laf

Good idea mhaffie and thanks for the update. If everyone has to have one I might as well apply now too.  Jon the hat kindly informed me that the endorsement is no big deal, the reason it was putting me off.  I thought it was something similar to the sponsorship and couldn't think who to get involved in lots of paperwork. 

At least the sun's appeared, 26 deg on Thursday , make the most of it.

I always feel so much healthier in the sunshine!  Not too much of it here at the moment.

At the first sign of any change I'll be on here in seconds to let you know!  I've already gone past the record processing time of 23 days! 

That was good.  My doctor just said everything she'd checked was fine.  I did have a medical about ten years ago when GPs were calling everyone in for a general health check.  It wasn't very useful as it was mostly asking questions, weighing, measuring etc.  It was more for people that never visit the doctor, lack insight into general health problems or neglect themselves.

She did get the needle in straight away but it hurt more than usual and she said there would probably be a bruise!  Pleased my arms have been covered for winter. 

No idea why I remember school medicals.  Nothing awful ever happened other than being singled out because I didn't have a reaction to the BCG injection which showed I was immune and I didn't like being different!

I had all of those things checked and had the worst blood test bruise which lasted over a week.  I had a historical medical episode that wasn't asked on the questionnaire but I took a consultant letter stating everything was fine ongoing so she was pleased I showed it to her.  Lucky you escaped the breast examination as considering you've been married for more than 30 years you must be over 40 !  I also felt a bit stressed, maybe it was being in a different venue to a hospital and it reminded me of school medicals!

That's a relief it's over.  Lucky that you avoided the full examination, can't imagine it was because you had a male doctor and I had a female.  She did offer a chaperone but I declined.

Mine said results were received and passed to BUPA after a few days but took a week to say it was finalised. 

23 hours ago, mhaffie said:

Thank you very much, I reckon a few minutes of me stripped to my underwear will have them wishing they’d skipped breakfast I’ll be glad when it’s all done and dusted, I can’t see the waiting times reverting back to a year or our Medicals will be out of date, you aren’t usually prompted to take them straight away which indicates to me that the processing times can’t be that long, fingers crossed, hope we all get some news soon.

Oh to be young again !  Think of those lovely beaches in Cairns.  I always try and remind myself of some of the horrors the doctors must witness.  

Your application sounds very similar to mine so at least if I hear you probably will shortly after. I must drop it down to looking every other day!

12 hours ago, mhaffie said:

I didn’t think about P60’s or wage slips, if they want them we have plenty, tho we we did scan lots of bank statements showing salary being paid in. I had a list to check off too, I’d have got in a real muddle otherwise, we’ve been together over 30 years so I had to make sure I didn’t overload them with evidence, I think they’d have slipped into a coma had I sent everything I had my other half is always telling me I keep too much paperwork, he’s eating his words now. My medical is next Wednesday, I’ve had all the paperwork emailed to me today explaining what I should expect, it includes a picture of a male and female pictured in their underwear, I’ll be eating salad and exercising a lot, at least till Wednesday Good luck to you too, I’ll keep looking in for any news.

Immi know more about our financial and personal business than any other organisation, although the Daily Mail would have also needed to know our house price!  If their processing times have slipped back to around a year I will become totally OCD if I carry on checking everyday!

Just to warn you I had to strip down to my underpants.  Over 40s have to have a breast examination.  I was nearly late due to taking a wrong turn and ran part of the way so was a bit concerned my blood pressure would be high.  Luckily it has a low starting point so was fine.

Hope it goes well for you.

I'm sure they will soon redesign the attachment headings and drop-downs as it looks as if most people won't know what to attach where!  As you say as long as it's all there somewhere it should be OK.  I'm glad I had a list to cross off things as I attached them otherwise I would have got in a real muddle!

I'll keep my eye on this thread because as I mentioned before I don't get email notifications.

Good luck!

On 4/4/2018 at 06:03, snifter said:

Some people do do this. Mainly for the financial aspect of the relationship and often if the sponsor is the main earner. Its used to reflect how they support their family prior to lodging and then often people explain they plan to seek work etc and do the same once in Aus. It can also show how money comes into a bank account and then filters out with spending by both parties IYKWIM. 

We sent in the sponsor's P.60 and copies of our bank statements which are all in both names.

16 hours ago, mhaffie said:

Hi Laf, thanks very much. Application all done now thankfully, will try sort Medical out next week, then it’s just a waiting game and obsessively checking emails, I’ll update when I get any news after my medical, hope you have had a nice weekend

Congratulations and good luck. Did you find it as difficult as expected, stressful and very time-consuming? Did system immediately ask you to arrange the medical?

Yes my weekend was good and probably more relaxing than yours!  The three of us waiting now.

13 hours ago, mhaffie said:

Hi ‘both’
Things sound like they are moving in the right direction, exciting stuff, enjoy your Easter weekend and I hope you get more news soon

You too Mhaffie and good luck with getting yours sent off this weekend.

Haha good idea. You're a bit ahead of my 17th March submission I think.  I'll continue to update on here.

23 minutes ago, Jon the Hat said:

Under the Assessment page of the application it now says "Health Clearance provided - no action required" and below that a wordy bit saying then case now proceed with assessing my application etc.

Yes I know we'll be soo disappointed if the processing times revert back to the year long wait. 

I've checked again and good news my health assessment has been updated to "All health examinations required for the specified visa subclass have been finalised. Processing of this person's visa application can now continue. This will not occur until a case officer investigates the case in line with published processing times for the visa that has been applied for. Do not contact the department about health examinations in the meantime."

I am checking the site daily (obsessive!) in case I miss an email from them amongst all the spam and also because not all status changes are emailed. I have all the appropriate alerts for POI too but don't get emails only banners if I happen to be online.  

Yes let's hope.  Do you know if the medical status changes?  They informed me the results had been passed to BUPA but wonder if I will be given an update.  I haven't carried out the police check yet.  I'm waiting till they ask and if they need a sponsor's check.

It will be the same for us. We can't start making permanent plans unless I have residency so we'll have to make a holiday visit, luckily staying at our daughter's.  The site is now saying 10 to 13 months processing time.

5 minutes ago, Nemesis said:

You think Sydney is humid? Cairns will knock Sydney for six, no comparison there!!

Need to avoid the rainy season I suppose.  Humidity is easier to cope with if it's a beach/pool holiday or in a city with air conditioned shops and restaurants. I think Singapore is the most humid place I've visited. Some people manage to stay looking dry regardless.

Is it OK to discuss this in the visa forum?!!  Don't want to be blacklisted.

20 hours ago, mhaffie said:

I think you would like Cairns as long as you can cope with the humidity, it’s a beautiful place and there’s lots to see, it’s very laid back...it’s nice to hear other people’s stories and to know their destinations...I still haven’t had the 888 back I’ve been waiting for so I’ll probably submit without it, I hate keep pestering people, I’m sure it won’t make a huge difference to our application we’ve been together a very long while and have lots of evidence.

I don't mind any levels of heat but Sydney is very humid which my hair in particular hates!  Cairns will definitely be on our "to do" list.  Australia isn't exactly a budget holiday destination which makes it an expensive add-on when visiting Sydney.  

I hope my two 888s are sufficient as like you we have a very long marriage!  I didn't feel family ones had as much weight as friends. I agree you should add the other one on later and get your application in especially as you want to do it over the Easter break.

I agree there wasn't much going on at Airlie.  We flew back to Sydney from Hamilton Island and had a lovely short day there. It will be good to see more in the future and stay somewhere like Cairns as we're urban/coastal lovers. 

I went out there, full-fare paying as it was only intended to be a short working holiday, met my husband and stayed eight years. We came back here for parental support when we started our family and have stayed ever since. So far two out of three kids have acquired Aus citizenship and one lives there.

Wow Cairns, lovely and tropical.  Is that where your partner is from.  I've only been to Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays in Qld.  

26 minutes ago, mhaffie said:

Hi Laf, I believe the status does change but wouldn’t like to guess when that would be, checking for updates and emails is all you can do really, although you aren’t in any mad rush I imagine it’s still an anxious wait, it’s nice to see progress, if you don’t mind me asking where in Australia are you hoping to settle?

I actually remembered incorrectly.  The sponsorship status says "submitted".  You're right and it's just obsessive, impatient behaviour although it sounds quite normal from what you read on here.  Sydney is our destination, most expensive city unfortunately.  It's the only place we're familiar with and our daughter lives there.  What about you?

On 3/22/2018 at 09:20, mhaffie said:

Hi Laf, I’m glad your medical is over, something else to check off your list. To be honest the booklet needs removing and it’s about time they updated the procedure. I’m not sure whether it would be an option going to your GP but it does makes sense. I’ve not done my police checks, like you I would wait till I was prompted, although I want my visa I’m not in any mad rush, other things need to fall in place first so I’m happy just to wait for instruction. I just looked through ACRO paperwork yesterday when you asked about the endorser, lots of people must encounter these sort of problems, so I’m sure they’ll point you in the right direction.

Thanks, it reminded me of school medicals a very long time ago!  Good to see you have the same idea to wait till prompted for the police check.  I'm definitely not in a rush, more would just like to know I've got it and when I'll need to book a trip to activate it! I'm logging on daily to check for updates in case any emails go astray. The sponsorship form still says received, I don't know whether the status will change.   

Thanks mhaffie. I had my medical today. The site has acknowledged it and says the system will be updated when they have the results.  The possibly out-of-date information booklet says the office will advise when police checks are required so I think I'll wait to see when they ask then enquire about the endorsement procedure. I've realised going to my GP is an option, I have a feeling they don't have time to sign such things nowadays. Can't remember if you've applied for yours?

On 19/03/2018 at 16:26, Jon the Hat said:

No they didn't request, but I haven't seen anyone say it wasn't requested, so thought I might as well get on with it.  

Sorry to ask possibly a silly question but how does the police check endorsement work?  I don't have any friends who have known me for two years on their list of occupations. Do I have to go in person to e.g. my GP with documentation?

The three of us might hear around the same time so can celebrate or commiserate together!!