Amy Shiraz

Glad you & your family will be ok Ramot. If you have time to explain I would be interested in what's happened previously. We are quite new to this but I am trying to glean as much info as possible before making a decision. You are obviously knowledgeable. We were thinking of applying for an 804 originally, but there are several drawbacks & are now thinking of an 864. Your views would be very much appreciated if you can spare the time.

Yes see your point. We will take out private health care. We are healthy at mo - dare I say - but you never know what's ahead.

I don't think paying $110,000 for a visa + paying for our own private health care will constitute us robbing the Government. This is backed up by the Assurance from our son. I'm sure that there are many healthy pensioners who never have cause to impinge on the health system, as we do not here, and therefore the Government must gain from people like us.

Take your point Marisa, but sadly your suggestion not an option or ever likely to be.

Completely understand your anger and you have our total sympathy. I have only been sorting through the maze of moving to Australia for the last couple of months and we are eligible but, as you say, you need to weigh up everything and it is exhausting. It is no doubt devastating for you - do hope there is a way around it. It had crossed our minds, however, that the visa costs (already huge) may increase mid application, as you would only have paid the deposit until the very end of the process.

Thank you for the Guardian article Skani. I am shocked to find out that the Government has passed this already and that it may increase again next year. My son, my only child, may just earn enough, but I believe he has to have been at that level for three years and he probably wasn't earning that much when first there. Seems a heartless Government. I understand they need to control immigration, but parents! Very sad.

I believe the Assurance of Support is increasing in April 2019 from $14,000 to $21,000 per couple. Can someone tell me at the time of the increase in April 2019, how much two Assurers should be earning to cover two adults migrating please? Difficult to find the answer. I would be interested to know the earnings required for one Assurer to cover two adults migrating too, but think this may be too high in our case.

If my husband & I apply for this visa in Australia we wondered at what stage we know if we have been granted the visa. Presumably we pay deposit, then have & pay for medicals & Police checks. If we pass checks are we told then whether we have visa or not before we make the huge final payment. We are worried we may lose all our money by being asked for the whole amount & then it not being granted.