The Brand New PIO Parents Visa thread

[Alan Collett]

7 hours ago, SusieRoo said:

Has anyone got any news about the new parent visa?

I know there was a bill going though Parliament about tightening-up the AOS criteria.

But it must be due to start very soon now.

The introduction of the new temporary parent visa is contingent on the passing into law of the Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2016.

This Bill sits in the Senate (the Upper House) awaiting further debate, and will split the application for approval as a sponsor from the visa application.

Best regards.

[SusieRoo]

16 hours ago, Ian Ireland said:

We are off then too! That’s gone up well. We are back end Jan. £ has had a good night last night in Asia. Sitting on $1.75. Might have some more legs in it yet. Difficult to tell. It’s totally Brexit and politics dominated now.

I think this must be the best rate we have seen since the Brexit referendum.

We tried TransferWise today for the first time and got a rate of 1.74643 with fees of 0.45% + £1 (so £4.50 per thousand +£1).

I understand this very competitive but I would be interested to know how it compares to other transfer methods.

Edited November 18, 2017 by SusieRoo

[Catlady2014]

42 minutes ago, SusieRoo said:

I think this must be the best rate we have seen since the Brexit referendum.

We tried TransferWise today for the first time and got a rate of 1.74643 with fees of 0.45% + £1 (so £4.50 per thousand +£1).

I understand this very competitive but I would be interested to know how it compares to other transfer methods.

In the past I've tried Currencies Direct, Foremost Group, and Moneycorp.  No fees with any of them, unless you're buying a small amount of currency and then  there might be a small fee if I remember rightly, but certainly nothing on larger amounts.  I  currently use both Foremost and Moneycorp.  I get a very slightly better rate with Foremost but Moneycorp is good because I could if necessary quickly take advantage of a temporary hike in the exchange rate "out of hours",  using the online account.  But everybody's circumstances are different and what suits one person might not be so convenient for another.   

[Fisher1]

On 17 November 2017 at 21:13, suelear said:

I agree! I'm off on 29 Nov, back on 15 Jan - Sydney and Kiama areas if anyone is around there and fancies meeting up xx

Hi Suelear.      I've been living in Kiama since September and would love to meet up with anyone from this forum for coffee and a chat. 

[suelear]

13 hours ago, Fisher1 said:

Hi Suelear.      I've been living in Kiama since September and would love to meet up with anyone from this forum for coffee and a chat. 

Hi Fisher 1, my daughter and her family moved there in June and love it. If you are happy to send me your mobile number via private message I'll contact you when I'm there and we can arrange coffee. Looking forward to it.

[suelear]

Just now, suelear said:

Hi Fisher 1, my daughter and her family moved there in June and love it. If you are happy to send me your mobile number via private message I'll contact you when I'm there and we can arrange coffee. Looking forward to it.

If anyone else in the forum lives around that area I'd be happy to sort a date that suits most of us. Just PM me your mobile numbers.

[Fisher1]

11 hours ago, suelear said:

If anyone else in the forum lives around that area I'd be happy to sort a date that suits most of us. Just PM me your mobile numbers.

Sulear

Will PM you my mobile number later ... I still have to look it up every time!   Looking forward to meeting you and comparing notes :-)

[suelear]

11 hours ago, Fisher1 said:

Sulear

Will PM you my mobile number later ... I still have to look it up every time!   Looking forward to meeting you and comparing notes :-)

Ha ha, I expect we will have the same grumbles! 

[AMP]

Hi.  Some while ago I made a proposal to meet up with Catlady in Brisbane once she had started to settle in.  Well, we’ve now decided to meet at Southbank, at “Kiss the Berry” cafe, which is right by the big wheel so easily findable and very easy to get to - South Brisbane station is close by.  We are planning to meet the first week in December, thinking of Friday 8th at 11am for coffee (or other drinks).  There are plenty of other places around if any of us decide to spin things out longer and if we also  want to have lunch down there.   A few others had expressed an interest in joining us, namely Ian  Ireland (you had said you would be over late Nov, early December) and Pom Queen.  Maybe you and anyone else who may want to join us could PM me?  If Friday is a problem then we have the option to  change the day to the Wednesday or Thursday.   Looking forward to actually meeting some other Poms in Oz contributors! 

 

 

 

 

[ramot]

24 minutes ago, AMP said:

Hi.  Some while ago I made a proposal to meet up with Catlady in Brisbane once she had started to settle in.  Well, we’ve now decided to meet at Southbank, at “Kiss the Berry” cafe, which is right by the big wheel so easily findable and very easy to get to - South Brisbane station is close by.  We are planning to meet the first week in December, thinking of Friday 8th at 11am for coffee (or other drinks).  There are plenty of other places around if any of us decide to spin things out longer and if we also  want to have lunch down there.   A few others had expressed an interest in joining us, namely Ian  Ireland (you had said you would be over late Nov, early December) and Pom Queen.  Maybe you and anyone else who may want to join us could PM me?  If Friday is a problem then we have the option to  change the day to the Wednesday or Thursday.   Looking forward to actually meeting some other Poms in Oz contributors! 

 

 

 

 

Hi, I might have joined in, but can't make the 8th.

We have applied for the 864, and as we have already lived on the Sunshine Coast for 14 years might have been able to help with the odd question or concern.

[ant111]

Hi All,  Sorry been busy. Update is I got the email requesting meds etc. Friday 10th November. Application date was 6th Feburary 2015. So only 10 days later than I expected. Got meds done last Friday in Melbourne and went well. Must say they appear more thorough than the UK ones. ( been with my son and wife to Manchester) Or it might have been a keen young Indian doctor.

Keep in there and positive. It soon comes round. Look forward to your children and grandchildren being around you. Im over on a 600 visa for a second 12 months. Its fairly easy to do that too. Now living in a luxury appartment at the Quest in Frankston across, from the beach and Dan Murphys on the corner, Hic!. Looking forward to Bali when I get the word to leave before my visa grant. Thats the good news.

The down side is immi want Italian police certs for both of us. My wifes Italian but left Italy at 4.In 1955.  We have never lived there only  been there  over a few days in the last ten years. It states police certs are necessary if you have stayed in a country for 12 months or more in the last ten years. I have emailed them urgently (with urgent in subject) to remind them and I am waiting a reply. Does anyone know if that should be ok. I doubt if I could get them for the deadline now anyway. Alan Collett  if your there,  please help and reassure or advise me but try not to scare me Ha! Can they demand police certs under these circumstances? Even though we have not been in Italy for 12 months over the last ten years.  Thanks

[SusieRoo]

2 hours ago, ant111 said:

Hi All,  Sorry been busy. Update is I got the email requesting meds etc. Friday 10th November. Application date was 6th Feburary 2015. So only 10 days later than I expected. Got meds done last Friday in Melbourne and went well. Must say they appear more thorough than the UK ones. ( been with my son and wife to Manchester) Or it might have been a keen young Indian doctor.

Keep in there and positive. It soon comes round. Look forward to your children and grandchildren being around you. Im over on a 600 visa for a second 12 months. Its fairly easy to do that too. Now living in a luxury appartment at the Quest in Frankston across, from the beach and Dan Murphys on the corner, Hic!. Looking forward to Bali when I get the word to leave before my visa grant. Thats the good news.

The down side is immi want Italian police certs for both of us. My wifes Italian but left Italy at 4.In 1955.  We have never lived there only  been there  over a few days in the last ten years. It states police certs are necessary if you have stayed in a country for 12 months or more in the last ten years. I have emailed them urgently (with urgent in subject) to remind them and I am waiting a reply. Does anyone know if that should be ok. I doubt if I could get them for the deadline now anyway. Alan Collett  if your there,  please help and reassure or advise me but try not to scare me Ha! Can they demand police certs under these circumstances? Even though we have not been in Italy for 12 months over the last ten years.  Thanks

This sounds like a mistake. It's only if you have spent considerable time in another country in the last 10 years. I would send immi all of the details of any holidays and trips you have made to Italy, then question why they are asking for police checks.

One other thing to consider is if your wife still holds an Italian passport / nationality, then this would perhaps be a legitimate reason for this request.

Ether way, you really need to contact immi, and I think other applicants have had more success contacting PVC by phone rather that waiting for emails.

Good luck and any chance you could post a photo of Dan Murphs in the sunshine to keep me going here on a wet Monday

[AMP]

10 hours ago, ramot said:

Hi, I might have joined in, but can't make the 8th.

We have applied for the 864, and as we have already lived on the Sunshine Coast for 14 years might have been able to help with the odd question or concern.

That’s a shame. Would the Thursday be any good for you? We don’t really want to leave it any later as the main school holidays are due to start.  Maybe another time.

[ramot]

2 hours ago, AMP said:

That’s a shame. Would the Thursday be any good for you? We don’t really want to leave it any later as the main school holidays are due to start.  Maybe another time.

I think I will opt out, it's all a bit busy so close to Christmas with functions and get togethers. Have to make it in the Sunny Coast another time?!

Have a great meet up, if anyone wants to ask me anything any time I will try to help.

We love living here, just in case anyone is worrying, have made great friends and were made welcome from day 1.

 

[Alan Collett]

17 hours ago, ant111 said:

Hi All,  Sorry been busy. Update is I got the email requesting meds etc. Friday 10th November. Application date was 6th Feburary 2015. So only 10 days later than I expected. Got meds done last Friday in Melbourne and went well. Must say they appear more thorough than the UK ones. ( been with my son and wife to Manchester) Or it might have been a keen young Indian doctor.

Keep in there and positive. It soon comes round. Look forward to your children and grandchildren being around you. Im over on a 600 visa for a second 12 months. Its fairly easy to do that too. Now living in a luxury appartment at the Quest in Frankston across, from the beach and Dan Murphys on the corner, Hic!. Looking forward to Bali when I get the word to leave before my visa grant. Thats the good news.

The down side is immi want Italian police certs for both of us. My wifes Italian but left Italy at 4.In 1955.  We have never lived there only  been there  over a few days in the last ten years. It states police certs are necessary if you have stayed in a country for 12 months or more in the last ten years. I have emailed them urgently (with urgent in subject) to remind them and I am waiting a reply. Does anyone know if that should be ok. I doubt if I could get them for the deadline now anyway. Alan Collett  if your there,  please help and reassure or advise me but try not to scare me Ha! Can they demand police certs under these circumstances? Even though we have not been in Italy for 12 months over the last ten years.  Thanks

I'd send a brief email to the relevant team at the PVC asking them to please review the request for the Italian police clearance certificates - as you have done.

Hopefully that will achieve the desired end - ie not having to obtain them.

Best regards.

[Fisher1]

On ‎20‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 10:52, ant111 said:

Hi All,  Sorry been busy. Update is I got the email requesting meds etc. Friday 10th November. Application date was 6th Feburary 2015. So only 10 days later than I expected. Got meds done last Friday in Melbourne and went well. Must say they appear more thorough than the UK ones. ( been with my son and wife to Manchester) Or it might have been a keen young Indian doctor.

Keep in there and positive. It soon comes round. Look forward to your children and grandchildren being around you. Im over on a 600 visa for a second 12 months. Its fairly easy to do that too. Now living in a luxury appartment at the Quest in Frankston across, from the beach and Dan Murphys on the corner, Hic!. Looking forward to Bali when I get the word to leave before my visa grant. Thats the good news.

The down side is immi want Italian police certs for both of us. My wifes Italian but left Italy at 4.In 1955.  We have never lived there only  been there  over a few days in the last ten years. It states police certs are necessary if you have stayed in a country for 12 months or more in the last ten years. I have emailed them urgently (with urgent in subject) to remind them and I am waiting a reply. Does anyone know if that should be ok. I doubt if I could get them for the deadline now anyway. Alan Collett  if your there,  please help and reassure or advise me but try not to scare me Ha! Can they demand police certs under these circumstances? Even though we have not been in Italy for 12 months over the last ten years.  Thanks

Hi there,

I'm sure this can't be right. If it was necessary to provide police certs for every country you'd stayed in for a few days during the previous ten years, you'd have to get one for every place you'd even been on holiday ...   I had to provide a police cert for Belgium because I had lived there for three of the previous ten years, but I seem to remember the form saying anywhere I had lived, not stayed.  I'd check the form again if I were you, and/or email the PVC and ask for clarification.  Good luck with it. Its stressful when they start asking for all sorts and give you a deadline, but try not to worry too much - we were late with our assurance of support but we let them know the circumstances and they seemed to be happy as long as they had an explanation.

[Lynn Moore]

On ‎10‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 13:52, Ian Ireland said:

 Does anyone else just feel like packing it all in occasionally? Susie’s post has made me want to jump in the harbour! It’s a bit cold though. 

Hang on in there Ian.  It seems like forever but will be here soon enough.  I've waited that long and have just been made redundant and would have been ideal if they had carried on with the 18 months it takes but alas its not to be.  Anyway I am sick of waiting and am just enquiring to setting up my own dog grooming salon to take my mind of it.  I anticipate we will be here another year so might as well do something I love.  Myself and my husband are going over in Feb for a holiday/recce.  We are going to visit some driving/job agencies to see what the likelihood of my husband getting a driving job will be.  Where are you headed when you move out there.  We are going to Adelaide.

[Ian Ireland]

We are going to Brisbane. We should be hearing soon as we applied end June 2015. They’re processing end Feb 2015. It’s been interminable but hopefully it’ll come soon. Going for two months end Nov. 

[AMP]

Hi everyone, Some  while ago there was a discussion about private medical insurance once in Australia and whether it was actually necessary.  Essentially It seemed to be that, if nothing else, there was a need for ambulance cover as, if ever needed, that was REALLY expensive.  I am only on a 600 visa (though was given a tourist Medicare card without problems) and in the end I decided to take out cover with a not for profit organisation, HBF (another really useful  recommendation from this forum).  The lowest level of cover gave a pick and mix range of options which included ambulance, dental and pharmacy.  

Since then I have found that Queensland permanent residents are already automatically covered for emergency ambulance.  I’m not a permanent resident yet but for any of you who have actually now got your parents visa through, or are about to have it granted, then that is worth noting as it will definitely be a saving for you.  Sorry, this doesn’t seem to apply in NSW  and I don’t know about other states.  Definitely worth checking though.  I didn’t realise before that all the states were so different.

 

[ramot]

Yes as a PR you are covered for emergency ambulance cover in QLD , but you don't have to have PR, you are also covered because you live permanently in QLD,, pay utility bills. This is as far as I know.

Medical insurance is a personal issue. We are in a different position as we are self funded and have to have medical insurance., not entitled to medicare. Our cover is expensive, $10.000 annually for both of us. This is the top cover. However we are reimbursed for every Dr.s visit, blood test, specialist visit, part back for the  dentist, 

The cost has escalated over the past few years, and I don't know how much it costs if you have PR, as we get clobbered!!!

I can only tell you what we get, as I don't know how much it costs when you have PR and Medicare and what the gap means when you have some private cover. Medicare does bulk bill for some things. Need to do your homework and compare.

Sadly a couple of times I have been reimbursed more than the annual amount  paid. This year apart from  odds and sods, I have just been totally reimbursed over $8.000 for a procedure on my heart, so no complaints as I have had excellent care. Again I can't compare with the public system as not entitled to it, but  for peace of mind especially as getting older, then depending on what you can afford it, I think insurance is well worth it.

[Kathss56]

7 hours ago, AMP said:

Hi everyone, Some  while ago there was a discussion about private medical insurance once in Australia and whether it was actually necessary.  Essentially It seemed to be that, if nothing else, there was a need for ambulance cover as, if ever needed, that was REALLY expensive.  I am only on a 600 visa (though was given a tourist Medicare card without problems) and in the end I decided to take out cover with a not for profit organisation, HBF (another really useful  recommendation from this forum).  The lowest level of cover gave a pick and mix range of options which included ambulance, dental and pharmacy.  

Since then I have found that Queensland permanent residents are already automatically covered for emergency ambulance.  I’m not a permanent resident yet but for any of you who have actually now got your parents visa through, or are about to have it granted, then that is worth noting as it will definitely be a saving for you.  Sorry, this doesn’t seem to apply in NSW  and I don’t know about other states.  Definitely worth checking though.  I didn’t realise before that all the states were so different.

 

Thanks for that Angela. I will need it in Perth for ambulance unfortunately. Like you say all states seem different in lots of things!

[elnak]

Hi Guys and Gals. 

We finally received our request to go for medicals etc. this morning 22 Nov 2017!!

So very happy and excited.

Thank you so much for all your support.

[Gogirl1]

Well done and good luck. 

[suelear]

3 minutes ago, elnak said:

Hi Guys and Gals. 

We finally received our request to go for medicals etc. this morning 22 Nov 2017!!

So very happy and excited.

Thank you so much for all your support.

Fantastic news, you must be very excited. Good luck with it all and keep us posted x

[Ian Ireland]

Great stuff! Date of application? Nice to see things are moving too.