xmascreek

Thanks - I see anchor points mentioned a lot - I assume (?) this is ISOfix ?

My 4.5 year old 5 Series BMW will arrive in Brisbane, late February 2019. I've been through the approval to import process (ticked) and understand that it needs a compliance certificate before I can register it. My question is - what are the odds that a 'new' UK BMW won't comply ? Second is there a list of folks who can do the compliance - the gov search engine makes no sense. And it also seems that I have to drive to the 'rego' with the car in order that they can 'eyeball' it themselves ? Any clear guidance much appreciated.

Back in the UK - it was all a bit of an anticlimax. Went through the electronic gates at Brisbane Int with no fan fair. Had to look for a border patrol person to ask if 'that was it' - his reply was "well if the gates let you in then you have no problem". All seemed too easy after all the tension planing and waiting for the visa

Thanks - applied 13th Dec17 got the confirmation of both 309/100 on 31st Jan 18 - so about 5/6 weeks from UK Wife and Kids are Australian passport holders and we've been married 12 years so I think all that helped for fast processing.

I had my 100/309 granted but we may exceed the time allowed to 'use' it first time as our house is selling very slowly here in the UK. Can I travel out to Australia the first time unaccompanied by my sponsor or does my sponsor need to be with me when I first land?

I'd be interested to see if yours has come through now ? Sounds like a similar case to mine and we got it in 4 weeks

The guidance is quite clear - effectively the 'tourist visa' is not connected to your spousal application. I'm curious, this site is called "Poms in Oz" - most tourist visas in the UK seem to be accepted within 24 hours (normally 4-5hrs). Is your wife applying from the UK and are you a "Pom"?

I think the point is that - it is NOT the 'idillic' place that warrants the smiley, happy, people title. With Suicide above average for OECD and Child abuse by native population a norm in some parts. NOBODY says Rotherham or NT, Aus are on the smiley, happy, people list. If the NT was in the top 10 for happy, smiley, people then I'd agree

The more one looks into it, the more surprising it is - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-43478396

How about this - Suicide rates per 100,000 people Finland - 22.3 Norway - 14.0 Denmark - 9.1 UK - 7.4 Australia - 10.4 Wouldn't suicide rate be a really good guide ? Source - WHO, 2015

Dispo - "We did certified copies of birth certificates, passports, marriage / divorce / name change documents." that's interesting because non of those specific docs we submitted were certified, just colour scanned and submitted. We weren't asked for further docs or to resubmit them, so sounds like your agent was erring on the side of caution. It also indicates, still, that there is no clear guidance from the site. -

From my experience - 888's need to be certified, as do the Statutory Declarations. Other than that if you submit colour scans of reasonable quality via online the other docs don't need to be certified.

Another note Dispo - is that you can apply for Citizenship after 4 years - so should be no reason to need an RRV - unless you're out of the country for more than 25% of the time.

Dispo - well done - we're in the same boat - never expected it to happen so fast. Busy getting the house painted for sale etc. will go out before 23 Dec '18 (maybe just me - luckily I can get the business to pay for flights etc). We did interviews and paid for schools in Brisbane during the (UK) summer holidays when we went out, so our start point is Jan 18. A note to others - both my kids are dual UK/Aus citizens so that may be why it was processed so fast ? Another note for folks looking for jobs - the Christmas break in Australia is a dead zone for jobs, so make sure you arrange prior to Nov or after Jan for interviews etc.

Anupamanoj - are you applying from the UK ? How long have you been married, how long have you been living together, is your partner Australian born, did you submit 888's. Do you share expenses, banks , utilities etc etc. I suspect that each area is examined in detail - including Character requirements - did you fill in that very detailed form about family, employment etc ? It seems clear that there are some cases that are what is called 'tick and flick' ie clear cut, so these progress faster. Maybe they will want more details ?