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Hello Everybody. Been reading a lot of your posts and decided to take the plunge and join even though I am not a pommy - have to confess. My 13 Y.o. is not vaccinated, we are - we need to do the first entry for my 188c (SIV), and we seek a solution where we don't need to isolate him. Due to it being an Austrade application, we can enter any state. Please advise, if you can.

Hello, I am looking to appeal to the Aus immigration powers, to lay oit the scenario that we have found ourselves in and I thought there may be more power in numbers. So our visa went active August 2019 and we we arranged to move in May 2020. If you are in a similar situation you will know that the first entry date rule has been waived, but that doesn't stop us 'losing time' available to build up to apply for permanent residency. I have seen that recently there have been some concessions applied to assist (some) who have been in the country and not quite attained the full application requirements and it is my intention to try and make plain my/our issues and hope that some relevant consessions will be made to suit our circumstance. So, please only join in here if you fit this scenario. All the best Darren

Hello, I will land in Sydney on the 4th of January. The rules are that I should do a test within 24 hours and another one on or after 6 days. Does that mean I can do the second test on the 9th of January?

Hi, I met my partner who is pretty much Aussie in the UK. He grew up in different countries of the world and has a head for Australia but heart for the UK I think is safe to say. I always wanted to have a stint outside the UK and didn’t know where I wanted to be but wanted adventure. I remember working in the UK and looking out the window thinking ‘is this it?’ My MILs family are all based in London and my FILs family are mainly based in Australia. Ive been in Perth WA for nearly six years now. I have Australian citizenship and so do my kids. My children were born here and it’s really all they’ve known. We’re very close to my in laws but I sometimes feel I don’t have much of a say because it’s simply just not my family and all families are different. Whilst we often have times of ups and downs as is normal I love them very much. The same can be said for my own family all based in the UK. I bloody love Perth for my young children. The parks are fantastic and safe and some of them are down right beautiful. I love the lifestyle that we have here. I’ve lost 17kg and kept it off. I’m healthier. I make better decisions for food and exercise and even alcohol consumption and think this has been excellent for me and my health. Australia’s bumped my life ten years ahead financially. We have bought a house that has made profit and we are in a good financial position. Australia has enabled me to not have to work but to raise my kids and we live on one salary. Although we’re fairly frugal we have a good life. My husband finishes work every day around 230. We go on family walks together with our two dogs and I have made a couple of lovely friends here. One of my friends have also just moved here as a returning Australian family so we have that connection. but……….. coronavirus has made things difficult. I’m one in millions of people who want to see my family in the UK. My daughter has never met my mother. My mother is getting older every day and my father had a kidney transplant that whilst life changing won’t last forever. My parents and brother and sister simply do not know my children. That hurts my soul. So I’m stuck in a mental jam between bit really being done with Australia because of friends and family here but being torn to wanting my family so very much. Being jealous that my partners family know my kids so well whilst mine don’t. Not wanting our work life balance disrupting. Not wanting to sell a house to not be able to buy in the UK. I also think I will eventually get bored of Perth and think it would be be great for an introvert teenager but taking my kids from their beloved grandparents would be so painful too. My partner is happy to move if it’s what I want but I don’t really know what I want and every list I make basically says the financial tie wins because it’s less stressful for us. I also don’t want to move to spend less time with my husband and I would definitely have to find full time employment. Something is missing for me in Australia. It’s been said before that it’s history and what I recognize as growing up with in the UK as to what I’m showing my kids here that’s just alien. help me I’m confused!

Hi, Can anybody shed any light on whether Australia has put a temporary ban on new immigrants from UK due to covid? Ate borders closed indefinitely? I don't know where to find out whether me and my family can continue our plans to emigrate to Australia from the UK at the start of 2022. We already have our 189 visa granted in 2019, but due to covid last year we postponed our emigration. We want to get back on track but not sure if there are still restrictions and the immigration website doesn't really provide any clarity. Be grateful for any advice please. Scoote Ps. I had a new baby this year too, so I believe I need to apply for a 101 visa for my new baby to emigrate with us. Is that correct? I need advice so I can work out a timeline for our m8vd. Cheers

Wondering if anyone has any insight on booking flights from the UK via airlines other than those that fly from the UK to Australia, namely Singapore, Qatar, Etihad and Emirates (https://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/CAOTA.html) The prices are quite high for the above airlines and there are other routes on Skyscanner or Kayak via the US or Malaysia for example. Some posts here mention people getting bumped and when rebooking having to wait in transit for a lot longer than the initial booking. Instead of that I was thinking about booking something transiting via the US with United, Delta, AA (https://usa.embassy.gov.au/news/covid19-stay-informed) or transiting via KL, Malaysia (https://malaysia.highcommission.gov.au/klpr/covid19.html#transit_malaysia) The prices are a fair bit less than the carriers from the UK, with some journeys of under 30 hours which we're willing to do, and there's probably a similar chance of being bumped, but presumably as long as we start the journey in the UK, they can't bump us mid-travel and strand us in an airport like Tom Hanks in The Terminal? Am thinking through different scenarios to cover bases.

We applied for citizenship from Australia in 2019, but had to head back to the Uk temporarily ... as we were planning to move back to Australia andsit the test, COVID meant our citizenship tests got delayed to later in 2020 and then ultimately got put on hold. We have applied for and paid for the process but we haven’t heard anything since. Without any success I’ve been trying to establish if we can sit our citizenship test remotely in a consulate in the UK. Has anyone heard of any instances of this happening at all? or can you offer any advice/ facts? thanks

So following a horrific phone call back in March regarding my mum's health I was granted exemption to leave Oz to return to the UK. Thank goodness she is recovering and I am currently living with her and supporting her in that journey. I however left behind my job (who have so kindly let me continue working remotely), my partner and my home. I was granted my 820 visa a couple of days before leaving the country also. My question is, as my mum continues to recover i'm beginning to think about my return to Oz. I always knew it would be incredibly hard but I wonder if anyone has managed it and how hard it was? From what I gather as an 820 holder I don't need exemption to get back in it's just getting flights that's the impossible part? Any advice or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Update on some flights. We bought a ticket for Dev 24 with Qatar found out they are only allowed 45 passengers for flights coming into Melbourne, we just had our April 7 flight cancelled. Decided to rebook a business class flight with Etihad in July, sick of of having flights cancelled since December and now my wife is pregnant with our pregnancy date being November 2021 and our 309 VISA cutoff date being November 2021. Fun times! Anyone flying back to Aus on economy flights to Melbourne, it’s a tough road! I feel for you all.

Hi everyone, I’m hoping to get some advice regarding getting a Returning Resident Visa and moving back to Australia whilst COVID is still going on. I want to move back with my family in July/August time. I previously had PR but left Australia six years ago, so it has expired now. My Husband is an Australian Citizen and we have been back to Oz three time for holidays over the six years. Does anyone know whether this would be a fairly straightforward RRV application or whether it will take a long time to process? I’ve seen some posts on here that sound like the processing times vary greatly and I’m not sure when to submit my application. Once the RRV is granted, what is the validity on the visa? Whilst we plan to move in July/August, COVID could delay that and I don’t want it to expire before I’ve had a chance to get over there. Also, we were planning to apply for Australian Passports for our children, (2 and 5 years), before we left the UK but it looks like the London passport office is closed and that will not be possible. Does anyone know which visa we should apply for our children? Thank you in advance, any advice is greatly appreciated!

My partner, Lisa, has been fortunate to have been granted her 309 Partner Visa after submitting it in August. Based on the current situation, including border controls, can anyone help with any of the following: Is Lisa able to enter Australia without obtaining an official travel exemption? (ie. will the 309 grant letter be enough to get through immigration?) Is Lisa required to remain in Australia for a specified/set period of time, or can she leave to return overseas to her home country the UK? Understanding a requirement of the 309 Partner visa remains that we “live together or not live separately or apart on a permanent basis”. However in the current COVID climate where employment and travel opportunities are limited – it would be necessary for Lisa to return to the UK for job/property responsibilities. When leaving Australia will Lisa be required to have an exemption, or is she free to leave without any form of approval? The intention is she would return later in 2021 Any assistance or advice on these matters would be greatly appreciated

Hello, The situation: Met my partner in Canada and fell in love. She's an Australian citizen and wants to move home and bring me with her. We have lived together for more than a year. Have all the evidence to prove it too, however need to know which visa is best for getting into the country during Covid. At the moment it looks like I can be exempt from the entry ban due to de facto partnership, but need to apply for a visa first and not sure which one will be best and fastest. From our research, our options are either visitor visa- subclass 600 , working holiday visa- subclass 417 or De factor/Partner visa ( however this looked to take the longest to be processed). We are looking to stay permanently, and want to know if we got the visitor visa if we can then apply from inside AUS once there, for more permanent visa options. Any help would be greatly appreciated as covid is ramping up again in Canada and we want to be safe and at her family home in Perth. Thanks, Jack.

Hi all, I have a strange dilemma about my visa subclass 100 myself and my son were granted from offshore. My wife is an OZ citizen. The initial entry date of our visa is due to expire at the beginning of December 2020. All our flights we had booked this year have been cancelled by the airline due to the ongoing covid situation. I can prove that with cancellation certs issues by the airline. Technically, we still have some time left but when I called the airline to rebook after the last cancellation , they explained to me that the OZ government would only allow people to fly to australia for "emergencies".The airlines are told to enforce that policy and they need to actually engage with the OZ goverment before allowing a passenger on a flight. As "emergency" they have 3 categories that fit into it: 1. OZ citizen going back for medical emergency 2. OZ citizen stuck abroad with no means to support himself/herself 3. Family member stuck abroad with a child to care for in OZ. Clearly, (and rightfully so) our partner visa activation doesn't fit into any of that so I have no hope to make it to OZ by the IED. On the same line, it's clear that this is totally out of my hands and it's the australian government that has set this priorities. The Department of Home Affairs have been pretty generic up to now when i enquired. According to them the message is that there is absolutely no leeway in postponing the initial entry date. is anyone in the same situation as myself and how did they handle it? I would be interested to know if anyone got an extension to their IED based on the current Covid situation and how they went about getting one. Thank you very much to all

https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid-19-visa-concessions COVID concession announced for certain offshore family visa applicants who are onshore - ie in Australia. Nothing for parents as yet … The concession will apply to certain applicants for the following Family visa subclasses: • Child (subclass 101) visa • Adoption (subclass 102) visa • Dependent Child (subclass 445) visa • Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) visa • Partner (subclass 309) visa Best regards.

Hi, I applied for an 801 visa about 16 months ago but during the waiting my wife was offered a 2 year secondment in the US. We moved and I got a BVB. I was planning to come back in September 2020 to reapply for a BVB to cover more of our time outside of the US but due to Covid I haven't been able to make it back. Is there any advice on what I should be doing or what I should do when travel restrictions are lifted to make sure I don't jeopardise my 801 visa. Thank you for any help!!

https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid-19-visa-concessions COVID concession announced for certain offshore family visa applicants who are onshore - ie in Australia. Nothing for parents as yet … The concession will apply to certain applicants for the following Family visa subclasses: • Child (subclass 101) visa • Adoption (subclass 102) visa • Dependent Child (subclass 445) visa • Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) visa • Partner (subclass 309) visa Best regards.

We have recently started a business in Australia and want to head over to recruit a team based in Sydney and train them along with opening an office. We haven't applied for a visa as of yet, but planning on travelling over on a tourist visa for business purposes. Do anyone know if we would qualify for a travel exemption as we are creating jobs and business in NSW.

Hey all, I'm sure I'm not the only one in this situation but hoping someone might be able to share some advice. My Partner visa (subclass 100 + 309 - issued at the same time) came through on the 5th March (2 weeks before UK lockdown). We started the process of selling our home, it's all going through now (husband also lost his job and we managed to find a buyer during lockdown!) We should be sold by the end of October. My initial entry date is 5th March 2021. We have read so many horrifying reports of people being stranded in the UK and unable to fly home to Australia. 100,000 people trying to get home, airlines constantly bumping passengers, the daily caps being reached and people turned away at the airport, roughly 6 months to fly those registered home? We don't have 6 months as my visa will expire before I have activated it. I have contacted the DHA and they have given me an email address to request a facilitation letter which will 'potentially' extend this IED. I guess I just wondered is anyone else in the same situation? Any advice? We've had a few heavy conversations recently thinking we may need to give up on our dream of Australia for now and try again in a few years when all this has calmed down (hopefully). It is seemingly getting more and more impossible to get to Australia and we've almost lost hope. Thanks, Meg

With division growing wider by the day in the US and Consumer confidence at a 6-year low, stronger than forecast Retail Sales seem to be giving the AUD and GBP something unexpected to smile about in the short--term ~ https://www.moneycorp.com/en-au/news-hub/weekly-brief-14-august-20203/

Hi all, I was happily granted my 100 parter visa in February this year. We were super excited as it came in perfect time as we planned to move in May after some travelling. We gave up our jobs, listed the house for rent etc. Within the week, covid had full effect and we went into lock down and Australia had seriously restricted repatriation flights only, shipping was slowed. We decided to hold off for a few months. However now with the quarantine conditions in Australia - 2 weeks confined to one hotel room (not of our choosing) and having to pay £2000 for the privilege (really can't afford this as who knows how long it will take to find jobs over there and it would be from our savings), plus we don't think we will be able to ship our cat at this time amongst other things. We think it is best to find new jobs here in the UK and wait until next year when hopefully things might be a little more settled around the world. Plus my mum has become unwell (not covid) but I am trying to support her care and to move into supported accommodation so could do with a bit of time to get her settled before I go. However - we are concerned as this may take us over the 1 year entry time on my visa conditions. We called Australian immigration and the lady was mightly unhelpful, reading off the internet (what we already knew) and saying that we should let the time lapse and then contact them! This doesn't sound right and I don't want to risk losing the visa. I am going to try to call back today - but I wondered if anyone else is in this situation or had any information? Very much appreciated.

Hi, Im just wondering if anyone has managed to get family over from the UK to visit recently? (unlikely - I know) I am due a baby in October and my parents wanted to fly over to help (as I have 2 other toddlers). We have no family support here and so I was gutted once I realised this covid situation wasn't going away anytime soon. I was pretty sure that there was no way of them getting over, but some people have told me I should apply for an exemption via home affairs and you never know............. ????? I am aware that even if they did make it over then they would have to go into quarantine etc. Just wondering if anyone has successfully managed to get an exemption and their family has been allowed in? I must add that I am a citizen, live in QLD and my parents are Scottish if any of that makes a difference.

Hi As a healthcare worker I'm just wondering if a positive COVID result (either swab or antibodies) negatively affect the health check or chance of a visa (UK to Aus)

I am very unhappy and need to go back to the UK as I miss family, friends and culture badly. My partner does not want to go back to UK at all and even more now because of COVID. We have a 9 year old and 11 year old who know the UK well (we moved fove years ago), miss our family in the UK but enjoy the lifestyle here . We only came here for a two year adventure as my partner's medic work is loads better here. I have been trying to get home for three years but as my partner does not want to go he has resisted and refused. I don't want to rip out family apart so want us to go together. I'm desperate to go back. Time is running out due to kids schools and my partner digging in his heals more deeply every day. Would moving back to the UK be completely foolish in the current COVID situation?

I would like to apply to travel back to the UK in August on compassionate grounds - to see my 75 year mum. She had bowel cancer and is in remission however she still suffers pain because of it. She lives alone and has no carers. I was due to travel back in April to be with her. The immi criteria states she needs to be ‘seriously ill’. We don’t think she is seriously ill but she needs us. What do I need to ask the GP to write in order to get a positive response to my Exemption application? Any advice much appreciated. Many thanks

Hi all, I applied for a 309 in December 2019 - still awaiting the outcome. My G/F has Australian PR & living with me in London currently. She wants to go back soon, maybe in the next 2 months. Im pretty certain my 309 will not be processed by then, so Im looking at applying for a visitor visa and flying back with her, we have enough funds to support ourselves there whilst i wait for my visa outcome I have questions/concerns around filling in the exemption form. The form asks for my partners country of Residence, should i put UK or Australia here? She's living in the UK for past 2 years, i find the question strange, if i put UK will they reject it as she's currently not in Australia for me claim i need to enter to visit her? We were planning on flying back together but now i'm wondering if she should go first then i later? I am no doubt overthinking this whole process! If anyone else has gone through it please id like some advice! Cheers! Jack