Bilby47

Hi Linda, We moved from France to Oz in 2017 and had the panic of our mover dropping out about three weeks before the agreed date, fortunately we got Pickfords to replace them. They were brilliant and used their French associates. Everything went smoothly and not a single item was damaged. Most of the organisation was done via phone calls and emails to the UK. Jack

Hi Leana, Alan Collet is the expert in all things "visa". Just follow his advice. Certainly the E600 visa operates for 12 months in any 18 months. It also states that you are allowed 12 months from each arrival. A bit confusing as it was suggested by some that strangely you could leave for a short time and come back to have a fresh 12 month period!! I did not wish to risk that and so when I arrived on my E600 visa I applied for an onshore visa 864 (I had to cancel my 143 application at the same time). I received a bridging visa about 5 weeks later. I suspect that the grant of a permanent visa will be no quicker but at least we do not have to worry about renewing visas or leaving and coming back. Jack

Hi Alan, I did check my 864 notification notice and found our Bridging Visa details. Great news. I must remember to read all of the notifications carefully! Jack

Hi Alan, Nice to chat again. Thanks for all the good advice you have given. Jack

Hi Roger, My wife and I came out on the E600 visa in Dec 2017 having already applied for the 143 visa in May 2016. On arrival we applied onshore for the 864 visa, which entailed cancelling our 143 application and paying another application fee. That was quite easy as all the previous documentation from the 143 was acceptable and did not have to be repeated. I have not been given a bridging visa as yet but I have had two separate notifications about a month apart. One confirmed that my 864 application was accepted and the latter confirmed that my 143 application had been cancelled due to my now current 864 application. Regards, Jack (Bilby47)

I think that Alan Collett's advice to apply for the 864 as you are actually in Australia is a good idea. We are going out in December with an E600 visa and may well apply for the 864 visa while we are there. Another application fee will be required. Other people who have done this have been given a bridging visa until the 864 is awarded (current waiting time is just over 12 months). We are also considering a stay in New Zealand for a short(?) time to wait for our 143. You can keep an eye on waiting times by sending an email to parents@border.gov.au Just leave the subject line blank. Regards,

My wife and I have a 143 application (29.05.2016) ongoing, but as we are Aged Parents should we have applied for visa 864 in one of our regular visits to Oz over the past 10 years? We did not realise that it was possible to apply Onshore during our visits. A change of application is probably not an option even given that the 864 waiting time is allegedly shorter! What are the options for going to Oz and waiting for the 143 to be awarded? Any help would be gratefully received.

If you want the bad news just send an email to parents@border.gov.au Leave the subject area blank and you will automatically receive an email showing the current state of applications for all visas. The 143 information shows that they are currently assessing applications from October 2014!!!!!!!