Bear2015

On 06/02/2021 at 04:36, Marisawright said:

In my experience, rentals have always been hard to find in country towns and cities, and they've always been expensive. 

The reason is that in Australia, investors buy property for capital growth.   Historically, property in the big cities has shown great capital growth whereas in the country, there's been little or none. So if investors do buy in the country, they charge higher rents as that's their only chance at profit.  Plus, of course, scarcity means higher rents too.

The current interest in tree changing/remote working is causing a big spike in interest on top of that.

Thanks Marisa,

That makes sense. I will have to be more proactive with my decision making.

10 hours ago, klr81 said:

We did move to Orange in the end and lived there for 18 months. We enjoyed it and only moved due to better work opportunities that arose in Vic. Glenroi was an area we were advised to steer clear of and my husband worked with tradies who would only do jobs in pairs in certain areas there. Didn't really know much about Bowen. It's a pretty well resourced town for its location and has lots of lovely community events that attract Sydneysiders such as the Food and Wine festivals. If you're in to wine you'll be spoilt for choice with many beautiful wineries and some with great restaurants. We sometimes felt a bit claustrophobic - there are some nice surrounding small towns and villages but not much else. Sometimes the distance to Sydney felt a really long way. It's about a 4 hour drive and whilst there are flights they can be pricey. Train takes about 5 hours depending on the route.  Happy to answer any other specific questions you have

Hi Klr81, thanks so much for taking time to reply. I was thinking of first renting and then observing the area before making a deposit for a purchase. But the rents are quite pricy these days and the houses are grabbed so quickly. I wonder if it’s bcos the university is starting for the new batches from mid February and also if people are moving these days due to the new school year. Or in your opinion has the rental market always been in demand?? 

Hi,

We are planning to relocate and looking to rent or buy a house in Orange, NSW next month. We live in WA and its impossible to do a short weekend trip and check out the area due to the Covid situation. I have heard that there are places to avoid especially Glenroi and Bowen. But some say those places are now cleared of trouble makers  and especially Bowen has new housing estates coming up. Can someone please recommend some good areas that I should short list or areas to avoid. I have already checked on www.homely.com but those replies/recommendations are somewhat old.

Cheers,

13 hours ago, SusieRoo said:

No movements here in the 173 waiting room for almost a year now, except for the occasional tumbleweed rolling past.

Hi Susie,

Don't worry about being a 173. Though there are only a few 173s , we were all called for additional documents before the 143s and visas  granted before or around the 143s of similar dates. My Parents also applied on 2nd Oct to convert their 173 to 143, and the application was taken up in 2 months. Yesterday I was asked to get the Bank Guarantee for Assurance of Support.

9 hours ago, CEJ said:

Hi, 

Anyone know the timeline for 173 to 143 ? 

 

Thanks 

Clare 

Hi CEJ,

Once you get the 173, the conversion to 143 is very quick. My parents were asked to submit AOS around  2.5 months after lodgement Of the 143. You can see details in my Time Line. 

11 hours ago, Samvaz99 said:

Hi Bear,

I had same problem, but I cancelled that application and started new, then it went through..

 

Hi Samvaz,

Thanks for responding. The problem is, I can't even go to the Centrelink drop menu. I'm assuming AOS is placed  under "payments and claims? or is it on another menu?

Judy

Hi,

Is Anyone else having trouble applying  for AOS online? Since Last Friday I keep getting an error message : " Service currently not Available". I have read on the forum that the most efficient way to do the AOS is thru myGov, but I wonder if only I am having this  error message on all my devices. 

39 minutes ago, 5000/1 said:

Congrats Jessyjj

anybody know if you can go on hols to activate 173 visa and do you have a year to activate it ? 

Am still a while away but need to start formulating plans  

Hi 5000/1,

Yes, you can go on holiday to activate the 173. It says no travel restrictions. My parents got 1 year to activate the visa. The old rule where you should be in  Australia before the police report or Medicals approach 1 year didn’t apply to them.  

19 hours ago, Kathss56 said:

Can anyone who has filled in form 929 re change of passport help.  How do you know if homeaffairs have updated your passport number

they have said its 40 days processing. Good job I didn’t wait until the very end of my expiry date! 

Do you just cross your fingers and hope it has been done before returning to Australia ??   Can’t see anywhere on my immi account that shows my passport number etc.,

thanks 

Hi Kath,

Last year my father was in your same situation. He was advised to take both old and new passport and also his email informing Immi. 

He explained the situation at the gates And  there was no problem  as Immi staff said they will update it.( it was still showing the old passport number).  However after a couple of days he got an  email confirming that the records were updated. 

Hope this helps.

Judy. 

On 08/09/2019 at 21:22, Rosiejaq said:

It’s very hard to know times as we started our processing in Feb 2019 and are still waiting for Aos to complete...our daughter rang the special number and was told off for bothering them despite the fact we’ve been waiting 6 months!  It’s hard to carry on with life while worrying about this as we end our job and lose our accommodation at the end of October and we thought everything would be done and dusted after 50 months!!!

Rosiejaq,

I can remember some time ago, a parent  on the forum  had a similar problem with the AOS, and finally the child got in touch with the local member who  intervened  and the process was expedited. 

If anyone can remember that post pls give Rosie some help.

8 minutes ago, SusieRoo said:

Congratulations Bear2015, good to see you’ve finally made it. Best wishes for you and your family.  

Thanks Susie, you are getting closer too....

Finally, Visa Granted. Received the 2nd Vac request yesterday, And at around 3PM Perth time today we received the grant notification.... SOOOOO HAPPY......

The other  173s got their Visas granted much earlier but we had a bit of an issue : End of July we were contacted by Immi , since our CO decided to go that extra mile and request Police checks again; this time  from Birth . This  took another 3 weeks. 

Anyway, at last after such a long  wait , I can finally have my parents to stay forever. 

Good luck to all of you  for speedy Visa Grants. 

45 minutes ago, Marilyn said:

Ditto - going to stop answering those requests. Even if you have answered it at the top of this screen and again in the previous screen the same question is asked

What's worse is that some members are eager to find out other people's progress/time lines but are so reluctant to share their own application progress. I Wish everyone updates their signature line and make it a 'Give and take" type Forum. This is such an important forum and the only way to find out what is really going on at Immi.

On 17/05/2019 at 05:48, CEJ said:

Hi what date did you apply for your 173 ?? 

Thanks 

@pmindia

Can you pls share your lodgement date? 

22 hours ago, sh aron said:

i was asked to submit further documents in feb 2018 , all submitted in March and 173 visa grant in july 2018

Dear Sh aron, 

Can you pls let me know  when  you were  contacted by Immi to pay the 2nd vac? Or Approximately  how many weeks after submitting the documents? 

Judy. 

Hi @surfersj

Any news from Immi? And also I would like to know if you were given 28 days or 70 days to submit documents. My parents were given 70 days from 6th Feb 2019.

Thanks & Good luck 

10 hours ago, Sharad Guru said:

Requested for pcc’s and medicals on 16:02:2019

aos lodged last week.

yesterday got a call from centrelink regarding interview and bond payment.

 

That was quick! Which Centrelink office is this? Hope it’s in WA. 

16 minutes ago, freedy50 said:

My wife and I were asked for documents last March and got our visa about the middle of November, but that was with my wife needing to have an operation after the medical. So that was 8 months. If everythings ok with your parents it could be quicker?

Hi Freedy50,

I’m assuming you also applied for a 173? If so, after your wife’s operation, how long did it take up to visa grant? 

Hi everyone,

Good news- My parents have been invited to provide further documents. (medicals, police report and form 80) within 70 days. They applied for 173 on 2nd October 2015. 

@Rosiejaq Any news? 

2 hours ago, Bev50Bradley said:

Sorry, only just seen this message, I don’t know which is, but have previously dealt with the Cannington office for my Medicare card, so I will probably go there.

Thanks Bev50Bradley,

Thats great to here, because Cannington is the closest Centre link office  for me as well. I know there’s a lot of time for my mum, but I’m gathering all the info whenever the oppertunity  arises. It’s so exciting to see the queue moving fast. 

12 hours ago, vicky bajwa said:

I got request for aos and police clearance certificates on 13 August 2018 and applied for aos on 22 August 2018 at wanneroo centreline. Just waiting for aos. All other documents are already submitted.

My lodgement for 173 to 143 is 28 September 2017. What about you???

Hi Vicky, 

Just to confirm, you did not have to do the medical again when converting your 173 to 143? 

28 minutes ago, dunken said:

Hello Everyone... I applied 173 visa for my parents in December 2016. 

Is it possible to change 173 application to 143 application without loosing any processing time? Please help

I have written to immigration on behalf of my parents to check the same thing. Their advice was that :  we have to withdraw the 173 and apply for a new 143 , and my parents  will loose their place in the queue as it will be a new application.

 So Dunken , hold on to your spot. 

On 15/10/2018 at 12:45, Bev50Bradley said:

Hi there

Youhave not been forgotten, I don’t think anyone who applied from July 15 has heard anything.

i am living in Perth on a E600 visa it last for 12 months but you cannot ask for an extension unless you have extenuating circumstances, you have to leave the country and reapply offshore. I am on my second E600 with no problems. I went back to the U.K. for a visit and reapplied it came through in 4 days.

Hi Bev50Bradley,

I was wondering if you have found out which Centrelink is the most efficient to handle AOS in Perth? Hoping your invitation  comes soon. 

6 hours ago, michaleasmum said:

Hi,  I am currently in Oz on a600 which, expires 28/10 I applied for an extension, which was denied, but not before I had paid $360 to apply.  I now have to come home and apply for another in 6 months.   Submitted 143 in September 15 like everyone else I have not heard anything!  

Anyone any idea, when I might be advised to apply for Police checks etc???

Hi michaleasmum, 

Just a clarification please, Did Immi inform you that you have to wait for 6 months to apply for the new 600 visa, or is it that you are assuming because of the “12 months in 18 months”  rule? I’m asking because my parents’ are facing the same situation as you. Their visa is expiring in November and by then finished their 12 months stay. I remember once reading in some forum that for a new visa you do not need to wait for 6 months. PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG. It’s pointless paying the visa fee and then getting rejected. I’m assuming you also have the 8503 condition attached to the visa.