flindemp Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Hi, I'm new to this site and looking for some advice please? My wife, our 3 kids and I have recently been awarded our 175 Skilled Independent visa and have received our visa grant notice. My wife is 7 months pregnant and we informed the DIAC of this and were informed that we would either have to come to Oz to validate our visa and have the baby in Oz, which means leaving in 3 weeks - a stretch for us all but not impossible - or we would have to have the baby in the UK and then apply for child migration sponsorship, which could take up to 8 months in the UK. However, we need to be in Oz by September as I start a new job and in any case we would have to be in Oz by the end of October at the latest to validate our visa before medicals expire. Does anyone know whether we could have the baby in the UK, then travel to Oz to validate our visas in September, have the baby come in on a normal 12 month e-visa and then apply on-shore to add the baby to our visa or do the child sponsorship submission whilst we all remain in Oz? Or would we have to take the baby out of Oz under the terms of the e-Visa? It all seems confusing and I'm not sure if there are any special cases or fast track routes that we can use - we're not trying to frig the system or do anything intentionally to bypass the rules, but it seems odd that you can't add a new addition onto an existing visa award? Has anyone got any experience of this or know if we can bring the baby in and then apply whilst staying in Oz? We're not averse to having the baby in Oz, but are fairly clueless at the moment as to the set up with hospitals, midwives, costs, what's covered and what's not under Medicare and whether we could get private insurance at this late stage that would cover pregnancy, as I know a lot of insurers won't cover it unles you have cover 12 months before the birth date - Initially we would go to Sydney as we have friends there to help out, but will need to be in Brisbane for work by the end of August after the baby is born. Thanks in advance Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_shel Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 You can not add the baby to your visa you'd have to apply for a child visa, which is what I'm having to do right now. There are no tricks or ways around it other than giving brth in Australia. You'd be entitled to medicare & from what people have said public hospitals are pretty good when it comes to maternity care. If you can I'd have the baby in oz, no more costs or applying for visas, baby is a citizen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flindemp Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 Thanks Shel, do you know whether Medicare would cover the whole cost of the birth, as I've heard that not everything is covered? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_shel Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Thanks Shel, do you know whether Medicare would cover the whole cost of the birth, as I've heard that not everything is covered? Yup, the only thing I heard were not covered were scans but she wouldn't be having any at this point, they'd be done already! Medicare covers almost everthing with a few bits you have to pay for yourself but your still being treated in the same place & you can claim some of the money back. The only thing they definitely dont cover is dental! You're right about private insurance though, you probably wouldnt get cover this late! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flindemp Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 Thanks again Shel and good luck with your child visa application. Can anyone else advise on whether we could travel with ther baby on a holiday visa and apply for a visa for him/her whilst in Oz? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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