edman

I applied on 22nd April and have has contact from officer today 24th April
from the London office. They requested meds and police clearance within
49 days (more than sufficient).

My app was over 1.2kg lots of evidence: bills, bank statements, photos, holiday details, invites, personal statements, 14 stat decs from rellies and friends etc etc. We went over the top to make sure any questions are reduced.

I see no reason for anyone to use an agent to go for the spouse app, just read the booklet and fill the forms out and save yourself a fortune in fees.

Just some info for you who are wondering what to do.

PS costs for meds 100 for checkup, 40 for bloods, 74 for xray is what I am to pay.

cooper11

brilliant, thanks for that info, we are going to apply on our own, thanks for mentioning what you have included. we are including similar stuff. altho we havent got as many as 14 stat decs....i think we have 5/6 if we are lucky. we are frontloading police and medicals. fingers crossed.

piepieter

the agent told us we should mary..

my girlfriend and I are together for 6 years but never officialy lived together at one address..

irish ozie gang

Wow that was fast! We sent app on 9th April and haven't heard a peep - although they did return our photos last week, but no contact from anyone! We frontloaded medicals and police checks, so here's hoping!

Good luck with your app. Keep us posted!

edman

Hey there, I guess if you front loaded meds and cops they dont have much reason to contact you yet. I didnt bother as I wanted them to contact me plus Im not in a hurry to get the visa....we wont be moving immediately...I have businesses in Belfast so no hurry.

So where are you from in Aus? My wifes from Gold Coast and been living here for 10 years...time for a bit of sun for her!! We are hoping to buy a place this year and spend maybe 1/2 year in aus and 1/2 here...we will see.

Anyway good luck ! e

Pollyana

If you have never lived together, and cannot explain this with good reason - for example, do you live in a country where it is forbidden to cohabit without marriage - then the agent may be suggesting the best route.

irish ozie gang

I'm from the Sunshine Coast - been living in Eire 4 years now! OH Irish and allergic to the weather here! We were only supposed to be here 2 years, but I managed to stretch it out a bit.....

But definitely looking forward to getting home for some sun and the outdoor lifestyle.

edman

Cool.. OH got her Irish passport a few years ago so I reckon its time I got my Aussie stuff sorted.

We spent a couple of weeks on the sunshine coast in Nov/Dec, I love it there...Noosa is my fav but the rest is so much more chilled out. The goldy is good but way way to busy, too many people and the roads are madness now. The past 5 years its turned into a missery of a place to be.

How long are you into the visa process?

e

George Lombard

From your perspective that's quite understandable, and in our practice in fact we don't enjoy helping people with straightforward applications they could have handled by themselves.

However there are so many issues which can affect spouse cases, and such a high rate of refusal, that there are many instances where an agent's help does make a difference. Issues relating to evidence are the most common, but there are also issues relating to the eligibility of sponsor and visa applicant, inappropriate conclusions drawn from interviews, third party communications, etc, etc.

According to the Migration Review Tribunal's statistics, they have already received 997 review applications for partner refusals in the current financial year (see http://www.mrt-rrt.gov.au/docs/stats/MRTInternet.pdf ) and have 1,327 pending spouse cases. No doubt there are other applicants who were refused and did not make appeals.

In most refusal cases a competent agent's earlier intervention could have made a difference - either explaining that the application should not proceed or preparing it appropriately.

Cheers,

George Lombard

Deutschmaster

Ha ha ha you reckon you have everything? There's probably a jobsworth looking over it right now ready to ask for something else

edman

Hi George, just my perspective so far not making a wide sweeping blow at your carer choice. I am sure you can provide valuable assistance in many cases. Like you said, my situation is boring for you, I posted this in the first place, as a rough "how it's going so far" for anyone else who may be looking into it. Maybe it can be of use to someone as there didnt seem to be much else like it on here. I think I will keep it updated as I go along the process so it will give a time line.

e

MeinMel

It seems London processes the applications fast... I wish I could lodge in London...so far no info on lodgment in Dubai or Vienna...

Wonder which would be better/ faster...

irish ozie gang

Hey E - I agree totally with you on the GC! Went to uni there - it's a madhouse! We'll be settling in Buderim, as that is where the family is! We still haven't heard anything from London - am hoping that is a good sign, although OH is now wanting to ring them..... But who do you ring if you've no name to contact???? Will give it a little while longer I'm trying not to read too much on the forum, as I just get depressed when I read about the trouble everyone else is having - and after reading about the partner visa rejections.... well, I'm now totally paranoid! But we'll get there......
Best, IOG.

edman

You plonker..I never said I have everything. This is an application and the only thing they have asked me for (so far) is meds and cop clearance. As for asking for more they can fire away, its their job and I will gladly provide whatever else they ask for.

Why are some people so delightedly negative ?

edman

Buderim is really nice...we where there for night and thought it was v cool. Im sure you will hear from London in due course and all will be fine. The process seems set up to weed out suspicious or fraudulent marriages and not the real deal like you.

As for the forum it can be tiring reading and a lot of it is filled with people who enjoy attacking others or who's opinions are questionable. Its difficult to know who's genuine or not. I suppose like me at first you read read read read and read some more then it becomes over whelming! Still, I am glad it is here and it has definitely been helpful getting info from others in the same loop to settle the nerves !

PS the answer seems that until you have a contact name and your ref number you cant actually contact anyone. Strange eh?

Best of luck and hope you are enjoying living on our green isle....proper green not Aussie brownie green..;o)