thomas1965

54 minutes ago, TinaH said:

So maybe that is the reason why you @thomas1965 can log through MyGov

Not sure I follow - the centerlink website is exactly the same ... just different way to log in via mygov.

50 minutes ago, TinaH said:

The email address will be from pvc team 1. 

No email from pvc team 1

5 minutes ago, Zaki said:

Did you get mail from PVC team 1? 

How do you tell? The invitation to complete AoS/medicals/PC is just signed off by "JS, Parent Visa Centre" ... nothing mentioning PVC team 1.

41 minutes ago, whataday said:

It is getting really slow at present.

I think they're just slow updating the processing date on the email. The info in this forum and other immigration forums shows they're processing applications beyond the 20-april-2015 date listed in the email.

The fact that people like me are getting invitations to complete AoS/medical/police clearance shows there's definitely been progress in the past 2 months, even though the email date has been static.

16 minutes ago, SusieRoo said:

Am I correct in thinking you can now apply for the AoS at any time (online) and do not need to wait to be instructed by immi?

Not sure ... what was preventing you from lodging a paper based form earlier (without an invitation from immi)? The electronic form asks for some information from immi invitation letter - not sure if you can access this from other places.

21 minutes ago, kimboslice said:

thought it was 12 months

You're right - i misread their original email: "Applicants should also be aware that for our purposes medical examinations and police certificates have a validity of only 12 months, and depending on the results of some medical examinations this validity is only for 6 months."

9 minutes ago, Judy said:

There are those of us in the queue that lodged visa applications before 25 June that are still waiting for invitations for the next step. 

Getting the 'next step' email might be of little comfort. The home affairs site says 90% of 143 applications are being processed in 39 months.

The 'next step' email is clear about the fact that medicals and police clearance are only valid for 6 months, so they could in-fact lapse, before we're even assigned a case officer. Not to mention the fact that the AoS locks away your money for several months, before the AoS period is actually started, so it's more like a 10.5 or 11 year AoS, instead of 10 years.

We lodged our AoS paperwork early, thinking it might take months ... now have a dilemma about whether to pay up or wait.

11 minutes ago, Pertenhall said:

I really cannot understand the disparity in the AoS processing times.

Did you lodge online or paper form? might be useful info for others.

Another thought is that with the change in income requirements on Apr 1, centrelink might've started processing the applications on a last-in-first-out basis, so they can easily decline the applications that don't meet the income requirement.

Has anyone tried lodging the AoS as a rolling 6m or 12m term deposit? According to the CBA representative, the only option is a 5 year rolling deposit, which sounds like something they just made up (as opposed to a legal requirement).

On 4/5/2018 at 18:48, Lisa De Leon said:

There are also increases to the income requirement for assurers, effective immediately.

I wonder whether the increased income requirement will lead to a reduction in the number of applicants for 173/143 visas ...  or whether people will just start using companies to be the assurer, to bypass the income requirements (but lodge an increased bond).

On 4/9/2018 at 12:28, Biggers said:

because of their ages (they’re 55) and apparently this means they’re exempt from getting a home loan!

It really depends on the lender. If you have a substantial deposit and an income, I can't see why you wouldn't qualify for a home loan. The problem is that many 55 year olds are close to retirement, so they might not have an income for very long.

On 4/9/2018 at 12:28, Biggers said:

Last questin is, out of the $100,000 paid to obtain the visa and become a PR, How much of this do you ‘get back?’

You don't get anything back directly. It's all in-directly - immediately in the form of medicare. Assuming, your parents can out-live the AoS period, they _might_ qualify for an aged pension at some point. Grandparents might help out with childcare, which can be cost saving. Also, if you have a family trust or small business, grand parents can also be useful in distributing profits in a tax efficient manner ... but all the returns are indirect.

You should also look in to the first home buyer grants in your state. Pretty sure that nothing excludes 143 visa holders from claiming this.

7 minutes ago, Seamus said:

I had the receipts from bank scanned and uploaded to centrelink through mygov, easier than submitting the hard copy to centrelink in person.

What category did you use to upload the documents? I don't see a category for assurance of support ... "Evidence to support claim" or "Financial" or something else?

8 minutes ago, Seamus said:

It took me more than three months in total.

Seamus - Any sign of a case officer yet?

1 minute ago, Catlady2014 said:

Maybe Thomas was referring to downloading the application

No - you can complete the application electronically, including uploading the supporting evidence (proof on income, etc). You only have to go to the centrelink office for a 100 point ID check, with an electronic application.

Just now, Wishfull said:

Hi I notice from your signature that you say you lodged your AOS online, how did you achieve this and does that mean that you did not need to visit the Centrelink office? 

Log in to mygov --> centerlink --> there's an application form for AoS.

The supporting documents are all submitted online, but you still need to visit the office for a 100 point ID check (which is a little ridiculous, because they already have all of this on file from our other centrelink applications). Hopefully they streamline this at some stage.

1 minute ago, Nicole Eire said:

That's brilliant news for everyone waiting

Yes and no ... no point speeding through the AoS, when there's another road-block ahead with waiting for a CO assignment and 2nd VAC payment request.

Just now, TinaH said:

Which income criteria they assess for your AOS? I notice you lodged your AOS application after 1 April 2018.

Not sure ... I assume it was the new one. How do you find out which criteria they used?

30 minutes ago, Catlady2014 said:

When you did the application, did you not have to take your original documents into Centrelink? 

Yes ... but the instructions were clear online about this.  The instructions after lodging the bond at the commonwealth bank are not so clear in the letter from Centrelink.

14 minutes ago, Nicole Eire said:

as there is often a delay from Centrelink (no surprise there)

The telephone interviewer for my AoS said they're getting overtime to process AoS applications, due to a backlog. I got my phone call on Saturday - just 1 day after lodging the application, so it seems like they've really streamlined the whole AoS process (for now at least). It's been surprising quick, given that most people are quoting several weeks/months to do the AoS process.

Signature updated.

I've made an AoS application ... done the telephone interview ... now have a letter to pay $10000 at the commonwealth bank.

What happens after this? Does the bank give me something to take back to centrelink or is it automatic? If I have to take it back to centrelink, does it have to be in person or can I do it online? The original AoS application was online.