SusieRoo

Good news! Parents are now classified as immediate family and can travel to Australia on a visitors visa from 1st November.

NSW opens to vaccinated overseas visitors from 1st November without the need for any type of quarantine! Good news for a lot of parents who can now be with their families at Xmas. 

5 hours ago, bicek said:

Did it take roughly 12 weeks then? Everyone keeps warning me it will be delayed a lot due to global Container shortages and other issues. 

That's great yours arrived fairly quickly under the circumstances. 

I don’t think there is a problem with container shortages. Sailing time is only about six weeks and any delay is due to the time it takes to consolidate a number of MoveCubes into a full container. We are currently living in South Melbourne, which is very close to the port, so I guess this may have helped with our delivery (less than a week from ship arriving to receiving our stuff).

5 hours ago, bicek said:

Did your contents arrive safely with no damage, mould or mildew? Did you pack it all yourself? And did you insure it? If so who with? 

No sign of damp, all packed by us and you wouldn't have noticed any difference from closing the MoveCubes in the UK to opening the doors here. We didn't ship any large items, no mattresses or white goods, everything was in cardboard boxes so I’m not sure if this makes a difference. Also, I don’t think they inspected anything as no boxes had been opened.

Our two Sevenseas MoveCubes arrived here in Melbourne this week, after leaving the UK in late May. It was a very positive experience without any problems. Very good communications from Sevenseas, their website is easy to use and you can track the progress of the ship (we even got to watch the ship arriving in Melbourne). At both ends the drivers were on time, very helpful and friendly. All costs were as per the original quote and no additional charges when we changed the delivery address in the last week. Two large MoveCubes cost about £2,500 plus AU$700.

Having lived in Australia now for a few months (and now in my third lockdown), I can confirm that the response to covid here is a real shit-show of political incompetence, weak journalism and an apathetic people. There is no realism or acceptance and the latest four-stage plan to get to 80%+ jabbed is just a pipe dream.

Australia has dug herself into a ‘zero covid’ hole and it will take a paradigm shift across society before she rejoins the rest of the world.

The saddest part for me, is to witness how a once proud nation has been transformed into fragmented and competing groups.

From the perspective of parent visas, it’s hard to see borders fully reopening for a few years.

5 hours ago, kimboslice said:

Finally made it to Australia.

It’s been a long and emotional journey but worth the wait.

We are on day 8 of our quarantine, very lucky with the hotel, balcony overlooking the Brisbane river. Food not the best but hey ho it’s only for 2 weeks and could do with losing weight.

Grandchildren FaceTimeing everyday, that’s what it’s all about.

Would like to thank everyone on pio for all the advice along the journey, it’s been over 5 years and couldn’t have done it without you all.

Stay in there and your turn will come.

Mark 

Good to hear you made it to Qld and I’m very envious of your balcony and view. I’m on day 13 down in Melbourne (release day tomorrow) and husband is just starting his solitarily confinement in Sydney.

This forum has also been my lifeline for the last five years and a big thank you to everyone.

On 15/06/2021 at 19:21, LBee said:

@Lady Jane once you booked flights, did you have any additional paperwork to complete.  My husband and I are planning travelling at the end of Sept, we got visa granted November 2020.  Any information would be great.

When you arrive at airport check-in you will be asked for printed copies of your Australian Travel Declaration (with QR code), a Fit to Fly Covid test certificate and with Qatar Airways, a signed consent form. These all need to be paper copies and not digital or you will not be able to check-in.

Also, it’s worth researching other travellers hotel quarantine advice and packing any extra items you may need. This can be specific to which city you fly in to, as each state or territory has it own set of rules.

Personally I found hotel quarantine very tough, but others seem to fair much better. I think it depends on what type of person you are and what type of life you normally have.

3 hours ago, Katherin2016 said:

Hi everyone 

I just got the VAC 2nd payment request today ! 
At least they are processing The application now . 
 

Congratulations!

For reference, we received our 2nd VAC request on Monday morning, paid by BPAY the same day and our visas were granted Tuesday morning (yesterday). I hope yours is just as speedy.

Can’t really believe it, but our 143 visas were granted this morning!

15 hours ago, Kathss56 said:

WELL!

they have stuck to their word and started issuing parent visas to those onshore as from today. 
Got my grant this morning after 5yrs 5days!
Good luck to the others waiting, as at least we know now they saved us a place !

Brilliant news! So pleased for you and best wishes for the future.

9 hours ago, Canda said:

Hello everyone, newbie poster here… Just wondering if there are any other CPV143 holders due to fly into Melbourne in the next couple of months that have any updated information on flight cancellations/changes? We are due to fly into Melbourne, mid-April and just don't know whether to wait to see if the airport reopens by then or to change our flights to another airport. Any advice or shared knowledge welcome, as it is so difficult to find out anything.

I have been closely following the situation in Melbourne, in hope that we may be able to travel ourselves this year. I watched Dan Andrews on Sky News yesterday, saying he has no plans to re-start international flights.

In my opinion the Victorian premier is pedalling fear to further his political agendas. He has cultivated strong (cult like) support from many terrified people in Melbourne and his popularity increases with each border closure and lockdown. He has just extended his emergency powers until December, which I believe makes planning to fly directly in to Melbourne unpredictable this year.

In contrast, NSW is taking a far more sensible (and more typically Australian) approach to international arrivals and quarantine. So this would be my choice when booking a flight into Australia. I guess Melbourne will re-open at some stage, but I if there is a chance to re-book from a MEL to a SYD flight, I would jump at the chance and not wait.

22 hours ago, LindaH27 said:

I’m sure this has been asked before but if someone could help now rather than scrolling way way back in the forum I would be grateful! 
 

If my sponsor has moved and changed jobs how do I or they inform the dept. ?

It would be to change the information first lodged on form 40 wouldn’t it? 
I know form 1022 is Change of circumstances but who fills it in and sends it off - I assume it is the sponsor but how do they link it to my application please? 
 

Also I’m beginning to think I would prefer my sponsor to deal with my  ongoing application - nearly 4 years in now. Do  I fill in form 956A to tell immi? 
Thank you for any help!! 

My son moved a couple of times during our wait and we didn’t inform immi (couldn’t find any requirement to do this). All the information will be updated anyway when completing form 80 in the final stages of processing, so no need to worry now. We have used form 929 to update our own details a few times, which is very easy to do via email.  

22 minutes ago, Heading4Tassie said:

We have used pet air for sending our fur kid. 

Good luck with your move, we hope to be doing the same soon (Melbourne via quarantine in Sydney). Can I ask what it costs the ship your dog with pet air? And will your dog be flying directly to Melbourne?

15 hours ago, Iron Chef said:

Allow around 3 months for the whole process. If it's a classic car (over 25 years old), your husband can register the car as a historic vehicle, which is a much easier and cheaper process than normal registration. No problems with the car going to your house or wherever before completing the registration process.

Thank you for the info. Unfortunately our vehicle is a mere 24 years old so not yet a true classic, but I'm wondering if there is any merit in putting it on a Carnet de Passage en Douane for a year. Then taking the “much easier and cheaper process” option for the official import when its 25. What sort of saving could we expect to make importing it as a classic as apposed to a personal import? Also, are you located in Australia or the UK?  

9 hours ago, desert-eagle said:

Switched over from 103 to 143 on 12/10/2020. I have received Acknowledgement Letter 25/10/2020 no movement after that.

I was expecting the process to be quicker as my Original queue date is ( 01/07/2015 ) 

Thoughts ? Has anyone switched over recently ?

 

I would have normally expected you to go straight to the front on the 143 queue and be quickly contacted by a case officer. It makes me think they may have reached the cap for this year and we might not see any more visas processed until the start of the 2021/22 year in July. It’s also possible that they need to hold back places in this years allocation for all the onshore 143 applicants who now do not need to leave and return.

How long will it take to ship a vehicle from the UK to Melbourne?

We are anticipating being in Australia in June/July (this year) and trying to plan when best to send our 4x4 so it arrives at roughly the same time.

Also, if we were to be delayed, can the vehicle be moved from the port and stored (off road) before completing compliance and roadworthy inspections. My husband would like to be present at this time as it’s his classic hobby car.

1 hour ago, CarolinaV said:

Hi Hannah, could you please share when you paid the AOS? We paid it last May and still waiting to hear back about 2nd VAC. Thank you! 

What date did you apply for your visa? There was a surge of visas granted towards the end of last year and I think they would have been in a similar timeline to yours. If so, it’s possible that something has been overlooked. I know there have been situations in the past when Centrelink approves the AoS, but fails to tell immi. Have you emailed a copy of the AoS confirmation to your case officer?

We’re planning (hoping) to fly our two dogs to Australia from the UK sometime around June or July this year.

With all the unpredictability of border closures and travel bans, I would ideally like to travel at the same time and on the same aircraft as the dogs. I’m not sure how feasible this is, but I feel very anxious about something untoward happening and ending up with the dogs on different sides of the world to us.

So my questions are,

    1)   Do you think it’s possible to arrange travel on the same aircraft (clearly not all in the cabin although that would be nice)? And which airline would be the most accommodating and flexable?

    2)   With Mickleham now being so busy, how soon would we realistically need to book quarantine places for June/July? Or are we already too late for this timeline?

Both dog have current Australian import permits and are fully up to date with RNAT etc.

7 hours ago, Kathss56 said:

We did it!!

Well done @Kathss56 that’s fabulous news and congratulations on your soon to be granted visa!

3 hours ago, Sherlock said:

2 - Applied for 143 in Nov 2018. What's the realistic timeline that I should expect to reach top of the queue? I know it's very hard to predict, but just some estimation based on your experience would be great.

Realistically you probably have 8 years still to wait.

On 11/01/2021 at 13:55, Chelkni said:

Hi. Is any one else having problems getting answer from home affairs re confirmation that the 173 visa entry expiry date will be reviewed

What about applying for your 143 now, before your 173 expires?

1 hour ago, KathyN said:

Today we received a call (!!!) from our case officer about my travel plans. The case officer was very considerate and accommodating, saying that as soon as I am cleared at immigration clearance and in the boarding area in Brisbane, they will do the paperwork to issue my grant letter straight away.

So if you get notice that your visa has been granted before boarding your flight, you should be able to simply stay in Australia and re-enter back through customs. No need to actually fly, which must be safer for everyone. It may be worth just taking hand luggage and arrive many hours early to give more time to get the visa before your flight departs.  

2 hours ago, Kathss56 said:

They won’t grant as I’m onshore.  When I pay for it they will just say let us have travel plans when I have them.  Like they did with someone else previously on here.  Will be nice to know “it’s there waiting”  but doesn’t help my current situation.  No agent. 

I can see how important it is to get the ‘no further stay’ condition removed, as even a new three-month tourist visa would give you some breathing space. What about NZ, do they have open flights now? This would at least save you having to travel back here with all the problems and cost of quarantine.

1 hour ago, Kathss56 said:

Many congratulations what a relief for you ! ( says she secretly fuming they are so out of date order )

Don’t worry @Kathss56 I’m sure yours won’t be too long now. Are you still in Australia?