JohnDeeHart

Funnily enough, we had the same problem, John & Sue.
Virgin especially, had a markup of 50% on a single flight compared to their return.
When I rang them and suggested I buy a return and tear up the R ticket, they said "that's up to you but can't recommend it" When I asked why, they said " Not our company policy!"
When I said "it it legal?" they said YES, but up to you.
Crazy, isn't it?
Meanwhile we got a much better deal with Singapore Airlines, with an increase of baggage allowance for Emigrants of 100%.
Get it!
John & Eirian

tinaj

Mum arrived on the 6th August and we applied for the visa on the 8th.
Letter received with case officer noted, credit card charged and bridging visa approved on the 13th August!

So glad we took advice from afriend and applied onshore, the whole process looks like it will be much quicker.

tinaj

Just an update on my Mum's contributory aged Visa resident progress

She arrived 6 Aug sent visa application off 8th Aug, got a letter back with case officer, visa charged and her bridging visa on the 13th!

very fast so far so here's hoping for a smooth quick onshore process.

Bermudashorts

Why do you think it will be quicker?

Jan4kids

My Mother in Law is coming over on the Contributary Parent Visa (143?) The one with the shorter wait and the higher cost. She is a fair way through her application and has been given April for a decision as a rough time line by her agent.

Now, she is getting on in years (87) and we would like her over here before the next U.K Winter sets in.

My question is:

Is it possible for her to come here on a Tourist Visa and continue her application 'onshore'? Is the CPV a forgone conclusion? What are the chances of her having to return once here? Her agent will not give advice on this, which is a bit of a worry in it's self.

I hope some one can help a bit....thank-you

Jan

DaveandLinda

She would be able to travel to Australia on a 12 month tourist visa 676. However, as the 143 is an offshore visa she would need to be offshore when the visa is granted so she would need to inform her case officer of her plans and let him know when she is in Australia. She would then need to go offshore for the visa grant. Lots of parents have done this and go off to New Zealand, Singapore or somewhere else for a few days.

The main reason why people are not granted the visa, and I haven't really heard of many but it does happen, is if they don't pass the medical.

tinaj

We did the whole visa onshore as a friend did the same and it comes through a lot quicker from this end, rather than in the Uk.
Maybe call and find out if there is anyway of changing it. Maybe she could come over on the tourist visa and then fly to NZ when it is granted??? A few people do that.

tinaj

i know people who have done it from this end and it was months quicker than doing it in the UK.

Alan Collett

What visa subclasses, tinaj?

Best regards.

Alan Collett

Once lodged there is no means of changing an offshore CP visa application into an onshore version.

Heading offshore for a few days immediately prior to visa grant will be necessary.

Best regards.

tinaj

Timeline
Aged Contributory Parent Visa progress - onshore application

Sent application 8th August
Letter back /fee charged 13th August, bridging visa granted.

30th August got email from Case officer requesting:
medical
AFP check (UK one already sent)
and Assurers of support form


Much much quicker than we expected, had 28 days to do them but
all have been done and sent off this week

Alex997_99

Hello Tina,
Was your mum on an ETA or a tourist visa?..676(tourist) would usually have the "no further stay" condition;in which case,one cannot apply for an onshore visa?
Please advise,as we are about to start with the process for my mum as well.

Regards,

Alex.

tinaj

She is on a tourist visa. And you can still apply for the aged contributory visa once you are in the country. They just give you a bridging visa to stay once the 3 months runs out.

johnemo

Has anyone looked into the difference in the exchange rate between having state/government pensions paid to Oz bank account directly and doing it yourself from a UK bank account through, say, OzForex?
John

tinaj

Update

Got the final approved visa through a few weeks ago. The whole process was 7 weeks from start to finish!!
Very happy we did it from here.
She has got the Medicare card, drivers licence and her passport has been sent away to be stamped with the visa.

We had an awesome case officer, who had great communication and kept us in touch throughout. Thank you Kieran!