it_hooker

Our 138 visa is going through and, with a fair wind, we should have it through around the turn of the year.

Now, we are foster carers and the local authorities have indicated to us that they may be willing for them to remain with us to complete their schooling. As I see it, they would need to apply for a student visa (571) and the school fees would have to be covered - about $10,400 in NSW - which we would be quite happy to do.

Does anyone know how long DIMIA might take to approve student visas?

BKate

Hi,

I got a student visa in June this year and it took 7 days from the day i posted it to London to the day I recieved my pasport back with the visa in it.

JAJ

Is this a long term or short term fostering? If it's long term, then it gives rise to some obvious questions.



Jeremy

it_hooker

Well, we're short term foster carers but the eldest has been with us for nearly 4 years now! There are no plans for them to stay with us beyond their 16th birthdays.

And I might be being a little dense this morning but what obvious questions?

it_hooker

That's good news, thank you.

JAJ

I was simply making the point that if they have become part of your family (effectively) are you happy about the idea of leaving them in a different country?

And if not, the only way to avoid it may be adoption.




Jeremy

it_hooker

Ah yes - there is that - it will be difficult come the day they have to leave but we don't see adoption as an option - it certainly wouldn't be possible for the youngest anyway. But, they would have received their education in Australia and for them I think it's a wonderful, life-changing opportunity and the chance to get away, for a while at least, from the demons that haunt them in the UK.

We had already resigned ourselves to losing them early next year anyway.

Welshie

Usually 3-5 weeks max ....have been waiting for mine for five weeks now, but I had to have extra blood tests cos I'll be studying in a healthcare environment. Should be here any day soon I hope!

Good luck