T-bird

Hi Tiger
We're in a similar boat, planning to rent out the flat. We're busy saving money as we won't be able to get enough rent to cover the mortgage. Better to save it now than have to pay it when we're earning aussie dollars.

We're going to validate the visas in April and head over in July, travelling through Central and South America and arriving in September. Unless the economy totally nose-dives... when I gues we wouldn't be going anywhere.

But let's be hopeful. The papers are full of doom and gloom but no-one can predict the future.

T-bird

anthonyk

By the way things are looking now I think Australia would be one of the better places to be during an economic slump. The economy is largely commodity driven and high prices for stuff like iron ore and the nasties coal and uranium will insulate it quite a bit.

Unlike Britain it's not that tied up in the "credit crunch" crisis originating in America although the pain will and is obviously being felt. This raises the likelihood that the aussie economy and job market will be in better shape than for instance Britain and the US over the next couple of years. Plus the currency will probably remain strong for the same reasons. (which is a good thing if you're making down payments on a mortgage abroad, but not so nice if you're converting foreign money into A$)

T-bird

Hi Anthony
Thanks for the post - I completely agree. Also just been chatting to a friend who's been over from Melbourne, and she said that although they are feeling it a bit, because Australia is an island and not that global (e.g. NAB states itself as global but 85% of it's turnover comes from within Aus), they are less impacted. Also, I think their economy is impacted more by Asia, than the US. It could be a very good time to be making the move.
T-bird.

Dodge38

HI...Not been on here for a while....no action today then?? Cant see any visas being granted????

tiger222

Unofficial Visa Update
12 August Tuesday

ZERO

5 for THIS WEEK....and Counting

Don't be discouraged guys - we had 5 yesterday

23 last week is the 2nd highest week since I've been keeping track.

I have a feeling I'll have to change this later.
I think we just haven't heard from the lucky Visa holders yet today

noofie

Lets hope so!!!

Dodge38

Thanks Tiger...There is always you to pick our spirits up!! Feeling a bit fed up as we were hoping that visas would be done by the end of the UK summer hols, as out daughter is due to start High School on Sept 2nd, which means buying all her school uniform (blazer, tie etc....)which she may only use for a few weeks/months and a lot of expense - the school are adamant that each child must be in full uniform, which is a bit of a shame!!

Apart from that the family are feeling quite chilled about the whole thing - we don't have the stress of selling our home, as we have already done that - only have to organise shipping 20 boxes of personal bits and pieces (no furniture) and sorting out banks etc...and a place to stay once we get there.

The only thing we have not submitted is the Australian Values form...are people submitting this prior to getting a CO????

Thanks
Dodge

lilsweets

Hi,

I did attach a values statment to my application as it was just a simple case of printing it off and signing it. I would have kicked myself down the track if the whole approval process was delayed because I didn't do it. Form 80 was a giant pain to complete but again I would have been well annoyed with myself if they requested it later on.

It seems like they ask some people for it and others manage to avoid it, up to you!

kaznie

I remember that I clicked the check button for australian value statement at the very end page of online application form. But I'm not sure because I can't open that page after having submitted the form. Is there another statement I have to send to them when CO assigned?

Dodge38

I have read also that some people have had to do the Australian statement form and the long Form (80..I think) and some people haven't!! On our Document Checklist via 'Checking the progress of your Application' link - there is no mention of it on there and we never saw any indication that it needed filling out when we applied online, so am slightly confused. I know in the past when I have looked at the long Form 80, I felt that most things had been covered on that form during the whole online process e.g Applicants family details and addresses.

Dodge

Dodge38

Ahhhh...Have just checked printed copy of our online application and we did indeed do the Values Statement as part of the application - we had to answer questions and confirm that we had read the information on 'Australian Values'...so no signature required as online - now going to compare form 80 with what we did online....

Dodge

Dodge38

Yep....Everything on that form was included in online application from what I can see - so if they need it again I don't need to gather information again...it is all on my printed copy...so in otherwords I seem to have answered my own query - see that's what all this waiting does to you...you get so paranoid!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Dodge

Dodge38

I haven't been on here for a while and then I do 4 posts in a row....I don't know about anyone else, but we get quite obsessed about the whole thing sometimes!!! Well anyway there does not seem to be much action at the mo!!

Dodge

lilsweets

Hey Tiger,

So two visa's to add to your count.

They were slow coming, thought it was going to be another day of zero approvals but at least there is still movement!

tiger222

Thanks, Lilsweets. I have to admit that after yesterday morning, we went a couple of hours north for a little vacation (getting the wood floors sanded/refinished). I brought the lappy, but the trackpad wasn't working so this morning I needed my BE fix - so went out to by a new mouse for the laptop! How obsessed is that. Can't even leave it alone on vacation!