cazw1405

Hi All,

Thought maybe I should start a new catch up thread as the other one has been closed? Really new to all this so hope you all join me!!!

Caz x

smudger_scfc

What a shame, my wife was second to post on that thread, and it's probably one the reason's i'm where i am now!! Applying for a spouse visa always seemed like too much hard work until that thread was started.

Will be more than happy to pass on what i know on this one though

Pollyana

No problems with a new thread being started - from my point of view there were two issues beginning to develop with the old thread. Firstly, it was getting too big. Once a thread reaches that sort of size it starts to cause loading issues for those of us on dialup. So all the info is still there, and there's no problem with someone initiating a new thread.
The other problem with the old one is that it had developed from a place to chat into an immigration-advice thread. While many spouse visas are very straight-forward, some do have more complex issues which are best addressed in the Immigration forum itself, as that way agents are more likely to reply. There's no harm in suggesting to spouse visa applicants that they might like to chat to people in the "spouse-circle", but a tendency was developing for all spouse visa-related questions to be redirected into the Barbie thread. In this way, some misleading info/advice was being posted on the Barbie thread and never corrected.
Also a lot of questions were not being asked in the Immgration forum at all, with the result that the original posters aren't getting the beneift of the knowledge and advice of those people in the Immi forum.

From a personal point of view, both Moneypen and myself migrated on spouse visas, and regularly post advice on spouse threads in the Immigration forum. However, time constraints meant that we just don't have time to browse through the chat in the Barbie Spouse thread, so questions about visa issues in there go unnoticed and unanswered.

All we are suggesting as a bit of division in the two sides of the migrating issue - lifestyle and chat in the Barbie/Aus forums, and the serious migration queries in Immigration - which is why we have the different forums anyway

Hope all this makes sense to you guys!

Pollyana

For people joining this thread, the previous thread is HERE

taffgmg

Thought I would rejoin the Spouse thread.

Have just posted a question in the "Immigration Room" as I am awaiting a decision on my Spouse Visa. Oz House didnt realise they had received my medicals and it was only after I decided to ask for confirmation from my CO that she had received them that I found out that she hadnt. Then took a few more days to find them and was then told the medicals had been referred to the health operations centre...where ever that is.

That was last week. Hope it doesnt take too long as we are probabaly going to have to exchange on the house next week and we need to travel before July 22nd as my wife cant travel after that because she is pregnant. Getting stressful now............I thought the house was going to be the problem......

JBlokeUK

I was gutted when the other thread was closed. It has been a HUGE help with me getting my application together for a Prospective Marriage Visa and made the whole process a bit more easier.

I just want to get it done and sent now, its all I think about and the stress and worry is sometimes too much to bare.

moneypenny20

As I and Polly have explained, the information hasn't gone anywhere, that thread was just way too heavy and clunky for anyone new to navigate for 'real' information which should be in the Immigration Forum anyway. But the thread is still there if there's stuff in it you personally need.

If you have questions re your application just post them in the Immi site and they will be found by experts and members far easier than relying on just members because a) the experts tend to stay in the Immi forum and b) your case may be slightly different from another PSV and you may get the wrong advice. Not saying that has happened but it's easier for it to happen in a huge chatty thread in the Barbie than in a neat thread on it's own in the Immi forum.

cazw1405

Thanks Pollyanna,

I totally see what your saying! Just wanted to be able to catch up with the people I had been chatting to recently. Will point people in the right direction if I see any immi questions!

Cheers

cazw1405

I believe the Health Operations Centre is in Sydney? Might be wrong? Someone else a while ago had their meds sent there too and once they had been looked at, the information was made available to London. Don't think it held it up that much? Hope someone that has had some experience with this answers for you!

Good luck!

Pollyana

Yep, thats right - as I've posted on his question in the Immi thread, any meds with anything on them that needs looking at will be sent to Sydney. If its something minor the delay is neglibile.

shelld81

Right, I've moved our thread to the Immigration forum - it's called the same thing but it's in the right place now. Please wish us luck, I'm off to post our application now and I'm so nervous!

Pollyana

It wasn't in the wrong place before, its just that several hundred pages of general chat and info about Aussie lifestyle was swmaping the important immigration/visa-related questions. Agents and others with specialist info won't plough through hundreds of pages to see if there is a question to answer.
The main problem with the original thread is that people were posting on every spouse visa query in the Immigration forum telling posters they should be asking in the Visa Circle. For visa-related questions that's not the right way to get an answer - starting a specific thread for their specific issue is more likely to get a professional/knowledgable reply.

moneypenny20

I would also like to remind a few of you who have a yearning for the old one, there is a whole forum of general chit chat, namely the Barbie, as well as the Australia Info Forum just outside that one thread with lots and lots of expats who, whilst not necessarily having or requiring a spouse visa, have had to apply for much trickier ones and who have come out the other side and who have stacks of help and info on Australia and life therein They are not hard to navigate and you may meet your new best mate there

There is also the Wiki section (blue toolbar at the top) where lots of info about Australia can be found. Explore people, it's a whole new world out there

SillyOldBag

Just thought I would pop my head round the door and say hello to the new all shiney, sparkling spouse type visa chatter/update thread

For the record - I'm still making little progress with arranging my wedding - I think its the laid back aussie thing is having an effect on me - I'm getting way to casual about stuff Mind you, we did half-heartedly write a guest list so at least we have a rough idea about numbers .... but then that was way too much effort and we've done nothing since! Maybe next week we'll get motivated!

I have finally got off my bum though and arranged my medicare thingo and for a Queensland driving licence - oh and applied for a tax file number! I had a dynamic day on Friday! so maybe I should take a couple of weeks off til I recover

Vaguely remember reading somewhere that I should go and see Centrelink but as I can't remember why I need to go there, I haven't done it yet! Anyone already here in Australia have any ideas?

Anyway, I must tootle off and put my feet up and recover from another day of ...... well nothing in particular!

shelld81

Sounds fantastic you're making me homesick! We had a few days of nice weather a couple of weeks ago but it's back to being all damp and miserable again. Good luck with the wedding I'm sure you've had enough stress lately to be able to put your feet up without feeling guilty, it'll all pan out! We posted our application off yesterday, I feel so lost without it. I keep having to remind myself that it's still sitting in the post office in its (massive) silver bag, nobody's even opened it yet, so I must calm down. It's not working!