freedy50

I'm now in the 143 queue myself. As far as I'm aware everything gets paid at the end of the process like with the 173. I believe it could be a few more years yet? It would be up to your child to pay it as they're sponsoring you.

You don't pay an AOS on a 173. Only when you are getting the 143 Permanent visa. This is currently $14,000 (currently £7,745) for both parents. 10 for one, and 4 for the other.

Thank you for that. So if that timescale stays the same and they lodge it this month it would possible be granted about next October? Bit longer then I would have liked, but Home Affairs seem to be a law unto themselves.

Just received the 173, but I had already got my agent working on the 143. Does anyone know the possible timeline in being granted the 143 now I've already got the 173? I'll be in Australia by the time it's granted if that makes any difference?

Slightly off topic, but I was looking at their online quote form and it asks " Value of ALL belongings as new at destination." How does that get worked out? I've got no idea what value all my belongings would be.

I was also thinking of John Mason. I've seen them mentioned a few times in various places.

Ok. Thanks for that.

May I ask what 3 you chose for quotes?

Should be going to Australia by late February, early March. It is just me and my wife on a parent visa. We have just got an ordinary 3 bed semi detached house and was wondering is it actually worth getting at least 3 removal quotes or would just going for one company we like the look of be ok?

I've stockpiled quite a few boxes of 72 Weetabix to take with. All sealed and unopened. I assume they're ok to take? (I've had Weetbix when there before, but don't like the taste). I was also thinking of taking various Robinsons squashes as I've not seen a decent equivalent.

I don't know how long it is before a caseworker gets assigned to it. If it is 12 to 18 months, I don't know what they find to do to stretch it out to 3 years plus before they tell you to pay for it? I'm not an expert, but I don't think selling your house when you have a caseworker would be a good idea? It would still take about another 18 months before they start telling you about paying for the visa.

Not sure when a caseworker was allocated as we've been using an agent all the time, everything has been going through them and they email me whenever they need an answer to something.

Ok. Thanks everyone for your advice. Looks like more research needs doing.

I meant to say for the last line... "Can we buy a new house on the 173 visa with no problem and are we entitled to the first time buyers and new homes grant?"

My wife and I will be moving to Australia on the 173 Parent Visa, which is a temporary 2 year visa, by before the end of March. We will be applying for the 143 permanent visa when we get there. Can we buy a new house on this visa with no problem and are we entitled to the first time buyers and new homes grant?

No. This is for the actual visa. We've got 28 days to pay, but I'm watching the conversion rate every day waiting for a good day to pay it. Police and medical were done back in March, but my wife had to have an operation after something the medical people found which has delayed us a few months.

Had an email the other day for payment after waiting 3 years 5 months and 9 days. Have been given a date to enter Australia by of 26th March 2019.

Sorry if this is a bit long. Applied for a 173 Parent Visa for me and my wife back in June 2015 through an agent. In the middle of this March we were told to get medicals and police checks. Police checks were fine and went for medicals on 31st March. Mine was fine, however, it was found that my wife had a large lump in her stomach. After various visits to doctor and hospital it was eventually found in late April she has to have her gallbladder taken out and was told an NHS appointment could take about 2 months to come through which could possibly be before the end of this month. Private would have been too expensive. The Australian Emedical people wanted reports which they had and was told the prognosis for the next 5-10 years would be good. While my wife hasn’t had her operation yet, it’s been nearly 4 months since the medicals and not heard anything further about a visa. Even our agent doesn’t know anything further. I’ve checked at various times on the email address that you can send an email to and you get an automated reply advising what date they're processing up to, but in the last few days there has not been any response to emails sent. On the Global Visa Processing Times website all it says is “173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) Unavailable due to low volume of applications.” which isn’t very helpful. There doesn’t even seem to be a way of contacting the Immigration people directly. The last I saw was that they were up to 5th May 2015. We’re just two ordinary parents with no ties now in the UK, with an uncomplicated visa application, that just want to go and live with our only son and daughter in law especially since we could become grandparents while there. Does anyone know if this is normal in these circumstances and how much longer it could take?