Linda Brown

Congratulations Ammy 143 on being asked for your final payment. 

Good luck for the future. 

Thanks Kimbo slice, we booked flights on 2nd June so fingers crossed. 

Does anyone know about the isolation issue in Australia. We are hoping to travel there at the end of July, and we know we have to do 14 days isolation but I wonder do we have to pay for it ourselves now? I know each state handles it differently, we're going to WA. 

Has anyone travelled to Australia recently, it would be good to know how it went. 

Hope the visas start again soon, as it's such a long time to wait. 

7 hours ago, Jellybean T said:

Linda are you flying from  Alicante, Madrid or Barcelona? I’ve found some flights with Turkish Airlines but have never flown with them before so a bit nervous to book.

We're flying from Alicante to Barcelona on Qatar hopefully although flights aren't going in there yet. I've never flown with Turkish Airlines at all. 

I think at the end of June, things will.open up and you'll be able to see more options. I hope so anyway. We've booked flights for end of July and we're keeping our fingers crossed. Things will improve by July 1st I'm sure. 

18 hours ago, Jellybean T said:

Hola Linda,  We’ve got voucher for Singapore Airlines but I don’t mind who we fly with as long as the first entry into Australia is Adelaide.. or it’s double the quarantine. SA haven’t opened their boarder to other states at the moment.  When are you planning on going?

Hi Jellybean, how stressful it's been for everybody. 

We've booked for the end of July on Qatar so fingers crossed. They've been flying into Perth all the time but of course we're locked down. 

I don't think it'll be long before all the airlines open up,.and I understand two lots of quarantine after 3 months here is too much. 

Fingers crossed for everyone that flights and visas start moving again. Stay safe. 

Linda 

3 hours ago, Marisawright said:

4 hours ago, Jellybean T said:

Congratulations... you now just have to find flights to get you there. Hopefully Singapore will start letting us transit through there airport.

Hi Jellybean, Emirates are flying to Melbourne, but you're probably booked on. another airline. I think Singapore will open for through traffic soon. Fingers crossed for you. 

26 minutes ago, SusieRoo said:

Flights are available currently from the UK to Australia (citizens and PR only).  But I’m not sure whether having a 143 visa granted offshore means you have PR, or if you need to first enter Australia and validate your visa, before officially acquiring PR status.

Thanks SusieRoo we are in Spain so well and truly locked down! The visa is validated so we should be OK once borders open. 

I feel for people in the 143 queue as after waiting for so long to get a visa this virus comes along and delays you even more. 

21 hours ago, Samda said:

Hi

im following this specific topic “Parent visa application timelines (143 & 173)”. And I get an email every single time some posts something here. I haven’t seen any related post to the topic over the last few weeks. Can you please stop them 

Sorry if we offend you Samda when did you apply, your details haven't been entered, perhaps this would be useful. Then we could give you useful information. 

Linda 

1 hour ago, VERYSTORMY said:

There are flights going to Australia now and if you have PR, you can fly. 

We have our 143 visa and it's validated but we're in Spain and our borders are closed. I don't think there are any long haul flights leaving atm. Will keep an eye out for them .

Thanks Very Stormy.

11 minutes ago, Jellybean T said:

Yes still here Linda, hoping to see flights around July being offered here in Spain. Not sure about where we will have to go into isolation eg.  the first entry point in Australia or the final destination. We are heading for Adelaide but some airlines fly into  Melbourne and we clear customs but have a connecting flight to Adelaide.. can't wait to be settled safely in Australia. Although flights are advertised at the moment from Madrid and Barcelona for July I'm not sure about booking and just having them cancelled! 

I'm the same as you but looking more at August but hopeful of there being flights in July. We are heading for Perth and the isolation is there. I think if we can get flights they  will be with Qatar or Emirates. Keep  me informed how you go.

Anyone else out there with same problem.

On 30/03/2020 at 08:30, Jellybean T said:

Thank you Greece, that’s what I thought but couldn’t get it confirmed at the moment.  Hopefully in the next few months.

Hi Jellybean T, I presume you're still locked down in Spain like us! So frustrating. Have you any idea how you're going to get to Oz when lockdown ends here and our borders open. I suppose we'll have to see which carriers are still flying and probably go into isolation on arrival.

Is anyone else in the same situation ? 

Stay safe everyone. 

On 23/03/2020 at 23:44, Jellybean T said:

Thanks for that info Marisawright, I will try and get official clarification on that when things calm down a bit. I have my visa grant and was due to fly on the 8th of April before the flight was cancelled. Also I live in Spain and we went into lockdown on the 16th March until the 30th but it's now been extended to 14th April so maybe once the lockdown is lifted we may be allowed to finally fly once the flights are available again. We have the added complication of taking our dog who had her final blood tests on the 13/3 and must fly in 45 days from then or start the blood tests again. The furniture etc was collected last Friday so will arrive in Australia before us. Wasn't expecting anything like this after waiting 4 years for the Visa.

Hi Jellybean, we've been neck and neck through this process and we're still together locked down in Spain! 

Luckily our boxes haven't gone yet they were due to be collected end of April so we have postponed. Again luckily we validated our visa when we went to Australia in December so I suppose we could go and self isolate, but no flights. 

After the long, long wait for the visa we thought we'd crossed the finishing line but apparently not! 

Hopefully things will get back to some normality in the next three or four months then hopefully we'll finally be able to live the dream, as we've waited such a long time. 

Who did you use for your removals Spanish or a UK company? We booked a UK company but would be interested to know. 

Good luck for the future, 

Linda b

, 

Hi Bridgie, hope it all goes well after your travelling. Enjoy the peace and relaxation when your visa is granted.

1 hour ago, AMP said:

I’ve just arrived back in the Uk on an already planned trip for my stepdaughter’s wedding.  The letter from Immi granting my visa was already in my email in box when I landed.  Hip hip hurrah,  all finally sorted without problems! Many many thanks again and again to everyone who has supported and helped me along the way.  This forum really did give the tips, the reassurances and the emotional support necessary to make the whole process actually very simple.  The main thing it also gave me was that message of patience.

i know I should now update my signature to say visa granted but my jet lagged brain can’t remember how to do it!  I’ve always found that bit difficult to find.  Sorry.  Good luck and patience to all those still waiting.

 

Congratulations on getting your visa, this site I agree is a big help to all those in the queue. Enjoy the wedding and your life in Australia. 

38 minutes ago, Bilby47 said:

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

Thanks Jack, they're very well known aren't they will get a quote from them I think. I'm veering towards using a UK company I think. Probably a bit more expensive as the things have to be shipped to the UK first, but getting the visa was expensive so what's a little bit more expense !

Thanks,

Linda

Thanks Bridgie, I think we were thinking of going down this route but were wondering if anyone had had any experience of moving from here.

Linda.

Thanks Marisawright for your reply. It's food for thought. 

We live in Spain permanently so no reciprocal health agreement in place. Will sign onto Medicare as soon as we arrive in Australia and look at top ups. 

We don't speak fluent Spanish even though we've been here for ten years so could be difficult if there was a problem although the website of some shippers are in English so I would imagine they can speak some English. 

Thank you for your help, needs some thought putting into it I think. 

I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for shipping our belongings from Spain to Australia. We don't know whether to use a UK mover or try a Spanish mover. Any tips would be useful. 

Thanks.

2 hours ago, kimboslice said:

We have had the aos rejected saying the bank verification of 14,000 dollars has not been lodged with the commonwealth bank of australia.

my son has a stamped letter to say it has been deposited

anybody else had this, im sure there are a few.

Mark

 

 

Hi Kimboslice sorry you've had this trouble, we had the same problem although all the documents were ok. My son went into Centrelink and they said everything was ok, would resubmit and it would take maximum of two weeks for letter to come through. It was almost exactly two weeks when acceptance came through. It's very stressful for you though. Should all go through pretty quickly once you get the acceptance letter., but of course it's Christmas and New Year. Good luck.

Congratulations Rosiejaq on getting your visa  and everyone else who has received theirs. It's a great present for Christmas. 

We arrived here in Australia on the 13th and it felt wonderful for it be all over except for packing our few belongings. This forum has really helped and ecouraged us along the way. We are returning to Spain at the end ofJanuary and will hopefully sort ourselves for returning permanently. 

Happy times Rosiejaq 

9 hours ago, AMP said:

Thanks.  Now you have said that you think I they only give  28 days to leave I really don’t want to hear anything yet.  It would be such a pain if I have to organise an exit and re- entry in January, particularly since that is in peak school holidays!  Can anyone else confirm the 28 days please?

Have a great Christmas yourself as well.  Your best Christmas present has arrived early.  It must be so wonderful to have your visa finally sorted.   It seems that our lives go on semi hold while we are waiting, waiting, waiting, doesn’t it? 

 

It is 28 days but our agent did say you could apply for an extension of another 28 days , but hopefully it won't come to that. Good luck.

Congratulations Rosiejaq so pleased for you, you can look forward to a new chapter in 2020. 

We have received our visas after a long four year wait. Thank you everyone on the forum for all your help and support over the last year. Although I'm sure I'll need plenty of help in the coming months. Its a lovely Christmas present and I hope Rosiejaq you get a present just like this, as you deserve a bit of luck and good fortune. 

Jellybean you and I will be collaborating on removal companies in the coming months I think. 

Linda x

Just had our acceptance letter through, very relieved . Someone up there must have been listening to my moans. So, on to the next stage now. It's been almost exactly 4 years since we started the process in 2015, at the time it was taking 20 -24 months to be processed,  I feel for those still in the queue as to even get to this stage will take a very long time.

I still feel the system could be improved  at the point of aos application and if I finally get a visa I will put my points to people mentioned previously., if they don't know the problems they can't  improve them.

Sorry, I messed up my submission ! 

Congratulations Greece on getting the request for more documents, hope things go smoothly for you.