Darran Posted February 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 (edited) Home Affairs...what a shambles! I received a notification last month that my unabridged birth certificate was ready for collection. Great! When I arrived at HA they said that they couldn't find my certificate and that the manager who was authorized to do re-prints was not at work that day! I finally managed to get back there today, only to be told that my unabridged birth certificate was not showing on the system because I had actually applied for a marriage certificate... After showing them the copies of the original application (with tracking number etc.) and receipt of payment for a Birth Certificate, I was told I needed to refill in the application paperwork to "push" the original application (no payment required)...whatever that means! I really hope this doesn't develop into an issue, here's to hoping Home Affairs pulls one out the bag... Edited February 7, 2017 by Darran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darran Posted March 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 We've had a pretty productive past two days! I collected my Unabridged Birth Certificate yesterday (we now have all our UBC's for the family), and my wife's IELTS results came through today. So proud of my wife, her marks were Reading 9, Listening 9, Speaking 9 and Writing 8.5! All points in the bag! We now have everything we need for our EOI. We are considering waiting until next month to submit our EOI, so that we can try and time our Visa application for after the birth of our third child. The idea being that we can then add him to our EOI and have all the necessary paperwork in place for the Visa application, to avoid the delays associated with a late addition, and to try for a direct grant. Is this wise? The main concern is obviously the change of the visa year, but we also want to have as quick a processing time as possible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedPanda Posted March 17, 2017 Report Share Posted March 17, 2017 Yea...this is one for the experts to answer. Good luck though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darran Posted March 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2017 EOI submitted! It almost feels unreal to finally be at this stage in the process... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darran Posted March 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 (edited) Invite received!!! Wow, was not expecting it to happen in under 12 hours! Current emotion: flabbergasted...I thought the next invitation round was only on the 12 April? Edited March 28, 2017 by Darran 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karools Posted March 28, 2017 Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 Wow that is quick, congratulations! Curious, how many points did you have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darran Posted March 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 Thanks @Karools, we had 65 points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted March 28, 2017 Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 If you believe in signs, that may just be one. Congrats 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darran Posted April 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 Just a quick update: My son was born last week Wednesday (all went very well!) and I picked up his birth certificate this morning (pleasantly surprised by how quickly it all went at DOHA). Hopefully we will be going back this afternoon to apply for his passport and to do our PCC's. I filled out Form 80 - my word that took a lot longer than I was expecting - and have all our other documentation in hand. Hopefully we will be lodging in early May! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedPanda Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 Congratulations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichKen Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 Congratulations on the birth of your little man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackoFam Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 Congratulations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darran Posted May 5, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 My sons passport application has FINALLY been accepted (very long story, but suffice to say I didn't think Home Affairs could sink any lower until this last experience...), and we also managed to get our PCC fingerprints and paperwork done (we will send this off next week via PostNet). Just waiting to have my sons passport in-hand and we will lodge our application. Can't wait!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darran Posted May 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Wow, almost a year to the day since we decided to emigrate and we have finally lodged our Visa application. It's quite difficult to explain the emotions, but after such a long haul I almost feel numb! The next step is to upload all our documents, so hoping that our internet connection here in the sticks stays connected consistently enough for this to be achieved! Thanks to all who provided us with invaluable advice (both requested and "stalked"), we would most definitely not have gotten this far without this amazing forum! Onward and upward! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darran Posted June 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 We are now officially fully seated and buckled into the waiting room! All our medicals have cleared and all documentation (including PCC's) has been uploaded. Such an exciting space to be in, though I'm sure the anxiety will begin to build as the days to Grant build up... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahWi Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 (edited) congratulations and good luck on the way ahead. Edited June 14, 2017 by NoahWi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clauderoy Posted July 6, 2017 Report Share Posted July 6, 2017 @DarrenDid you wait for the birth of your before submitting the EOI? We should be ready soon to submit our EOI, just need to do the English test and receive the results. However, we are considering waiting to immigrate before we have a second child (not currently pregnant). Is it better to go ahead with our visa and do a separate child visa once baby is born (if we decide to stay that long) or should we put our application on hold, get pregnant have baby and then finalise? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimpleSimon Posted July 7, 2017 Report Share Posted July 7, 2017 @Darran What does your wife teach and what do you plan to do in Oz? I say this because after the relief of getting here, you find that people here are highly skilled, competitive and clever. It means it's a lot tougher to get going and you see others living the lifestyle you believe you should have, but can't afford it. The best antidote to the depression that could set in then is to have a plan. Do you have a plan that extends through your first 3 years in Oz? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darran Posted July 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 @Clauderoy Wow, that's a pretty hectic life-question to try and answer for you! ? If I were in your position I would try and get to Aus as soon as possible, and have your second in Aus. I would rather have the Visa in hand and then make a decision on having a child in Aus vs. SA, at least give yourself the option. In my opinion, if you couldn't afford the extra cost of the child visa (if you choose to have a child before gozing) then you probably couldn't afford to move to Aus in the first place (though this doesn't seem to be the case with you)? We applied for our EOI before the birth of our third, but included him in our dependants. We then waited to get his passport before actually lodging the visa (within the 60 day period). Time will tell whether this was a wise decision... @SimpleSimon Thanks for the advice! Between the two of us we have 5 degrees, so hopefully we will 1) fit in with the "skilled and clever" crowd and 2) have more than one career option once we get to Aus. With this being a public forum and all I don't really want to divulge our "plan", but suffice to say we have a good road map in place that should see us living a fulfilled life across the pond. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Darran Posted August 23, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Wow! I can't believe that I am finally at the point that I can say we have our visas!! They were granted on the 11 August and we have been in a daze since then. The journey, on paper, has been a long one but it feels like only yesterday that we were filling in the Skills Assessment application! We managed to get a Direct Grant without using an agent, and this would not have been possible without this forum. There are also specific people I'd like to thank who have given us (whether they knew it or not ) advice and encouragement during this process (in no particular order): @RedPanda, @Mara, @Deezo, @ChrisH, @PhatMyles, @mistermoose, @CazK, @MichKen, @DXB2OZ, @SurferMan, @HadEnoughofJuju, @Husky, @Jordy, @rikamarie, @RYLC, @AFreshStart, @SD_MOA, @TeeTMI, @FingersCrossed, @SimpleSimon You guys are AWESOME! Thank you for so freely sharing and helping others, it seems to be a rare trait in today's world?! Our plan is to move over in January 2018, to settle in Bunbury, WA. A complete melting pot of emotions over this statement! We have family in Bunbury who will hopefully be able to open some doors of opportunity for us, or at the very least make it a softer landing! It is such a relief to know that we have an exit strategy in place and can leave tomorrow if things locally get completely out of hand! So now we're onto container quotes and (gulp) de-cluttering our lives! 18 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 How wonderful @Darran Congratulations. I find that people are inherently good and have been humbled at how many are willing to help. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichKen Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 Congratulations @Darran that is wonderful news! Now for the real adventure, all the very best with your move. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clauderoy Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 Congratulation @Darren. Its nice to hear someone else also planning to go to WA, seems quite rare nowadays. Good luck with the next part of the journey! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fidjet Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 Congratulations and good luck, have fun with the decluttering. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedPanda Posted August 25, 2017 Report Share Posted August 25, 2017 @Darran, it's a pleasure Best of luck with the last push to declutter and arrange logistics. Hope WA feels like home in no time 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.