Notice Of Intention To Marry In Australia

[markww]

Hi Guys

I am currently waiting on the approval of my fiance' s prospective spouse visa. we lodged it on the 25th of jan 06. so its now 5 months since the application was handed in. Apart from the interview my fiance' had we haven't been contacted by the embassy at all. In a letter my fiance' recv'd it says standard processing time is approx 6 months.. and it goes on about if an application is complete at time of lodgement and there are no other issues then the processing time may be reduced... thats fine... its the usual immigration departments bullshit spin.

Getting to the point of my post, in our application we included a notice of intention to marry at the registry office in melbourne on the 2nd August 06.

My thinking is that if my fiance' hears about the visa in july and is in australia in late july early august .. we would want to move the registry wedding date to a later date.. possibly october or november. The reason that we want to push it back is that because although we both love each other alot, we also understand that it will take alot of understanding and adjustment for us both.. and we dont want to rush things along to soon. I think that its reasonable to be thinking like this so that we but our best efforts into making our lives work.

Now if i want to change the date of the wedding, i have to give the registry at least one month and a days notice to reschedule. To do this, i will have to make the change very soon. However as the visa isnt approved yet we would then be required to notify the embassy, and I hpoe that it wouldnt delay our application at all.

What do you guys think? do u think if i change the wedding date to better suit our expectations of life in australia together, then we will be waiting longer and spending longer time apart as there would be a paper work shuffle? .. thats the last thing that i want!!

[Mighty Mouse]

The embassy seems to be dragging their heels on your application. It's five months and although they state "approx six months" for a decision, I think it should have been through by now.

In view of your plans to marry in Oz in two months time, I think that it would be reasonable for you to write to the embassy, inform them of your marriage plans and request that your application decision be given priority.

Tell them of your need to book flights for Australia, the time it will take for your fiance to move out from home and what is necessary in re-arranging new marriage dates at the registry.

If you have a receipt or record of the registry booking, provide a copy to support your request.

[markww]

This is what i am planing to send to Rob Chambers on monday morning .... I will attach a read recpt to it as well!!!!!!!!

Dear Mr. Chambers,

I am writing to you in regards to my fiancé’s Prospective Spouse Visa Application. Reference *******, in the name of ********.

I am writing this letter with the understanding that the Australian Embassy in Bangkok would receive a high volume of visa applications, however I would like to ask for the possibility of a decision for my fiancé’s visa application is given priority at this point in time. Included with the visa application was a notice of intention to marry on the 2nd of August 2006 at the Victorian Marriage Registry Office, this date is fast approaching us and I would hope that it is a reasonable request that our application decision be given priority.

****** and I need to book her flight to Australia, aswell as coordinate her moving out of home and saying good bye (for the time being) to family and friends. We also need to organize the necessities for our special day which we are still yet to do, as we have wanted to make decisions together.

Our application was lodged on the 25th of January 2006, at the Thai CC building and ****** had her 1 on 1 interview on the 14th of February at the Embassy with her Case Officer whose name is Varisa. I appreciate that you would understand how stressful it is for applicants and sponsors during the application processing period.

If you could please attend to my request it would be greatly appreciated.

Looking forward to hear from you.

Sincerely,

markww

......... Guys, how does this read?? any other suggestions?

i think i will send it to the following addresses:

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

i'm not sure whixh one is the correct address!

[Mighty Mouse]

I think that is a well worded letter. It's not pushy and you have emphased that it is merely a request for a decision priority.

Immigration website does not encourage follow up requests being made by applicants, but I'm a firm believer of the squeeky wheel getting the oil.

I hope your letter gets the desired result.

[markww]

Thanks mm,

I was trying to get my point across without being aggressive.

Now im thinking of the possibility of a follow up phone call .. or should i leave it?

i'm tending to think that a phone call would be good to make sure that "squeeky wheel" gets an amount of "oil" that it deserves.

but then, as i have before i'l ask for your opinions on that one too.

the email that i sent was sent at 9.30 am bangkok time monday 26/06/06

[markww]

There was no need for a follow up phone call.... my fiance' got her call from the embassy at 9.30 this morning from her case officer ... the case officer asked her about the wedding in august, and then told her to come to the embassy toget her visa!!!

I think the email definately prompted them!!

thanks mm for your advice