Thanks John thats put my mind at rest

PMSL........

I almost PMSRunning!

Oh jesus just got word that our wedding is all booked and sorted for next march in brissie,send me some karma quick people,my first time at 44 !!!!!

Hi Everyone
New to this site. I have a few questions I need answering if that's possible?
I went to Australia on a holiday visa. Got to Sydney and met a lovely man and didn't get any further!! I returned to England a few months later to save some money in order to return to him on a working visa.
We set up home in Sydney and were very happy until my visa ran out in March this year. I'm afraid I overstayed my visa by 7 weeks - I know very silly but we were trying to see how to get a spouse visa.
Now I think we have gathered enough evidence that the visa asks for but am wondering:
1) If anyone knows of anything else that may help with visa
2) Will overstaying my working visa cause a problem
3)How long do visas take to go through the system
It is breaking our hearts to be apart. Although we speak two times a day on the phone (my parents aren't too pleased as it's to his mobile!), it's not the same. All I want is to get back to Sydney to be with him.
Thanks for your help and sorry to harp on a bit.

Bernieboy - congrats!! Look forward to receiving my invite soon......

Ganoushki if you look through this thread you will get lots of ideas about what people send as evidence, photos, joint invitations, bills in joint names etc. You also obviously have to go through all the normal paperwork - forms for both of you to fill in, you have to have police checks, a medical, have two statutory declarations from Australian citizens and also write an account of your relationship (thats both of you). I'm sure you know all this already!~

Re how long it takes - they are usually straightforward as you send them to London, they seem to get turned around in as little as two weeks sometimes. However I think that that can depend on how long you have been together sometimes, for instance I am hoping mine should be straightforward as we have been together for 14 years and married for nearly 11. But I dont know for sure, this is just my own opinion so dont quote me!

Re the overstaying your visa - I really dont know, but I'm sure someone will be along shortly who might be able to help. Did they say anything to you when youleft at Immigration at the airport?

Thanks Rachel for replying.
When I left, they said it probably won't be a problem but they couldn't be sure.
I have all the evidence you said.
On one of the forms it is asking about how much money you intend to bring into Australia. I'm only 23 and haven't got any collateral (?spelling) so what will thay be expecting?

I think they normally expect people to say the proceeds of a house sale or something but I wouldnt worry about it too much! I know it can be a worry making sure everything on the form is just right but I am sure they will have seen it all, from $1 to $1,000000!!

Been really quiet lately as have been busy getting house ready to sell and just accepted the offer we had on the first day of putting up for sale. Now all guns blazing as they are due to complete on the sale of their house at the end of the month but will move in with their parents if need be. Really excited, happy, nervous - can't believe how much is on my to do list....!!

Hope you are all well - anyone else heading off to Queensland soon - we are planning to stay on Bribie Island for the first couple of months whilst we spend some time finding where we want to buy a house etc.

Nina

hi Nina - not going until Jan earliest but very excited about it. OH is the Aussie and he is worried that we wont be able to afford the same standard of living as here........worried about everything basically. Its got me thinking - why are we doing it? But I have to at least try and if it all goes tits up so to speak, we can always just come back here.

I've just got a question for eveyrone actually - does anyone know if the "changes" that come into force for visa application after 1st September apply to the spouse visa?

I have my medical booked for 22nd August, about to take my police check form in etc so would expect to be able to apply late Aug....however we are going on holiday early September so I need my passport so probably should sensibly wait until we get back from France before applying, by which time we will be well into September....anyone know?

Hi

we are off to Townsville on the 18th September
scary stuff......my to do list is lengthy and gets longer by the day.
Feel the same though, scared, excited, nervous etc . Handed in my notice on Wednesday which made it all seem very real.
Hope all goes well for you

Sorry, not been around all week. Well done, that's fantastic news

Have the same conversations with my Mrs.

If you are worried, I'd apply before. I have no idea how the changes will affect spouse visas and I haven't read further to see if you have had any further replies.

Your passport will not be required until the end of the process and I should think it wouldn't matter if you left it a couple of weeks before sending it off. You can send your application off before you have the medicals and police checks, they can match it all up later.