Debstu

Thanks so much for the info, will check out BUPA. Are they the cheapest or just one of the better ones or are they about all the same cost wise?

We are about to embark on a new life in Australian on 457 visa. We have also applied for our 143 parental visa. Due to arrive in Melbourne beginning of September. We are both in our early 50's , any idea how much private medical insurance might cost us and is it on a sliding age scale , I have 2 monthly prescriptions for blood pressure and asthma. Thanks for any help.

Got my appointment for Saturday morning £295 . Just got everything crossed for a successful result.

Thank you, there's one quite close so that's a bonus,any idea of costs please?

I am on my partners 457 visa application and have had to fill in a medical questionnaire and then a medical examination. Anyone else had to do this and where do I have to go for this any ideas?

Sorry everyone it's not the Assurance of Support documents it's his sponsor documents. He has completed them except for the bit about his previous addresses. He is wondering how vigilant they are with checking his previous addresses as he originally arrived in Australia as a gap year student and got a job, married and had children. Obviously he has his two most recent addresses and dates from and to. It's his previous addresses he is struggling with as he did a bit of sofa surfing and youth hosteling prior to meeting his wife. The forms require addresses and dates for the past 10 years. He has been in Australia for 8 of those years. He has had to submit this information for his own visa some time ago and is worried they will compare information supplied against that previously given as he can't remember what he put. Help.

We submitted our 143 visa application to a U.K. based MARA agent last October but have recently found out that my son needs to submit his Assurance of Support documents before this can be lodged. Can you tell me if this is right as it seems this is something usually requested further into the process. I am quite angry that this has not been submitted yet as the wait for the grant of this visa is long enough without this holding things up further. Thank you

We have just had ours lodged this week and our Immi Agent says current processing times are from 86 days to 6 months!! We are applying from the UK but with an Australian Immi Agent. Not sure why the huge time difference , maybe depends on how straightforward the application is.

Been quoted £3240 for 655 cubic metres in a shared container with Anglo Pacific including packing up in UK and unpacking in Melbourne. I think that's a reasonable price any other thoughts from anyone??

Thanks Buzzy Bee that's encouraging. It's a massive stress when moving your life to the other side of the world without worrying about my cats as well. We are just waiting for the Job offer/contract to be negotiated then hopefully we will be arriving around June time. Looking at the Bayside area as my son lives in Mordialloc and the job is in Mornington, we like Bonbeach/ Seaford. Will keep you updated with progress.

We have just been quoted by AirPets for 2 cats UK to Melbourne £2798 for both and $1798 dollars each quarantine for 10 days. Works out just shy of £5000. Such a lot of money but leaving them behind is not an option.

Thanks to all for the feedback. Guess it's a bit of a lottery but will take all your comments on board. Thanks Pom Queen for your suggestions seems like a good idea to offer the cleaning options, may help to sway owners in our favour.

My partner had just been offered a job in Mornington VIC and we will be looking at renting around the Bonbeach area as its midway between my son in Mordialloc and Mornington and needs to be walking distance to the Frankston line for me as only looking at one car. I keep hearing that we may have a problem renting with our two indoor cats. Does anyone know wether this is something to worry about. They are completely housetrained and leaving them behind is not an option. We will be arriving around June /July time and can pay 6 months rent in advance. Any one else found this to be a problem?

Hi Nemesis, sorry what I meant was he just missed the boat for the employer skilled migration visa. All these visas it gets confusing. Just wondered if it's likely a 50 year old could get a 457 employer sponsered visa.

We have applied for our CPVisas but was wondering what job opportunitys might be available for my OH. He's been in the motor trade since leaving school and is ATA accredited. Are 457 visas available for 50 year olds. I know he's just missed the boat for employer sponsorship. Excited at the prospect of being close to our son and new babies but worried about potential work prospects. Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Thank you

Oh dear,that sounds ominous. Let's hope it not so bad for us, really hope so.

Hi Nemesis, he is looking for a employer to sponsor him on a 457 visa. But if that doesn't materialise we will have to wait for our 143 to come through. Quite nervous though about the job prospects going by the comments if age might be an issue. There are always plenty of jobs advertised in the bayside area of Melbourne on SEEK and Indeed job websites. Fingers crossed it's not all doom and gloom given what we are giving up in our comfortable life in the UK just not happy to be away from the grandchildren.

My other half is just 50 and on the wanted skills list and a vehicle painter. He is on the books of an agency that specialises in the automotive industry and looking for a sponsor for him. I have been a finance manager of a smallish manufacturing company and am pretty multi skilled, can turn my hand to most things and won't mind a complete change of career. Would even stack shelves at the local supermarket but mainly hope to be a support for my son and his young family. My son is confident we will be able to get work so I trust his judgement. What makes you think it will be so hard for us as that's a worry!

Ahh I did wonder if that might be the case. When are you planning on actually going as your status says you are still here and where are you relocating to.

Hi Fisher 1. We have just applied for our 143 visa and are 50 and 57 so will be working and contributing to the economy when we arrive. Not all parent migrants are of pensionable age. We are very much looking forward to the challenge of building a new life for ourselves and spending time with our new grandchildren. Can I ask how you managed to get your CPV so quickly, we just submitted ours and we're quoted 12 - 24 months for allocation of a case worker! Just interested in how you did it!

Thanks for that Alan I didn't realise it was open to overseas applicants to add their opinions but I suppose it's us with an interest that it applies too although obviously the monetary aspect will affect the Australian economy too.

That's a shame if the case as not all parents of migrants are aged/retired. Surely it's a better option if we can work and contribute to the economy. Just got to wait and see I suppose. Thanks for the reply anyway.

Hi Leanne Thanks for the quick reply Our visa has only been lodged this week and when we arrive we both want to work as my partner is only just 50. Not sure if this new visa , once the details have been worked out will include people who want to work or are of working age or just aged / retired parents. Was kind of hoping once it comes into force that it would be a quicker route to getting over as I think the current wait for outside Australia applications is around 24 - 27 months...ouch.

I saw a media release today by Alex Hawke MP minister for Immigration and Border Protection which was talking about a new 5 year temporary sponsored parent visa which is due to be implemented July 2017. As we have just submitted our 143 visa application and have been told it could be 24 months before consideration could this be our way in, cheaper in the short term and quicker processing time?

Thanks for that Bungo, much aappreciated.