Originally Posted by the pursers (Post 5308227)

Yes, the Visa goes to Australia House on the Strand if you're applying from the UK.
You may or may not have to be interviewed, at the discretion of your CO!
They will also advise you of the date you must enter Australia by to validate your visa. Normally this will be 12 months from your PCC, or meds, whichever runs out the first. You can go, validate, then come back to the UK if you have to. It isn't ideal, but plenty of people (my Aussie sister in law and her UK hubby for starters!) have to do it.
Hope this helps, I'm sure someone will correct me if I've got anything wrong!:D

Originally Posted by the pursers (Post 5308199)

So - poll, who is going to Melbourne?

Originally Posted by RachelH (Post 5306791)

Hi to littlehobo and hello again to Shelley!

SHelley -are you in Yorkshire? We're in Harrogate - Ihad my meds done at Huddersfield and they were soooo friendly and great (cost £100 for medical and £56 for chest X ray).]

By the way Rachel, I know my OH has to go to Huddersfield for the medical check, but where in Huddersfield? Who do we phone to make the appointments? Are the xray and check done at separate places?

Originally Posted by oliver85 (Post 5307539)

Yeah we're in Holmfirth, just out of Huddersfield. We've got all our evidence sorted (thank God), just a couple more stat decs to obtain and a thorough check over. If it's not such a big thing to prove I'm fit to sponsor then I'll do my best not to stress about it! Most people seem to think it isn't, it just seems like everyone else is coming after selling a house or having life savings and things like that!
Hey I read right back at the beginning of the forum there was someone moving to Tallebudgera Valley? Most beautiful place on the whole Gold Coast - I used to live there. I would go straight back if I could, it's getting really expensive though.
I'm off to see if I can get a letter from my employer on the Gold Coast saying they want me back, and an addition to the stat dec from my parents saying they are more than happy to offer financial support if for some ridiculous reason we ever needed it!

Originally Posted by RachelH (Post 5306791)

Hi to littlehobo and hello again to Shelley!


LH - is your spouse an Aussie? They have to have Aussie citizenship or permanent residency to sponsor you for a spouse visa I believe.

any questions ask away.

Originally Posted by JoolsB (Post 5309840)

We are off to Melbourne & Eltham is in our top 3 list of areas to buy :) flying out Jan 27th-about to book flights this weekend :thumbup: Have you been to Melbourne before?

Originally Posted by oliver85 (Post 5307925)

By the way, could anyone tell me, once we apply for this visa (I'm assuming we have to send it to London), is it a definite that we'll have to be interviewed? I haven't heard anyone mention it really. If we do have to interviewed, where to we have to go if we live in Huddersfield? And another question, once the visa is approved, how long do we have to get back to Australia? I know we have to be back before the medical and pcc's expire, but do we have a certain amount of time after approval within which we have to be in Australia? I don't want to apply too early and get stuck having to head home before we're ready!

Originally Posted by struth (Post 5310626)

hi,

i was asked to phone for an interview, i was very nervous but it was all general questions like how and where did we meet, how did oh get on with my daughter, as i said nerve wracking but done over the phone so no need to travel.

Originally Posted by Bernieboy (Post 5260905)

Its not fair i dont have a house to sell before i go for my visa unlike you guys,in fact i dont even have a pot to piss in,anybody selling a pot:rofl:

Originally Posted by oliver85 (Post 5310739)

By the way, I know a couple of you have had to have Aussie police checks done - we just want to frontload ours but I'm not sure who to contact from over here in the UK?

Originally Posted by the pursers (Post 5310555)

Well, well, how cool that you're considering Eltham.
I lived there with my hubby before we came back to the UK (as well as St Andrews, Hurstbridge, Plenty, Carlton, etc).
His parents live in a fab mud-brick house there, it is a great place to live! We will be living there in the super-max sized garden shed (complete with verandah!) when (not if, she says optimistically!) we get back in December.
So, if you want a guided tour of Eltham (and it's El-tham, not Elt-ham like the one in London!), please give us a shout, my hubby was born and bred in Eltham and knows all the highs and lows, we'd be pleased to show you around!:D
I know another BE person or two who are already in Eltham as well...let's hope Eltham Hotel is well prepared for the British invasion :thumbsup: