Visa Info For Oz

[kellimba]

We, my fiancé and I, would like to talk to someone at the Oz Embassy ( above the case officer ) who can tell us straight out without using euphemisms like : 'we have many applications' - about her application timeframe. ( so far we have only dealt with the 'case officer' )

The name of a senior immigration officer - currently at the embassy - would be great..

The 'sticking point' for the case officer conducting a recent 'interview' ( that's being polite) centred around whether my income would be 'enough'.

How much is enough ???

Or do we find that out ' in due course' (when the visa is refused) ???

Specifically we would love to know what is an "acceptable" level of income for the sponsor (me ) ???

I have searched this forum and can only find names of persons at the Oz Embassy from a post dating back to 2006.

I hope some can reply to this post, and give us at least one name of who to contact - because three months waiting in Bangkok is...

Please someone help us out here....

[Boo]

I have deleted or closed the multiple other threads you created asking the exact same question. Please stick to one thread per question.

[kellimba]

Seems my posts to get 'somewhere' are causing offence for some -

So you will be relieved to know this is my last...

(Thanks to those who have tried to be helpful..)

OK So I am a goose. etc, etc,...

Been here (Bangkok) that long With so much personal stuff going on, it's a wonder I haven't jumped off the f@@!!king 10th floorof my apartment.

(Maybe I should never have stopped drinking) !!!

In all seriousness, mate I have had a gutfull of this place - how could you possibly know my full story. ..

OK I'll cut to the chase-

my Mum's got the last stages of cancer, my Dads on his last legs, they want me back home ASAP and I'm trying to get some answers out of the Oz Embassy -- which are not happening- and I need to sort out wife's affairs here as well.

Can't be in two places at once.

So what do I do ??

Nothing ??

Cop it sweet - and sweat it out - right ?

Like everyone else - sure- I want answers -

So at the very least -can YOU tell me if a Visa is refused because I was told there is a 'question mark' about my income by a case officer- so how do I find out what is 'sufFicient' income As I have spent far too much time alredy on this and other websites including IMMI, -

and so I get castigated by others for trying to find out some information ....

Sorry for not being a bloody perfectionist....

Jim

[Thai Chi]

What "visa" have you submitted an application for?

[kellimba]

What "visa" have you submitted an application for?

A 'Prospective Spouse - Subclass 300' visa.

[Thai Chi]

What "visa" have you submitted an application for?

A 'Prospective Spouse - Subclass 300' visa.

Ok... so I assume you are still waiting for a decision from that application.

What date did you submit the application?

[7by7]

Seems my posts to get 'somewhere' are causing offence for some

What's causing offence is your multiple threads all asking basically the same thing!

Please stick to one thread, it makes it easier for everyone to follow and so try to help you.

[Boo]

I have merged your two running threads. You have not caused me any offence but the visa section does not need to be cluttered up with identical threads from the same person asking the same question, so don't create yet more threads & use only this one to ask what you need to know.

But please bear in mind that the advice give on thaivisa is done so for free so there is no need to get stroppy either.

[kellimba]

What "visa" have you submitted an application for?

A 'Prospective Spouse - Subclass 300' visa.

Ok... so I assume you are still waiting for a decision from that application.

What date did you submit the application?

We submitted all the paperwork on 6 April 2009-

and I know It has not been the full "3 months" as is often quoted - but if everything is there - and we have not been told otherwise- except for the case officers doubts about my income being 'enough' ?

[Thai Chi]

What "visa" have you submitted an application for?

A 'Prospective Spouse - Subclass 300' visa.

Ok... so I assume you are still waiting for a decision from that application.

What date did you submit the application?

We submitted all the paperwork on 6 April 2009-

and I know It has not been the full "3 months" as is often quoted - but if everything is there - and we have not been told otherwise- except for the case officers doubts about my income being 'enough' ?

OK...so you are still within the "timeframe" that is quoted for the application to run its natural course. So far so good.

You havent been asked for any additional information / paperwork, thus far. So far so good.

When you talk about the "case officer," who EXACTLY are you refering to ??? The person at the VFS who processed your application ?

[TheFiend]

.Been here (Bangkok) that long With so much personal stuff going on, it's a wonder I haven't jumped off the f@@!!king 10th floorof my apartment.

(Maybe I should never have stopped drinking) !!!

In all seriousness, mate I have had a gutfull of this place - how could you possibly know my full story. ..

my Mum's got the last stages of cancer, my Dads on his last legs, they want me back home ASAP and I'm trying to get some answers out of the Oz Embassy -- which are not happening- and I need to sort out wife's affairs here as well.

Can't be in two places at once.

Jim

Maybe if you had included that info with your first question the members wouldn't have jumped down your throat as much. But I can understand the way you feel.

Did you explain your parents health situation on your application? It could have helped speeding things up.

[kellimba]

.Been here (Bangkok) that long With so much personal stuff going on, it's a wonder I haven't jumped off the f@@!!king 10th floorof my apartment.

(Maybe I should never have stopped drinking) !!!

In all seriousness, mate I have had a gutfull of this place - how could you possibly know my full story. ..

my Mum's got the last stages of cancer, my Dads on his last legs, they want me back home ASAP and I'm trying to get some answers out of the Oz Embassy -- which are not happening- and I need to sort out wife's affairs here as well.

Can't be in two places at once.

Jim

Maybe if you had included that info with your first question the members wouldn't have jumped down your throat as much. But I can understand the way you feel.

Did you explain your parents health situation on your application? It could have helped speeding things up.

Yes I did tell her (the case officer at the Oz Embassy) about my parents worsening health situation when I asked her about the progress of the application a few weeks ago - she told me that I could go home anytime as I was not the applicant and there was no need for me to remain in Thailand- to 'wait' for the visa..

[kellimba]

When you talk about the "case officer," who EXACTLY are you refering to ??? The person at the VFS who processed your application ? (sorry Thai Chi - messed up the reply - but this IS your quote above. I am replying, see below

The staff at the VFS took the application and fee. Then we heard nothing for a month until I phoned the Ausralian Embassy and found out the name of the assigned 'case officer'. I spoke to her briefly and was told of the enormous number of applications. Ours was still to be looked at. Then after two more follow up calls we were given an interview date- which has now been completed. I was told on all occasions that I did not need to attend the interview (true from a legal sense- but as it turned out there were many questions for ME as well ) I was also told I did not need to be in Thailand when I explained why I was eager to see the process finalised and hopefully a positive outcome. In other words just because (as I explained ) my Mum and Dad were in failing health - Mum with terminal cancer - there was no reason for me to stay in Thailand - except I have family affairs to sort out here as well. Which way do I jump ?

Edited May 29, 2009 by kellimba

[Thai Chi]

Jim

You (your Prospective Spouse) are 7 weeks into a proccess that could take at least 12 weeks.

You have had a case officer assigned to your application.

You have not been asked for any additional paperwork / information.

You have been told that there is a question mark over your income. But no further paperwork has been requested.

You have been told....."that I could go home anytime as I was not the applicant and there was no need for me to remain in Thailand- to 'wait' for the visa.."

Your case officer is not lying to you. It is your Prospective Spouse that is applying for this visa. Not you. Many have gone through this procedure successfully with limited help from their prospective husbands.

Yes, you have had to furnish a wealth of information to help in the application. But unless you or your Prospective Spouse included information about your parents ill health in the initial application (as in stat decs from treating doctors in oz, coupled with a paragraph or two from your Prospective Spouse in her letter / statement when applying, stating that she was aware of the health problems of your parents etc etc etc) your case officer will probably not take too much notice of your comments over the telephone after the application has been submitted. (assuming you have not had a face to face meeting with the case officer)

I still think your Prospective Spouse is in with a chance in her application (unless there is a lot more going on that you havent revealed here) Just hang in there for awhile longer. Let the Embassy do their job within the time limits stated, and dont forget there is always recourse to appeal if you are not happy with the result.

And, if things are that bad at home with the "oldies" I would be on the next 'plane home to sort that out first. Then worry about the visa stuff which will be decided by someone else, eventually.

[kellimba]

Jim

You (your Prospective Spouse) are 7 weeks into a proccess that could take at least 12 weeks.

You have had a case officer assigned to your application.

You have not been asked for any additional paperwork / information.

You have been told that there is a question mark over your income. But no further paperwork has been requested.

Thank you so much Thai Chi.. I appreciate your vote of confidence.

I will have to decide soon whether to go on the next plane -

at least I told the case officer at the interview this week, that my second Thai visa expires on 18 June - and her response was to reiterate the time frame of three months processing - but, but (no promises ) we could call her on the 14th June 'to see what stage ' the processing was at..

[Thai Chi]

Jim

You (your Prospective Spouse) are 7 weeks into a proccess that could take at least 12 weeks.

You have had a case officer assigned to your application.

You have not been asked for any additional paperwork / information.

You have been told that there is a question mark over your income. But no further paperwork has been requested.

at least I told the case officer at the interview this week,[/size] that my second Thai visa expires on 18 June - and her response was to reiterate the time frame of three months processing - but, but (no promises ) we could call her on the 14th June 'to see what stage ' the processing was at..

Are you saying your Prospective Spouse had an interview this week with her case officer at the Oz embassy ????

If so, what was asked for or requested...anything?

You say "at least I told the case officer".... did you sit in on the interview ???

14 th June is a Sunday.......not much chance of any Ozzies (or staff contracted to them) working on that day...... BBQ / Footy / church / etc etc etc

[kellimba]

Are you saying your Prospective Spouse had an interview this week with her case officer at the Oz embassy ????

If so, what was asked for or requested...anything?

You say "at least I told the case officer".... did you sit in on the interview ???

14 th June is a Sunday.......not much chance of any Ozzies (or staff contracted to them) working on that day...... BBQ / Footy / church / etc etc etc

Thai Chi

As I say -to quote myself from an earlier post:)

"Then after two more follow up calls we were given an interview date- which has now been completed. I was told on all occasions that I did not need to attend the interview (true from a legal sense- but as it turned out there were many questions for ME as well ) "

So yes - I sat in during an hour of questioning - some of the questions -to me- related to my age, and my income, as she did not seem to understand enough to read the details on my bank statements - or letter stating my income from my accountant.

Even my bank statements showing regular rental income from my house, and centrelink (disability) payments clearly showing the amount, it all seemed to be 'too hard' as she queried whether I had more such as, 'statement' from centrelink, and did I have a 'tax return' ?

No tax return, I told her I have only just started to rent my house and did not have a tax return.

After the hour of questioning me and my fiancé - did WE have 'any questions' ?

So, I asked about the , 'next step' and I also stressed my second 60 day Thai visa would expire on 18 June -

that's when she 'offered' the 14 June to call her... nobody checked to see if it was a Sunday - I think my fiancé and I were "in shock" after the interview...

I should mention here I have also submitted (at the time of the application) FOUR (4)statutory declarations (Form 888).

These form 888's - for those who are unaware - are to establish the 'bona fides' of the relationship as they must state knowledge of the applicant and sponsor as being in a 'genuine and ongoing' relationship.

I must stress here that I was told by immigration in Australia, and at the Embassy in Bangkok that 'Form 888's are not legally required for a FIANCE (Prospective Spouse) visa application, BUT they would be of 'some benefit"

These four 'Form 888's' were from my mother, son, sister, and close family friend - who all met my fiance when she came to Australia with me on a 3 month tourist visa and we lived in my house in Australia, from November 2008, until she went back to Thailand January 2009.

I followed her soon after - in February 2009. Since then, we've lived in tiny rented apartment in Pathum Thani (Rangsit) about 40kms from Bangkok proper.

A note here about my income "being in doubt".

The 'personal statements' of the "history' of our relationship signed by my fiancé and I - AND - all FOUR stat. decs. (Form 888's) said the SAME thing :

That is, we would "be taking care of my aged and ill parents, and living either in the same house or in a nearby house owned by my parents as they OWN a farm, and four separate houses, two on the farm and two in the local town and we would live there at NO cost. "

The point being is my income 'sufficient' when our major 'cost of living' expenses would be free ?

Sorry for the long winded answer- there's a lot more I could say- but I've probably said too much already.

I hope some of the blanks are being filled in ..

Jim

[Thai Chi]

Yes the blanks have NOW been filled in Jim.

I guess I missed some of that information due to mearging / closing of some of your posts?

From what you said above, I think you are going to be fine.

Good luck and please publish the outcome.

[kellimba]

Yes the blanks have NOW been filled in Jim.

From what you said above, I think you are going to be fine.

Good luck and please publish the outcome.

Thanks for your supportive comments Thai Chi, and also to the others members- thanks...

"A little bit of HOPE goes a long way..."

When I started out on 'this journey' I had not much of an idea how hard things would be - and I had never been involved with a "forum' before this one ...

So from the aspect of living here in Thailand, and with so many personal issues impacting at once - some of my earlier posts were ill-conceived because of my stress, frustration, impatience and just plain ignorance of the way these forum things work...

Hey, no excuses or complaints.. We all make choices... some have undesirable consequences -

When I decided to 'wait out the visa' with my fiancé in Thailand - I knew it wouldn't be easy, living 'on top of one another ' in a tiny apartment.

We both are not working here, yes we have enough to live on- but no spare cash to go on trips, anyway, any 'spare' cash had to go for unforeseen medical expenses for some members of my fiancés family. Then the water heater blew up at my (now rented out) house- there goes a tidy sum of 3000 dollars- so it goes...

Where we are now, in Pathum Thani, there are very few 'farang' (some may say maybe a good thing ??) There is no 'expat' community - no friends, no family here (fiancés family are 300 clicks away) so from a social aspect, not much fun.

I mean -how many times can you go to the local shopping mall ..?

My point is this: when there is a 'social vacuum' some of us will try almost anything to 'occupy' ourselves...

So every day I run the gauntlet of 20 or so juvenile boys - fighting, eating, and playing "shoot 'em up" games online- at the local internet shop - to run these posts to you guys...

I will keep you posted...

Jim

[kellimba]

A word or two about a sponsors' income.

How much is 'sufficient'. ?

This vexing question was posed previously.

The answer below - whilst not definitive - may be helpful to others:

To quote from a message sent to me by another member:

" The bottom line is, THERE is no income amount set.

They will of course look at where you're living and

working etc to make sure you can support your girl.

But if you're working and have a roof

over your head you should be ok. If you've provided all of

the information you should be ok. "

I thank this member for those comments, and I tend to agree with him.

I wasn't able to squeeze anything out of the IMMI (Australian Immigration) website.

So thus far my understanding is as follows:

There may be some benchmark or guideline embedded in the immigration legislation, or issued as a directive from Canberra, that provides some basis for the "interpretation" of a sponsors' ability to provide adequate support for his/her partner, as a dependent relying on his/her (the sponsors') income and assets.

This 'interpretation' of income is made during the decision to grant/refuse a visa application, by a senior immigration officer in Bangkok, as all decisions regarding applicants wanting to immigrate is made 'offshore' - meaning in this case - in Thailand.

That's it in a nutshell. I stand corrected if someone has more definitive information. As I've said the answer is hard to find because it's up to the decision makers in each case.

Jim

[RJJ]

If you were in a hurry and have a genuine reason (which you do), you should have specified that when submitting your application.

I was working in Thailand in 2003 and had been preparing to submit our Prospective Marriage (SubClass 300).

Just after my fiance gave birth to our first child, I got a job offer back in Australia which I accepted.

We submitted our application and explained our situation had changed and we needed to return to Australia within 2 weeks to start my new job.

The case officer listened to our story and got her supervisor to come and speak to us.

I had submitted my "letter of offer" in our application which clearly showed the date I needed to be back in Australia.

I also explained that my fiance (who had never been outside Thailand or been on a plane) could not travel to Australia with our 6 week old child; they needed me to assist them.

The list of documents required called for group certificates or tax forms, etc. which I didn't have with me.

They looked at the "letter of offer" and said this satisfies my income requirement and justifies my urgent travel request.

They gave her a tourist visa on the spot but suggested we don't use it or she would need to exit and re-enter Aus once her SubClass 300 came through.

They said get the police certificate and health check done immediately, and tell the police you need it in a hurry (they will tell you what to do).

We got the police letter back in 4 days and her SubClass 300 was granted on the 5th day after submitting the application.

We flew on the 6th day with SubClass 300 in hand!

I know not all applications are handled this way, infact moving to the Temporary Resident visa 11 months later took 4 months to be decided.

This was processed in Melbourne office.

PS, These days the document submission is done via an agency, so I don't think it matters what you tell them, they are not going to do any more than they need to.

Good luck and let us know when your visa is granted... (Think positive!)

[asiawatcher]

Just as a thought you could actually get married here now and register at the Amphur Office - then you are legally married in Thailand and your spouse can get a Thai Passport in your family name as well as a new ID. By the way I tried to register my marriage from Thailand (big wedding - 500 + and many notaries of repute from here) and the Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages in Sydney would not recognise our marriage certificates or our two kids birth certificates from Thailand.

I have been in and out of Aus 3 ties with my wife now and the visa each time (and I am Aussie) was a stamp and 24 hours but as is often said - hind sight is wonderful. By the way I reside here now and will not bother going back to Aus, enter their tax systems again. Far superior here.

I also did the big interview at the Embassy and have very good contacts there - and the case officer said it would take 12 months once an entry visa was granted but to travel in on a Tourist Visa, then apply for marriage status once there. They will not make her leave. Once she is granted recognition as spousal then she will not be allowed to return to Thailand for more than about 3 lineal weeks in 24 months until she proves she is actually a real marriage and intends to stay. Formalities.

Cheers

[gburns57au]

Jim

If your own income is not enough then an Additional funds provider would be asked for....that is someone in Oz would have to guarantee additional funds which is done through Centrelink. If this has not been requested then you should have nothing to worry about.

The question mark was probably raised because you dont have employment in Thailand and no future employment in Oz at this stage plus your on a disability pension. Add to this your going to OZ to look after your terminally ill parents.....Of course it would raise some flags to the Embassy.

If no further evidence has been asked for then your partners application is proceeding normally...It is now upto the discretion of the Embassy.

You were lucky to sit in an hour of interview with your partner.....that is not usually allowed, usually they would call you in separately if they needed to confirm something or if you were in Oz then you would be required to go to an Immi Office here for your own interview.