Hi everyone I was just wondering if anyone has gone to or is going to OZ on a contributory parent visa, We would welcome any info about the process.We know about the visa and bond fees and being sponsered by a family member who has been working in OZfor 2 years anything else would be most helpful, or just the story of your journey through the whole process!!
thanks Jenny C

Hi Jenny, Welcome to the Forum. My husband and I came to Oz on this visa and arrived here in January 07. The whole process from application until grant of the visa took us exactly 12 months but I believe they are taking a bit longer at the moment. We did the application ourselves and thus saved quite a lot of money. The worst part was waiting for the process go through but it was worth it. You will find a lot of help on this forum from others who have done the same.
Where are you hoping to settle? We are in Charlestown, Newcastle, NSW and have settled very well with no real hitches so far. We feel as though we have been here forever!!
Good Luck! Linda

We came three years ago on the CP visa: did it ourselves after many let-downs by an agent - and a lot of $$ under the bridge.

I think this is the visa under which my parents would fit. So am I understanding things correctly that after I have lived here for two years the application process itself can take an additional one year?

The inlaws are thinking about getting one, was it easy without an agent ?

Much easier than *with* one!

It's like doing tax returns: you may think it's easier with an agent - but you are still the one who has to dig out all the data and receipts. Cut out the middle man for most people, I say - use an agent for a complicated case only, or where specialist knowledge is required.

The process isn't at all difficult if you take the trouble to read all the references and information sheets. Any odd questions will be answered here - but you have to make up your own mind as to the truth or otherwise of the advice <g>

Hi Linda thank you for your reply, we are hoping to go to Perth,the children are just going through the visa process at the moment so we have a long way to go yet. We are golen oldies so just need to get things straight in our heads,did you apply for your visa`s in the UK?
Jenny C.

Don't judge others by your own experiences!

Best regards.

Present company excepted <g>

Hi Jenny, Yes we did apply for our visas in the U.K. I sympathise with you for the long wait ahead but you can use the time to get your information together without rushing into things. You can easily do it yourselves if your family is not too complicated. You do need to have 50% of your childen in Australia to be able to apply for a Contributory Parent Visa and they will need to have been in Australia for two years before your son/daughter can sponsor you. It would be a good idea for you to have the booklet entitled Parent Migration printed off so that you can read it and digest all the information. If you just follow the instructions in there you should be fine
You can obtain the booklet and Application Forms from the Dimia Website
If you have any queries there will be many of us on this forum who have gone through the process and will be able to help you. Good Luck! Linda

Linda thanks for the info,there is lots of information that we shall have to gather.we will be going out with our son and his family initially,for three months holiday and be as much help to the children while they settle in and get things sorted.then its our intension to come home and put the house on the market then take things from there!
Thanks again for yoiur reply,
Jenny C