Vindy

No harm in trying, Just got back from a few days in Cornwall and what a diference a few days make good luck to all those who have a case officer.

Les

Mrs Featherbottom

Thanks for coming back to me guys, can I just clarify the terminology used here, sorry if I'm being a bit slow, when you say "issued" do you mean as in when they put it in the passport, or when they notify you that you are successful? Just trying to understand the process

thanks again
Mrs F.

Alan Collett

Visas are granted once the applicant has departed Australia (the DIAC case officer can check this via the movement records which update upon passing through immigration on departure from Australia).

Evidencing of the visa (the sticking of the visa label in the passport) then takes place at the chosen overseas Australian Mission.

Best regards.

david day

hi mrs featherbottom,My husband and I are in Perth we have been for 2 years on a 410 retirement visa,april 08 we put in for 143 cpv on shore,we have gone down the long road waiting for a CO,UK and OZ police checks,medical's,our family have done assurance of support bond, and we have paid 2nd vac,we are now awaiting a letter from our CO telling us our visa as been granted we then have to go off shore to validate it in our case we are going to Bali,for a weeks holiday to destress.The visa as taken about 19 months in total,once you get your CO they will guide you every step of the way. good luck you will be fine,we did it all without an agent,and good infomation given on this British Expats site. David & Carol

Mrs Featherbottom

Hi Alan, many thanks for clarifying this for me, just helps to get a better picture of what to expect!

Mrs F.

Mrs Featherbottom

Hiya David & Carol thanks for your info! Fingers crossed the paperwork comes through soon for you - the waiting is so frustrating! The in-laws have been living nomadically for about 2 years now and I think it's safe to say we are all ready to move on and have homes of our own again! Hopefully the CO will be appointed before xmas and we can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel!

home alone

Was wondering, susanRem, said back in August that she used a CC to pay her 2nd Vac, what % rate do they go by? Do you just sent your details, to PVC, and wait to find out how much they actually deduct? It appeared easier this way, to transfer money to a CC, from our direct debit card! (HiFX actually say they don't 'charge' but when you go through their systems, they give you 2-3% lower than standard rates, so they do 'charge' really)

I've waffled on, hope someone out there understands me! Regards Lin

sandch

If it's a sterling credit card, the issuing bank will determine the exchange rate at the time the transaction is processed by DIAC, who simply put it through in dollars. Interestingly, with the rate so low now, has anyone considered paying in sterling using the DIAC official rate; which at 1.95 looks really attractive? I don't understand how this can work, unless DIAC hedges the rate for 6 months - being the government I expect you can do what you like..

However on $33,000 the difference is about £2,000 so worth looking into.
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/converter.htm

Vindy

Thanks Steve
Will keep that in mind when we get to that stage.

Les

home alone

Thanks Steve, for the reply. I did try and phone PVC, but, I was 5 minutes too late, they closed at 1600hrs today! Will try again next week! (It's a problem working similar days as Pvc, when I leave before 0800hrs and return approx 1800) Regards Lin

sandch

It can go the other way though - when it was first set it was an unattractive rate; and it will be adjusted next on 1 Jan 2010 I expect. Worth monitoring as the big payment approaches and if your funds are in sterling.

sandch

At what stage are you Lin? Have they asked for the Big One yet?

sirmatt101

Well my son went to Centrelink today for the AOS interview, and this is from his email just received!

"I have been to Centrelink this afternoon and they no longer do the interviews at the Centrelinks but merely check through the paperwork and also take copies of the paperwork / your forms / proof of id etc and forward them onto a central processing office who will check through the forms etc and let you know the outcome.

The woman said it normally takes around 14 days but on the form it has a date of 6/11/09 which is the longest it will take should they require anymore details or forms etc.

She said they will post out an outcome to me and also if its all alright it will contain the details of where and how to open this bank account of which I must then take proof into them again. "

Yet another way of doing things! Is this just this particular branch, as we have seen on here of, Centrelink, Commonwealth Bank and back to Centrelink all in the same day?

Its a good thing I have a little bit of patience left, although its fast dwindling!

The possibility of getting the visas through before our trip down under is slipping further away! In fact I think its gone now.

I was a happy person

Cheers

Matt

woody1cruiser

Hi Mark

If you look back to the post by Home alone (my mum) I went through exactly the same thing about a month ago. It did worry me but the letter was back within a week. I then went into the bank (had to make an appointment and the small town I work in hadn't done one before so took longer). I then went straight to the Centrelink office next door and all was sent off. Got a confirmation of acceptance within another week.

Debs

donovandenese

have u let your CO know the dates of your visit to Oz? most CO's will do the best they can to finalise things if at all possible to help you out