Kathss56

23 minutes ago, SusieRoo said:

We have started thinking about logistics.

Originally we considered selling everything and just taking a few boxes of sentimental items and clothes, which was very appealing and liberating.

But our son was horrified, and so my husband is now planing to take everything, including car, motorbike and kitchen sink.

He has experience (through work) of container transport and loading/unloading, so a diy approach is feasible.

My only slight concern is about the 'fumigation' process, as my husband says they pump the container full of toxic gas.

Anyone know if 'fumigation' will damage household items like soft furnishings? or is this something that happens to all items entering Australia?  

I too have container shipping through work. Maersk Line. My memory seems to tell me about £4K for a 20' or was it a 40' ?

8 minutes ago, Ferrets said:

The problem is that the productivity commission recently estimated the cost to the Australian taxpayer per CPV at considerably more than the cost (I think an average lifetime cost of AUD $350k+ vs a cost of AUD $50k).  

I appreciate that your circumstances are different where you would be able to work and contribute but there are a lot of parents that are not in that position, or even use all assets to pay the fee and then have nothing left.

It's quite politically contentious here at the moment, but on the bright side I understand anyone who has their application submitted for a 143 would be highly unlikely to see a rise on their second VAC payment.

Yes, I think they will increase the 143 visa cost significantly, in the hope people won't bother and do this new one!

Therefore, we could just be luckier than we currently think! 

18 minutes ago, Ferrets said:

As mentioned earlier in the thread the cynical view might be that with the temporary visa there is no motivation to shorten the waiting time for the 143 when there is the new cash cow of the temporary visa with no healthcare costs.  I would expect this to continue to get worse unfortunately.

Me too. Also,which staff are going to process the new one. Doubt they have employed any extra staff!  I guess many more of us will go over on a 600 if needed to.

5 minutes ago, Pertenhall said:

Also interesting that the figure for 75% processed is the same as 90% processed.

Here's hoping this new new parent visa makes a slight dent in it. Even if only a couple of months. Fingers crossed! 

And the 75% completed in 33mths has now gone to 34mths! Groan!

16 minutes ago, daveedley said:

We have our permanent visas now and when we filled out Form 80 we only bothered with travel where there was evidence in our passports. I traveled extensively for business in Europe but there was no evidence of these trips that the visa people could access so I did no declare them. I think they are only interested if you visited "dubious" countries

Thank you!

I love the fact that those of you in receipt of a PR visa and have moved over, still keep posting on here.!

Very comforting and reassuring for us all in "the waiting room"

Just now, Catlady2014 said:

I think visits to certain countries might raise red flags, but normal holiday visits probably aren't of that much interest.  Maybe somebody on here knows the answer?  

I was thinking the same. By the time I need to submit at least I will have done the last 4-5yrs just to Australia ??  ?

20 minutes ago, Catlady2014 said:

If you have date-stamped photographs, that might help to jog your memory at least as far as the month and year is concerned, or if you use an electronic diary you could get some info there.  I'm sure nobody can remember exact dates, or can they?   

Yes but can THEY check in case I miss them lol ? 

I had a quick look at Form 80!

Having travelled a lot of the last 10yrs - I am not so sure I will remember all the dates and places so much!! ?

13 minutes ago, bry45 said:

We've decided not to apply for any other visa and just wait for our 143 to come. In the meantime, we will continue to visit and shuttle them back home to ease the pain.

May be comforting to know you are not on your own in this situation ?

20 hours ago, bry45 said:

I was just sat here thinking along the same lines and contemplating what will be !! There's little point in us applying for the new temp visa as I'm assuming it will be $5,000 each. As we are now 12 months in to our 143, the are only reasons preventing us from applying for a 600, a) the 6 months out of every 18 were we can't be in OZ and b) the fact that I can't work, which is really annoying as I'm quite happy to contribute the the OZ budget.

Alan, as I can work remotely, would it be possible for me to continue being employed in my current role whilst living/staying in OZ? I can transfer my employment status from being employed to being a consultant for which the company will be invoiced, any income I then get would be declared in OZ and taxed accordingly.

 

Sounds like a "no work" condition on a 600 visa would make this too risky, could jeopardise 143 ?

6 hours ago, Kathss56 said:

Thank you Alan, very helpful to lots of us I'm sure!

@Suzyq read this news item from Alan re 600 visa etc 

http://www.gm-parent-visas.com/visitor-visas-for-contributory-parent-visa-applicants/

1 hour ago, Alan Collett said:

Call me a cynic if you will, but what's the incentive for an improvement in CP visa processing times if the Australian Government is raking in thousands of $'s from this new temporary parent visa?

Why not increase processing times for 143s so the Government ensures visa applicants come to Australia for 5+ years on a temporary parent visa?

Throw in the withdrawal of the CGT main residence exemption for temporary visa holders (announced in last week's Budget) and look who's now contributing to the repair of the Federal budget?

Hey ho.  Onwards and upwards!

Best regards.

Hate to say it but you could be right Alan! ?

But, still hoping that those of us currently in the queue might not be affected toooo much! 

I have recently read that the Australian government expect at least 15,000 a year to apply for this new 5-10yr parent visa??

I would imagine though, that these applicants are those that don't meet balance of family tests etc. Those who may want to return to their home country and remaining families? Not so sure now it will shorten the 143 list much.

 However, it is good news that they seem to be readily granting visitor visa for up to 3yrs.  

Funny how time flies really, except when you are waiting for something in particular!!! ??

2 minutes ago, Catlady2014 said:

Contracts exchanged, house sale completes 22nd June.  Now all I need is a visa.  

Glad you managed to change the date ! Not long now, frustration  nearly over 

34 minutes ago, SusieRoo said:

Good News!

 

 

 

 

No mention of CPV price rises or changes to the availability of places

 

In the past any increases have been for new applicants from date of increase so we should  be fine....

BUT, don't quote me on that !! 

14 minutes ago, Suzyq said:

Thanks Kathss56, I can't find that option on my iPad so will try on my laptop later.

Thanks Carob, I'll tell my daughter in law to take a look next week!

 Very Top right corner where it has your name click there 

Just now, Suzyq said:

Thanks for your responses. All very helpful.

Another question from the uninitiated - how do I insert the history sign off that so many do at the bottom of any posting?!  Thanks, Sue

Hi

go into your account settings and click signature from list. Type in pop up box etc. 

6 minutes ago, Suzyq said:

Hi my first posting so may be a bit garbled and include a number of topics! 

We have applied for a PCV 143, submitted only in October 2016. We were probably a bit premature but have sold our home and living in temporary accommodation. We were hanging our hopes on the new temporary visa expected in July this year (2017) to see us through to when we hope to get the 143. There so much uncertainty surrounding the new temp visa that I'm just about to apply for the Visitor visa 600 to allow me to stay for a year (hopefully). Does anyone know if you can apply for another 600 when the initial one expires? As we will still be some while away from getting the 143.

Then, as the £/$ rate is pretty good we were hoping to start transferring money into an Australian account. So far we've been unable to open an account with an Australian bank without having a visa other than an evisitor. My agent has discovered that the Commonwealth bank will apparently allow the opening of an account, but it cannot be used until we are in Australia. Prior to knowing this and in the meantime have jumped through hoops for our own bank, HSBC, and still waiting for a response from them. Has anyone else dealt with this issue and if so how did you go about it?

Finally, we're going to settle in Ellenbrook, Perth. Anyone else going that way?

Thanks for reading, Sue

 

Hi

if you scroll back a couple of pages, 516 -518? There are answers on bank accounts and the 600 visa 

I'm heading to North Perth hopefully...eventually! 

3 minutes ago, SusieRoo said:

Thank you for the udates re. Alan Collet.

I have just being reading the 2016 governments inquiry report ‘Migrant Intake into Australia’.

 

Here are a cople of extracts,

 

 

For full report see http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/migrant-intake/report

Clearly this is just a report with recommendations, and the government gets to chose if they implement these or not.

 

 

 

 

It is difficult to guess if or how this might affect existing applicant processing times.

I just hope they don’t reduce the number 173/143 visas places for 2017/8.

 

 

 

They say it will reduce demand for CPV if they hike the price. So therefore, if you can't afford the higher priced one and don't want to stay for only 10yrs on this new visa - they are effectively closing the doors!

7 hours ago, SusieRoo said:

Hi Alan,

This is very worrying.

They are saying the real cost of each parent moving to Australia is around $300k.

With your experience, how do you think they may implement a price increase for 173/143 visas?

Do you think this rise will taper in over 2/3 years?

Or do you think the second VAC price will just go up in next weeks budget?

Clearly you don't wish to alarm anyone, but your best guess would be appreciated.

Sue

Alan's reply on another thread 

It is highly improbable the 2nd VAC will be increased for CP visa applications already lodged - that's why we recommend that intending CP migrants submit their visa applications now, to lock in the current scale of Visa Application Charges.

Best regards.

6 hours ago, SusieRoo said:

I hope so too.

We applied for a 173 in April 2016 to spread to cost and so we don't have to sell the house before we actually move.

Now I am now worried that even if we beat the price rise on our 173, we might then have to pay much much more for our 173 to 143 visa.

I wonder if we can change our application to a 143 midstream, without going to the back of the queue?

Also, I guess if anyone who is thinking about applying for a 143 visa, now has 3 days to beat any price rises.

 

see other thread SBS reporting on new parent visa 

2 minutes ago, SusieRoo said:

I hope so too.

We applied for a 173 in April 2016 to spread to cost and so we don't have to sell the house before we actually move.

Now I am now worried that even if we beat the price rise on our 173, we might then have to pay much much more for our 173 to 143 visa.

I wonder if we can change our application to a 143 midstream, without going to the back of the queue?

Also, I guess if anyone who is thinking about applying for a 143 visa, now has 3 days to beat any price rises.

 

Maybe @Alan Collett can advise you if you can change midstream. But with only 3 days left??

None of us will have any hair left with this pesky visa process!! 

17 minutes ago, SusieRoo said:

Hi Alan,

This is very worrying.

They are saying the real cost of each parent moving to Australia is around $300k.

With your experience, how do you think they may implement a price increase for 173/143 visas?

Do you think this rise will taper in over 2/3 years?

Or do you think the second VAC price will just go up in next weeks budget?

Clearly you don't wish to alarm anyone, but your best guess would be appreciated.

Sue

In the past the price you pay is the price it was when you lodged, so hoping this will still be the case ?!

19 minutes ago, bry45 said:

Sounds like a good plan Kath, Unfortunately, or not as we see it, we've already sold our house. When we made the decision to apply, the housing market wasn't that good and as we were then looking at two years or so for the visa time we thought it might take a while to sell, as it happens, it sold after first viewing for asking price. That's Ok cause at least the monies in the bank and thats one more thing we don't have to worry about.

We spent Christmas 2014 and 2015 with them and went back again for a couple of months for the birth last year, which has cost us quite allot, not that I'd change anything, but to save costs this year, we've paid for them to come here for a visit (grandma can't wait for June to come) so that's this year taken care of. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens going forwards.

Regarding giving up jobs, I can do mine remotely, so could carry on working from OZ and I'd be more than happy to pay OZ tax on my income, also meaning I wouldn't be taking a job away from an OZ citizen. Everyone wins in this scenario, we get to live where our hearts are, our daughter gets child care, so she can go back to work and contribute, grandma gets to be with them both, I continue to work and pay the government their taxes and our healthcare costs, so they don't have to worry about us negatively impacting on the economy.

I just wish the OZ government would consider all age groups of grandparents regarding this new visa and not just aged ones. Not all grandparents are wanting to move to OZ just to take up permanent residency in the doctors surgery, there are allot, like us, who are able and very willing to move there and contribute. Maybe they should reconsider their assessment of how to improve the cash cow visa machine. 

We've already committed to give them over $90,000 up front for the 143, which they can still have, all we are trying to do is find a way of getting there and contributing sooner.

WHY WON'T THEY LET US WORK ?????? it doesn't make sense. 10 year maximum stay, no pathway to permanent residency, $20,000 fee and not allowed to work. Perfect recipe for increasing the already high number of illegal immigrants.

 

 

Exactly! I can see lots of pleading court cases coming up in the future.

You could still work there and pay tax here ? as technically you can't work on a 600 visa and wouldn't have a Aussie tax number  

I go Nov and Mar as nice weather and cheapest flights. Nov cost me 569 last time. My daughter is coming over July and I am going for Xmas this time using some air miles some cash ? I have a London trip  and then a wedding to look forward to -keep planning the odd little thing helps, also starting to do odd jobs in the house ready for sale and will declutter.  All baby steps towards the dream! 

Time is flying past! although, whilst in this waiting room it appears not!  Hard not to wish your life away.  After your daughter has been over it will be half a year gone. Just think of 2018 as being your last Xmas in the U.K.   Hoping my 2018 visit will be the 600 visa one! 

You never know with this new visa, it really could take some off our list.  Think the cost of 143 is going to increase dramatically, so even though we might not think it now - we could be the lucky ones!