Kathss56

2 hours ago, Catlady2014 said:

My daughter has had her phone interview with Centrelink, and her Assurance of Support has been approved.  They will send her a letter today to take to the bank and open the support bond account.  

Let's hope that letter doesn't take as long. Once in the bank your're there  so happy for you! 

1 hour ago, Catlady2014 said:

Meanwhile, is everybody keeping an eye on the exchange rate?  Silly question!  

And the £ is surging on the announcement of a UK election! 

Good news for you then ?They reckon if she wins it will be very welcomed by the financial market , which is good news hopefully! A while off for me yet though so who knows can only hope!

2 hours ago, Catlady2014 said:

It came by post, it was dated 8th April but only arrived today, and it was not even uploaded to my daughter's myGov account which she has been checking daily!  If it had been, we could have had this bit all over and done with a week ago.  

Yes a bit annoying. Still, light at the end of the tunnel for you!! ?

1 hour ago, bry45 said:

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

173 is only temporary for 2yrs then you have to apply for 143 and pay balance, which as you say is a lot of money!

More news in May supposedly!

33 minutes ago, Catlady2014 said:

My daughter was told they are currently taking 9 weeks to process the AoS application.  She applied just over 8 weeks ago but still no phone interview yet.  

Hope you hear very soon. Maybe this is the reason for current delay then 

18 minutes 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. 

Maybe the 8053 is a new rule for those currently waiting for 143.?? @Alan Collett can you advise please ? 

My friend who has another friend that applied in Sept 14 are in the Centrelink process, who have told him due to the storms they are "busier"than usual. In case any of you are anxious it's not going through quickly.! 

6 hours ago, Alan Collett said:

An onshore parent visa strategy is only available if the main visa applicant is "aged" (as defined).

The age at which an applicant is "aged" changes on 1 July this year.

Best regards.

Is this new 5yr parent visa starting this July do you know?  Have seen nothing on it since last years "announcement" Thanks 

3 hours ago, 8CPA said:

Hi again. We did not have medical insurance as UK visitors have a reciprocal agreement with Australia. You need to go to a Medicare Centre and they will issue you with a reciprocal medicare card which lasts for the length of your visa i.e. one year if on a 600 visa or 3 months on a visitor visa. You then have to renew each time you re enter Oz. Try to find a bulk billing doctor and you won't have to pay for the doctor. If your preferred doctor doesn't bulk bill then you pay on your credit card and then re insert your credit card to receive the medicare amount back. I believe BUPa and probably other insurance companies do a reciprocal health insurance should you require it. Once you get your CPV143 then you get a full medicare card. If you intend to get private health insurance you need to ask medicare for a letter which exempts you from the 'Loading' imposed for each year after you are 31. You have up to one year from the start of your 143 visa to use this letter and it will save you 70% of the premium. Also be aware that the private system is different here as the older you get the more the government subsidises and there are no costs for any pre existing conditions. They really want you to have health insurance. Also be aware that prescriptions are not free for over 60's here and that they vary in price. Chemist Warehouse seem the best option and you can save a fair bit by checking. Some chemists charge more but only up to so many scripts and then they are free. If you have a lot of meds this might be an option worth investigating. Also not all meds are on the approved list and can work out very expensive.

On your second question we got our 600 visa in January 2015 and had to enter Australia by April 2015. I believe all these visas now have an 8053 no further stay on them and if you leave within the year you have to apply for another one. You cannot come and go in that year. We couldn't anyway.

Thank you so much for this. Best regards to you!

13 minutes ago, nyorksgrannie said:

 

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

Click account settings then click onto the pencil / signatures.  Then make sure it is a green tick on show all signatures. Then again not everyone has put signature on. lol 

22 minutes ago, nyorksgrannie said:

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

Since the revamp you have to reset your show signature box

3 hours ago, Fisher1 said:

NYsG.    So many of us in the same boat and having the same thoughts ... We are going to Cyprus in May because we know it will be no holiday in September in Sydney :-)  The reason we had our visa last year but didn't act on it was because we couldn't leave my mum, but had applied for the visa then because we wanted to get the medicals over with! We did begin to consider leaving mum with my sister in charge, but then events overtook us and I am so glad we stayed.

So here we all are, hopefully all going to end up in Oz eventually. It's a big wrench but I love to think of being within easy reach of our daughter (only child) after all the years of sobbing in airports :-) I just wish someone would hurry up and buy our house!  Zee, I don't think I'd be brave enough to sell a house I loved without a visa in plain sight ... Could you maybe rent it out for a while and sell once your 143 is through? Whatever you both do next, good luck with it - it's so nice to talk about the things with people who really understand ...   Kath.

I'm sure we all feel the same. I have lived in my current house for 26yrs now and dread the thought of selling up. But the big prize at the end is being with my only daughter. No more empty bereavement feeling! Be brave everyone ! We have already made a momentous decision! Best wishes to you all nearly there! 

2 hours ago, carob said:

Thanks for the PM Tabitha 10.  I will respond to it, but I'm still trying to resurrect this thread, as nothing is coming into my email; apart from the one you just sent.

best of luck with the decorating! xx

Hi

think since re vamp you need to into settings and then notifications - click email etc. 

35 minutes ago, SusieRoo said:

Hi Everyone,

This website has been in incredibly informative and supportive in the short time (1 year) we have been in the parent visa queue.

But since the site's re-branding, everything seams to have gone a bit quite (only three posts in a week).

Please, please, please keep your posts coming!!!

It would be really good to hear from some of the recent visa recipients -

Any tips for our first year in Australia?

Is there anything you wish you had taken with you but didn't.

What's your 'top ten list' of things to do before you leave the UK to make the move go smoothly.

Or maybe everyone just needs to say a quick "Hello, we are sill here"

Sue

 

We are still here ? Think everyone has been a little subdued as processing seems to be longer and longer, currently about 2.6 and 2.8yrs?   Am also only one year in and fed up already. A few on here are nearing the end so it gives you a little boost when you hear they have had the offer ! Hope for us all yet.

Quite a few going over before permnament visa offer on a 600 visa so that's an option for some. 

55 minutes ago, jeanhob said:

Does anyone know how much the bond is alongside the CPV? How long do you have to leave the bond in for?

$10,000 for 10 years - looked into after 5 years and then another 5 years after   -   I think!! 

Anyone else confirm this is correct ? Also see following link  

http://www.border.gov.au/about/corporate/information/fact-sheets/34aos

3 hours ago, W Jones said:

Did not  think it could be that quick.3

This is an old post you have read 2010. Click last page for newest posts. :-))

Yes, I am also thinking of doing a 600 visa, what medical insurance did people have whilst on this visa ?

also, how long do you have to leave Oz for when 143 is offered please? 

thank you everyone, your advice is amazing! 

3 hours ago, Flano said:

Hi, we lodged in December 2016 & new to this forum and would like to know if anyone has been notified of a case worker yet? 

 

You won't have a case worker until right near the end of the processing time. They will then ask for medicals, police checks, AoS and then the case worker takes over so I believe ??? correct me if I'm wrong someone.....

Currently 2.6yrs and going beyond that so it would seem. ?

Our 600 visa showed we were allowed multiple entries in the year and we could stay for 12 months maximum each time, so we left in the eleventh month for a week in Bali and then returned and stayed for a further 12 month period.

Brenda

What health insurance did you have please?

Thanks

Thanks for your two replies Kath and good to know that I'm not the only single. Maybe we should set up our own support group, though I'll have to investigate how to do that! I also am reluctant to rent out my house as having done this before I found it just wasn't worth it, but then selling up (if I only have a temporary visa) is such a big step!

I know it's a risk, and has anyone ever had a 143 visa refused for some reason ! ? I am well, have passed balance of family test. No criminal record haha. So here's hoping!

Hello, we are a couple in our late 60s, who are using an emigration agent. Only a few weeks ago, we contacted them and asked advice on the same problem i.e. 600 visa whilst waiting for 143. We were advised that it was very risky to go out without a return flight and that if you go out with the intention to remain , it could put the 143 at risk of cancellation. Needless to say this worried us and we decided against it. We assume our agent had our best interests at heart as they have already been paid and don't have any ulterior motive.

We also have two married children living in Oz. We keep saying to our grandchildren, one soon to be 8 and one soon to be 5 , that we'll be there in the next few months. Since then we visited last Aug/Sept when our new grandchild was born, and are going again this June/July for her first birthday. As you say, totally fed up, and wishing your life away.All we can do is wait!

Regards Geoff & Gill

I'm pretty sure lots on here have done a 12 month visa whilst waiting. It is usually just as cheap to book a return flight even if you don't use it. I know you have to be offshore when visa granted but not sure how long for etc.,

Hi everyone

I have now joined the band of "fed ups", feeling that my application to join my family is getting nowhere. In Dec 2015 I applied for the 143 visa, hoping to be able to benefit from being able to spend time with my grandchildren while they were still young, but at the rate the visa processing is going, the youngest will have started school by the time I get there! i'm also looking to move on my own as I was widowed 2 years ago and want to be able to pick up my life in Australia where BOTH my children live. Is anyone else in this position, moving singly? Most comments I read on this forum appear to be from couples. It would be good to make contact with others who are in similar circumstances.

 

Anyway, at the moment I feel in limbo land so am now starting to investigate temporary visas to allow me to move over early whilst waiting for my 143 application to be processed. Can anyone advise me what is the best way? I'm thinking the 600 visa, or maybe I am better waiting for the new temporary visa for parents which is coming up in July. Just don't know which would be the best way to go, particularly as I wont want to join another long queueing process. I partly wonder whether the long delays with the CPV are being orchestrated to encourage people in the currently 143/173 queues to redirect down this new temporary parent visa path.

Any advice greatfully received!

Hi Yes I am moving on my own, whenever that will be!! Struggling whether to sell house and do 12mth visa whilst waiting, don't really want to rent it out with all the problems that could arise with that plus tax to sort on the rental income etc .

Not sure how long you would have to be offshore for visa grant. People mention nipping to NZ for a day!!??

My daughter was planning a family around my move. With Looking like 2.8yrs at the moment! Think she might have to go it alone!

Where do we find the new updates? The DIBP website says they will be available online but provide no link & I can't find them.[/quote

 

Not sure how... it is supposed to be from tmrw the 14th I think. Site will probably crash with everyone looking !!

Reading recent posts the speculation seems to be that IMMI have reached, or almost reached, their allocation of CPV.s for this year and are only contacting the Oct 2014'ers in order to get their documentation in place for when the new allocation starts - which will not be until July 2016. Seems to make sense - but offers little comfort to those of us still way down in the queue. Meanwhile I am currently in Brisbane meeting my new granddaughter and I cannot believe how much house prices have increased here - about 20% - 30% over the last 2 years despite the fact that there seems to be a building frenzy everywhere you look. Add to that the decrease in the pound/dollar rate and we are moving further and further north to find something affordable. And then there is article 50 about to be enacted.............. Can you tell I am in a gloomy mood :sad:

I feel your anguish too. By the time mine is due to compete late 2018 the GBP v AUD could be in a right old sorry state! We can only live in hope!