Is the 163 visa rare??

[bugsyburrell]

Hi all, newbie here so please go easy:)

Looking at coming out to Perth on a 163 as both me and the mrs have been joint partners running our business for the last seven years but can only find a few posts on peeps who have applied for a 163?

Little bit scared now because the last thread I read it took 2 1/2 yrs to go thru?? Just concerned as we have three girls 11,8 & 6 and wanted to try to get the move done before our eldest settles in to secondary school:(

Few other questions if you kind people don't mind. If you have got the 163 visa did you DIY it or use an agent? If you used an agent, in anyones opinion is it better to use a Perth based one?

Really would appreciate anyone's help with this as we have had a year from hell and are desperate to make a fresh start somewhere new.

[Guest wayne&wanda]

Hi there, we applied for the 163 business visa, took us over 2 1/2 years to get. We went through an agent, as initially we had to get state sponsorship and supply a business plan. For us it was a long process, not sure if anyone has been successful in less time. I would not have done it on my own as the mountain of paperwork, discussions between our Accountant, HMRC,etc caused no end of sleepless night, it was lengthy and stressful. (And cost approx £7500).

However ours was not simple, we were trying to get my daughter and grandchildren on visa (Failed..even after appealing..), property abroad and marriage abroad didnt help, had to have everything translated,marriage cert, property deeds,etc. Eldest lad on gap year from uni so had to prove he was still financially dependant on us, also prove he was on gap year from uni.

Its was tiresome and stressful, but there may be people out there for whom it was simpler....

Any other questions please ask, but first port of call is to maybe speak to an agent, they do offer free inital advice...good luck..

[bugsyburrell]

Hi wayne&wanda, thanks for that and sorry to hear about the kids, I thought ours was a bit complicated?? Luckily our girls our still little, wish they could stay that way!!

We have been in contact with a few agents so we'll see what they come back with? Not sure if I'm looking forward to it now?

[Rosshf]

Hi

 

We applied in August last year after getting sponsorship. We got a case officer in a couple of months, were asked for a couple of bits more info which I emailed, then in November were asked to go for medicals. We had to put these on hold as wife is pregnant. But my understanding is that once medicals are done, we are almost there. I was expecting to wait 12 months for case officer, so it all happened very quickly.

There is info on DIAC website about waiting time guesstimates (was 12 months). We hope to get things finalised in May.

 

Cheers

Ross

[Guest wayne&wanda]

Hi Rosshf,

We had our medicals 5th Feb 2010, and got our visa grant August 2010, had to validate by Feb 2011. You usually have to validate before the medical's 12 month expiry date. But good luck and hope yours is sooner, I think each case is just so different, and sometimes the timelines can be also.

[Rosshf]

Hi Rosshf,

We had our medicals 5th Feb 2010, and got our visa grant August 2010, had to validate by Feb 2011. You usually have to validate before the medical's 12 month expiry date. But good luck and hope yours is sooner, I think each case is just so different, and sometimes the timelines can be also.

 

I see, we haven't had ours yet as baby is due in few weeks. Hopefully time between them asking us to go (nov) and April will mean they've done all the other stuff they need to do. I've no idea though.

Did you get medicals when they asked you, or did you get them before that? I was hoping once medicals done that's that...

 

Cheers

Ross

[Guest wayne&wanda]

I think the general rule is wait until you are asked to go for your medicals, usually think the medical lasts 12 months, and once visa is granted you will have to validate before the 12 month from medical...have i explained that ok...?? sorry if not but do you get what i mean ..?

[Rosshf]

I think the general rule is wait until you are asked to go for your medicals, usually think the medical lasts 12 months, and once visa is granted you will have to validate before the 12 month from medical...have i explained that ok...?? sorry if not but do you get what i mean ..?

 

Yep, understand what you've explained, but don't think my question was clear enough.

 

Did they ask you to go for medicals, then take six months to decide to grant visa?

 

From other posts it always seems like medicals are the last step and visa decision is made shortly after.

 

Cheers

Ross

[Guest wayne&wanda]

Yes they asked us to go for Meds,(feb) then still took 6 months before we got visa (august), not sure why cos medicals were ok, just asked for reports on OH diabetes, which im sure wouldnt have taken 6 months...But like i said each case is different so i dont think there is a "rule of thumb"...But would defo not have medicals before asked to..