Waiting For The Visa To Oz...

[RueFang]

Is there anyone else out there waiting for a spouse visa to immigrate to Australia to be approved? The waiting is killing me!! We applied almost 5 weeks ago so I know there's still no need to worry, but still! We put the application in on Thursday the 16th May at Thai CC and got a call from the oz embassy on Monday telling us we didn't need an interview because it was obvious we are a real couple! Oh joy..but then no word since I hope this doesn't take the full 4 months or whathaveyou. I've read through this forum and seen all the people that got approved in 2 days or 2 weeks and think you're so lucky that you didn't have to sit around not knowing! Patience is a virtue I guess

Who else is out there floating in limbo??

[think_too_mut]

Is there anyone else out there waiting for a spouse visa to immigrate to Australia to be approved? The waiting is killing me!! We applied almost 5 weeks ago so I know there's still no need to worry, but still! We put the application in on Thursday the 16th May at Thai CC and got a call from the oz embassy on Monday telling us we didn't need an interview because it was obvious we are a real couple! Oh joy..but then no word since I hope this doesn't take the full 4 months or whathaveyou. I've read through this forum and seen all the people that got approved in 2 days or 2 weeks and think you're so lucky that you didn't have to sit around not knowing! Patience is a virtue I guess

Who else is out there floating in limbo??

I applied for citizenship for my baby and they said "5 business days".

It was done 20 business days later.

In the meantime I called them after 10 days and the guy said "we have no enough staff to have a look into and decide on your application, please bear with us".

Indeed, the DFAT has gone through major cost-cutting (there is now Visa Application Center, outsourced to a Thai company), sounded the guy wanted me to complain and if there were enough complaints somebody may decide to reinstate some of the staff.

Edited June 18, 2008 by think_too_mut

[Chris Lawrence]

Sounds good. No need for interview. Just a little more patience

Good luck

Chris

[mekka]

Hey Ruefang,

Ill be submitting my wifes application in the very near future and just wanted to know the total costs for the whole application submitted...just so i have a figure to work with...

Thanks mate

[RueFang]

I had heard about the cost cutting measures and lack of staff to deal with the number of applications. Funny that it's so hard waiting for the visa but once we're living back in oz, I'll probably dream about living back here again!

Mekka, I seem to remember another thread about the total costs of the visa, so try a search on that. The actual visa cost about 45,000 baht, VFS fee ~540 bt, translations ~2000bt, photocopying, photo development, print emails, etc ~600bt, bribe to gvt official for lost form (!)10,500 bt, etc, etc! All up over $2000 ... putting in perspective of my partner being able to have an Australian passport in 2 years and permanent residency, it's all worth it really!

Good luck to others going through this!

[bikkies]

I had heard about the cost cutting measures and lack of staff to deal with the number of applications. Funny that it's so hard waiting for the visa but once we're living back in oz, I'll probably dream about living back here again!

Mekka, I seem to remember another thread about the total costs of the visa, so try a search on that. The actual visa cost about 45,000 baht, VFS fee ~540 bt, translations ~2000bt, photocopying, photo development, print emails, etc ~600bt, bribe to gvt official for lost form (!)10,500 bt, etc, etc! All up over $2000 ... putting in perspective of my partner being able to have an Australian passport in 2 years and permanent residency, it's all worth it really!

Good luck to others going through this!

Ruefang

Your figures seem to be on the money(no pun intended).Though you will have to wait 4 years for the Oz passport,they changed the rules around November of last year though dont quote me on the exact month,sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

[chiangmaibruce]

Difficult to put a figure on total costs - many variables including:

1. whether you apply in Thai or Oz

2. how much you do yourself and how much you pay others to do (eg. immigration specialists)

3. whether you plan/are organised, or whether you muddle through/are in a big hurry and have to pay "faster processing fees" all the way through. even on one item like the Thai police check this can make a big difference in $

4. whether you get dragged back in for additional interviews, have to submit additional or modified papers etc (depending on your degree of organisation and to some extent, luck)

yes, permanent residency is not the same as citizenship (= passport). your lady will not be eligible for citizen for a few years after PR. (google on Australia + citizenship for details)

and PR is not a slam dunk, you need to submit an additional round of paperwork towards the end of (what is essentially) your 2 year trial period. similar stuff to the original spouse visa application but less rigorous.

we got through without any major dramas but we were very thorough with preparing everything. it is certainly difficult process for people who aren't good with forms and paperwork, and i guess this is where the immigration lawyers play a role

good luck

[RueFang]

bikkies, that was news to me!! You're quite right..oh well, have to go back for 4 years instead of 2 then! Can save more money hopefully!

[bikkies]

bikkies, that was news to me!! You're quite right..oh well, have to go back for 4 years instead of 2 then! Can save more money hopefully!

Sorry RueFang I am in the same boat too

Good luck mate

[david96]

"we didn't need an interview because it was obvious we are a real couple."

One would doubt that an DIAC officer would use this term "obvious we are a real couple " more like "an interview may not be required" would be stated over the telephone.

[sbk]

Fingers crossed Rue, good luck!

[Goinghomesoon]

Indeed, the DFAT has gone through major cost-cutting (there is now Visa Application Center, outsourced to a Thai company), sounded the guy wanted me to complain and if there were enough complaints somebody may decide to reinstate some of the staff.

DIAC runs immigration not DFAT. DIAC copped large budget cuts and in the next financial year need to cut between 200 - 300 staff including overseas. Hopefully Rue's hubby will be through the visa process by then. Pity the rest of us who aren't quite at lodgement stage yet.

[RueFang]

"we didn't need an interview because it was obvious we are a real couple."

One would doubt that an DIAC officer would use this term "obvious we are a real couple " more like "an interview may not be required" would be stated over the telephone.

Actually they really did say that over the phone. They said that our documentation was very comprehensive and proved that we have been together for over 3 years, showing that we are in a 'real relationship'.

Fingers crossed Rue, good luck!

Thanks sbk and good luck to you too bikkies, let us know how you get on.

[bikkies]

"we didn't need an interview because it was obvious we are a real couple."

One would doubt that an DIAC officer would use this term "obvious we are a real couple " more like "an interview may not be required" would be stated over the telephone.

Actually they really did say that over the phone. They said that our documentation was very comprehensive and proved that we have been together for over 3 years, showing that we are in a 'real relationship'.

Fingers crossed Rue, good luck!

Thanks sbk and good luck to you too bikkies, let us know how you get on.

Maybe should have explained myself a bit better we got an interview 10 October last year Visa was approved on the 17th according to the passport though we were not told of this untill a week and a half later.Now we are just counting down the days,months,years till my wife is ilegible for citizenship,passport etc.I hope it works out for you RueFang which am sure it will just remember you are dealing with the public service.Good luck mate let us know.

[david96]

6 to 8 weeks is a good guide for 70% of applications, 4 weeks is a minimum if your application is simple and their workload is light. Remember that spouse visas do not take priority over other visa applicants. There may be imformation to check in Australia re the sponsor in some cases, this will delay the application.

[sausage62]

Is there anyone else out there waiting for a spouse visa to immigrate to Australia to be approved? The waiting is killing me!! We applied almost 5 weeks ago so I know there's still no need to worry, but still! We put the application in on Thursday the 16th May at Thai CC and got a call from the oz embassy on Monday telling us we didn't need an interview because it was obvious we are a real couple! Oh joy..but then no word since I hope this doesn't take the full 4 months or whathaveyou. I've read through this forum and seen all the people that got approved in 2 days or 2 weeks and think you're so lucky that you didn't have to sit around not knowing! Patience is a virtue I guess

Who else is out there floating in limbo??

yep can here you we put our applicartion in at the actual embassy and didnt need an interview iether on the 27 th may my fiancve and i have been together now 8 monnths with me flying over every 7 weeks but now all i can do is wait the same as you som now im staying at home in tassy waiting for any news hopefully the right news so i can get on with my life stay cool my friend /////sausage

[jackliveswhere]

Sounds like everyone have been thrown about with these visa applications. I've been with my fiance for 2 years and am going to lodge an application next week when i get back to Bangkok. I have been living in Indonesia and have decided to return to australia hoping that we are approved with the visa application so that we can stay together in queensland. I've got the 40SP 47SP forms, exactly what extra documentation do they require, i'd like to go in there with everything hoping that the whole thing go smoothly.

Also we are getting married in Thailand in September does this effect the visa application at all?

Anyones help is good help on this one.

[BKKmoose]

Hi, i am just new to thaivisa but read a lot of the posts regarding spouse visa to Australia. All very helpful in preparing our application. My husband and i submitted our application nearly 3 weeks ago, the embassy rang 2 days after application to say that we don't require an interview and asked how soon we need the visa. We will continue to live here until the visa is granted. Just some background- we have been married for 6yrs,together 11 and visit OZ about 3 times a year so fingers crossed it is granted soon.

[Goinghomesoon]

Although she hasn't updated here yet, I understand congratulations are in order for Rue & her hubby.

[chiliwasabi]

Your figures seem to be on the money(no pun intended).Though you will have to wait 4 years for the Oz passport,they changed the rules around November of last year though dont quote me on the exact month,sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

You wouldn't have any more info on this change to 4 years would you bikkies? I can't find anything on the immigration website (yet). My wife and I are 1 year into what we thought would be a 2 year wait for her permanent residency and I'm a little shocked to find it is now 4 years.

[sbk]

Although she hasn't updated here yet, I understand congratulations are in order for Rue & her hubby.

I've heard that too. Congrats to Rue and Mr Rue

[RueFang]

Why thank you The waiting was quite painful...8 weeks and 4 days, not so bad, but the relief of knowing we got the visa is huge!

Chili, this is the link to info about the 4 years - oz govt website It came into effect July last year.

Good luck to others still waiting, can't be long now

[chiliwasabi]

Cheers RueFang!

In hijacking your thread to ask my my question I neglected to offer my congratulations......So congratulations

[Old Croc]

I was about to post the same link.

So does your wife qualify for the 2 years Chili?

and Congratulations RueFang.

[chiliwasabi]

It seems I have misread OC. We are waiting out the 2 year period for the Permanent Resident visa rather than for Australian citizenship. I believe that this is still the same.

[Old Croc]

My mistake, I misread your situation. So, you will have to wait up to 5 years before she can become a citizen?

Although, I see time spent in Australia as a temp res can count towards the 4 years, so effectively only 2 years as a PR?

What effect will the new residence requirements have on temporary residents?

The changes to the residence requirements from 1 July 2007 recognise time spent in Australia as temporary residents prior to the acquisition of permanent residence. Up to three (3) years of temporary residence will count towards the four (4) year residence requirement for citizenship.

In other words, people who become permanent residents after 1 July 2007 and have been living in Australia on temporary visas immediately before becoming a permanent resident will be able to have up to three (3) years of the time spent as holders of temporary visas counted towards the four (4) year residence requirement. They will need to have a minimum of one (1) year as a permanent resident.

)

[ludditetech]

Hey up.

My wife recently lodged (well actually we posted it to Bangkok from Khon Kaen) her spouse visa application, I called them last Friday (11th) and they confirmed they received it that day, they called her today (17th) and said to come to Bangkok for an interview on the 4th of next month. They said to bring her passport and birth certificate.

Should we read anything into the above request to bring her passport with her? Do they just want to see it, is it always required at an interview, or do they want to STAMP IT!?

Any tips for the interview?

Like everyone else we are biting our nails, she is in Thailand while I'm here in Oz, and suffering the uncertainty and awfulness of being separated. Not much fun.

Good luck to all.

[bikkies]

It seems I have misread OC. We are waiting out the 2 year period for the Permanent Resident visa rather than for Australian citizenship. I believe that this is still the same.

Sorry for the late reply though RueFang appears to have covered it for you.

Congratulations Rue Fang and good luck

[ludditetech]

Update

Wife went to BKK for interview a couple of days ago.

Interview went for about half an hour with lots of questions about me, my job, my family and how we first met etc.

Interviewing lady was about 40 and very pleasant and polite. She did say at the outset to my wife that there was to be no lying, otherwise there would be problems kind of thing.

Interviewer said at the end that we should know in 2 to 3 months what the outcome is.

One thing is that I have a bit of a tax debt (which I declared on the 40SP) I have an arrangement with the Tax dep to pay so its not like I am in default or anything but I wonder whether that will be of concern to the dep?

Fingers crossed.

[BKKmoose]

just to update all, my husband recieved his spouse visa last week, it is subclass 100- is this standard? We were debating whether to use an agent and in the end we didn't and are glad we saved some money The next step is deciding when we will move back to Oz....