coxfamuk

I don't know about anyone else, but I am starting to get tired of the waiting game that is this visa process. I know that in the grand scheme of things we haven't been waiting that long (started the process in Feb), but every morning I wake up to check online if the ICAA (accounting body) have passed our assessment, which just says 'awaiting information' which we have sent them and know they have. We are waiting for our house to sell which is really stressful and we just really want to be able to start planning our new life. I have pretty much exhausted the realestate.com website and think I know the area of Melbourne we want to live better than the melbournites themselves!! I have been through a whole gammit of emotions from can't wait to get there to OMG what am I doing. I now just want to get it over with and get my life downunder! I think what has made it worse for us is that our agent said that because Accountants are on the MODL, the process would be much quicker and we should have our visa's by oct/nov and it doesn't seem any quicker.

Is anyone else feeling like this or am I just being typically impatient.

Sorry for the whinge!

Sarah

steandleigh

Can't help with any info regarding your trade / assessing body but can sympathise ith the wait - seems like forever and then when you get the visa it's all worth it - even more so when you arrive and get on with your life.

Try to concentrate on all the things you'd like to do before you go, rather than 'waiting' around - once you've got the visa, the time fly's in and there's not enough time to do everything!!!!

best wishes,

coxfamuk

good advice - I have made a list of all the things that I have wanted to do/see for years but always thought 'another time perhaps' - now it seems there won't be another time, so it is going to be a very busy summer indeed!!!

Thanks for that

steandleigh

Hi Coxfam, no worries!

seems like an eternity during the 'long wait', all the uncertainty of whether or not you'll be granted the visas, are we doing the right thing etc etc.

easy to say but try and take it all in your stride, before you know it, you'll be here and going "Oh, we never went to such and such, we never did such and such".

Enjoy it all, it's all part of the journey. x

Perthforme

I think all you can do is wait, yes it sucks but there's nothing that can be done to speed up DIMIA !
Try not to let it get to you, we all need to hang in there.
Its coming (hopefully) !

coxfamuk

Thanks very much everyone - just having a bit of a down day today I guess. but the sun is shining, so I'll try to be grateful for that at least.

karma for you all, if it'll let me.

Sarah

worzel

I don't know which UK qualification you have but I had a delay with ICAA because of the ICAEW. ICAEW gave me letters for proof of membership and exam results but not for "good standing". ICAA said that they always forget this and implied they write direct to confirm this. So that could be what 'awaiting information' means.

I also thing ICAA times go up and down. When I applied to them their website said 4-6 weeks but 2 weeks later it said 12-16 weeks as it was approaching Xmas. It also took 2 weeks for the letter to arrive through the Xmas post.

Despite what your agent said, MODL don't go through any quicker. Mine took 11 weeks which was about the same as the skills assessment.

We have also been waiting for the house to sell but we found a buyer 2 weeks ago. There is only 3 in the chain, the first is in rented accomodation and the second won't need a mortgage so it could all go through very fast.

So while it is easier said than done, do try and relax and make the most of your remaining months in the UK. The sheer panic of having to wrap up your whole life in a couple of months before you go is so much more stressful than the waiting game. We are expecting to fly out in late September now, just 10 months from start-to-finish. That may seem like forever but if we had applied 12 months earlier it would have taken 2 years.

I hope that helps. PM me if you have any bean-counter questions.

Iain

Pam

I am CIMA qualified, and my agent told me it would take about 10-12 weeks to be approved by ICAA. However, it only took 10 days, and that was only last month, so yours might not take as long as you think!
I know what you mean about waiting though! Our Visa application is now going through, and although we've had confirmation that it is with DIMA, we haven't heard anything for a while (which is probably as it should be), but it's weird, as once you've made the decision to go, you want to do just that! We have also been told to expect our Visa in Oct/Nov, and we also started the process in Feb - so both our Agents can't be wrong (can they?!!).

Spooky this, but we are also based in Hampshire and are looking to move to Melboure...?

chippy dave

I know the waiting is a pain but it,s not as long as some.We for one sent our tra off in Jan 04 got that back within 10 weeks and then the visa application went in April 04.Thats well over 17 months and we still hav,nt got it yet.We are in the pre july 04 back log,there,s quite a few of us from then still waiting.

Don,t worry about having a moan though it,s a demanding time


good luck dave

CAZ76

Do have a good moan but spare a thought for all us pre-July 2004 folk and you'll feel much better. Well over a year of waiting for us now and believe me there have been some classic moaning sessions about DIMIA in our house. So used to waiting now I'm worried as to how I'll actually feel if and when they issue the bloody thing. I think I'll be like "Oh well is that it" - I've forgotten why I wanted to go now! Try not to think about it - get on with life or believe me you just end up going mad with the frustration.
Caz

karenjc

It is all worth while when you eventually get the visas, try having the visas and not been able to sell your house, a real pisser .

CAZ76

Totally agree - housing market sucks!

Jim & Kathryn

Hi Sarah

Am feeling the same way too! I get up at 6am to check the email and go to work feeling racked off everyday.
Every day you wake is 1 day closer to going (so my hubby says)!!!!!

Love Kathryn
x

ohippy

My wait has been since Jan 2004 !! Admittedly most of it was waiting for hubby to make his mind up for the final time instead of the yo-yoing he had been doing. Still waiting to send TRA stuff to agent - hopefully, should be next week !

Garry,Sue & James

Hi Sarah

Yes I agree the waiting is very tedious, but we have been waiting since LAST JUNE (04) for our visa, so with this in mind it gives you a bit of hope.

Hopefully we should hear any day now.

Good Luck anyway.

Sue