this all wrong but I just can't wait any longer! I may have to apply for the 3 year temporary visa if my 600 visa comes through with a max of one year stay as I'm sure the current 33/36 month wait for the 143 won't reduce any if immigration are working in yet another visa type that will get a large uptake. Are the 600 visas for a period of 1 year stay only in any 18 months or is there a chance of receiving something different?! (Wishful thinking!) (My sister took a driving test in an automatic car and a full licence was returned!) ;o)
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Thank you Paolo, we're going over in July so I will try again. This time I will have a visitor visa so they should accept that anyway. My own UK bank, HSBC has asked how much we're transferring how, when, how frequently etc etc etc! How long is a piece of string?! Still waiting to hear, it's only been about 2 weeks! I appreciate this is all to prevent money laundering, but really?!! I could even provide documentation on house sales but I don't get asked for that! Anyhow, I'm sure we'll be sorted soon, but thank you anyway.
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Yes, thanks Geoff and Gill, another useful site! I'm hungry for info! Cheers, Sue
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Fair enough Alan! When my husband is home, we'll be in touch. Thanks, Sue
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Hi Alan, you're a font of knowledge! I've got another good query for you! My husband works offshore for a company largely but not exclusively in the oil industry. He is currently working on a new ship build in China. His current pattern is 8 weeks on and 8 weeks off. We live in UK and the HMRC allow him to be taxed at the usual rate(s) but then due to the UK shipping tax laws he is allowed to claim all tax back annually providing he is out of the country for 50% of the year (I'm pretty sure that's how it works). When we move to Australia he will continue to work on the same schedule and for the same company. Can he continue to be taxed in UK? Would you know how that works? Initially he will be using an e visitor Visa until our 143 is granted. I am hoping to stay using a SC600, renewing until our 143 materialises. I will not be working (obviously) as I will be taking on grandparent responsibilities to support our son. I'm sure our situation isn't unique and wonder if you've come across it before. Any advice gratefully received! Thanks, Sue
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I'll look into the interest rates on savings, I hadn't thought about that! Although we would like to find a house and settle really. Thanks for your advice!
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Thanks Alan and 8CPA. We will take legal advice. I think the additional cost we would incur is probably worth it when balanced against the cost of rental for a couple of years. Just want to settle and keep legal!
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Really pleased there's no planned increase to the 2nd VACs!! Not sure if this is the right forum / thread but here goes! - we've decided I will go for the Visitor Visa 600 and hope this I get it for a full 12 month stay. My husband will remain on an eVisitor as he works offshore, currently in China on a ship build, and works 8 weeks about. Whilst we await further steps on our 143 journey, I hope to reapply for the 600 as and when needed. How do we go about buying a house in this situation? Has anyone done this? We have been told that there is such a thing as a "bare" trust which enables a trustworthy individual (son) to buy the house on our behalf, with the ability to "sign over" ownership of the house to ourselves when we have residency. Obviously, the purchase would be made with our finances! Any comments or advice welcome! Thank you.
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Thank you. I'll give HSBC a couple more days and failing that London it is! I don't want to miss the decent currency rates!
