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[Artisi]

Mason45

"If the Aust Department of Immigration in Bangkok weren't so anti Thai women then maybe we would go back to Australia to live thus solving the problem."

Can't agree with this comment, my wife is Thai and we didn't have any problems, other than collecting all the necessary paperwork required to apply for a visa - granted within about 4 weeks of applying and later (2years) converted to a permanent residency visa 2 weeks after submitting the paper work.

If you have a legal marrriage and can show it is not a marriage of convenience for the sake of a visa there is no reason why your wife wouldn't be granted a visa.

[Mason45]

Artisi, on 2008-01-22 03:45:33, said:

Mason45

"If the Aust Department of Immigration in Bangkok weren't so anti Thai women then maybe we would go back to Australia to live thus solving the problem."

Can't agree with this comment, my wife is Thai and we didn't have any problems, other than collecting all the necessary paperwork required to apply for a visa - granted within about 4 weeks of applying and later (2years) converted to a permanent residency visa 2 weeks after submitting the paper work.

If you have a legal marrriage and can show it is not a marriage of convenience for the sake of a visa there is no reason why your wife wouldn't be granted a visa.

Artisi, how old were you and your wife when she applied for a spouse visa, as we get older do you think age can be a factor, whether a spouse visa is issued or not. I'm 63 yo now and my wife is 52 yo, we were legally married in Bangkok, on previous hoilday visa applications the Australian Embassy staff always demanded that we produce our wedding photos and when I told them that we never had a Buddhist Wedding or a party that follows consequently there's no photos they got rather stroppy, I thought a wedding certificate was accepted in every country of the World, why do I have to prove my relationship even though I'm legally married. Proof of relationship was really brought about by Buddhist weddings which are really defacto by foreign law where there's no documents or legal binding. I think it maybe better for us to sell up and buy a smaller property in Bangkok, apply for a spouse visa and if succesfull live in Australia for 7 months and Thailand 5 months every year, then I won't have any OAP problems.

[Xangsamhua]

Mason45, on 2008-01-22 07:22:35, said:

Artisi, on 2008-01-22 03:45:33, said:

Mason45

"If the Aust Department of Immigration in Bangkok weren't so anti Thai women then maybe we would go back to Australia to live thus solving the problem."

Can't agree with this comment, my wife is Thai and we didn't have any problems, other than collecting all the necessary paperwork required to apply for a visa - granted within about 4 weeks of applying and later (2years) converted to a permanent residency visa 2 weeks after submitting the paper work.

If you have a legal marrriage and can show it is not a marriage of convenience for the sake of a visa there is no reason why your wife wouldn't be granted a visa.

Artisi, how old were you and your wife when she applied for a spouse visa, as we get older do you think age can be a factor, whether a spouse visa is issued or not. I'm 63 yo now and my wife is 52 yo, we were legally married in Bangkok, on previous hoilday visa applications the Australian Embassy staff always demanded that we produce our wedding photos and when I told them that we never had a Buddhist Wedding or a party that follows consequently there's no photos they got rather stroppy, I thought a wedding certificate was accepted in every country of the World, why do I have to prove my relationship even though I'm legally married. Proof of relationship was really brought about by Buddhist weddings which are really defacto by foreign law where there's no documents or legal binding. I think it maybe better for us to sell up and buy a smaller property in Bangkok, apply for a spouse visa and if succesfull live in Australia for 7 months and Thailand 5 months every year, then I won't have any OAP problems.

You'd think so, wouldn't you, though with the amount of skepticism in DIMA (or whatever it's called now), one wonders. Is your wedding certificate an Australian one?

[egg]

Patong Bob, on 2008-01-21 13:54:46, said:

This is an important topic. Any one here who is in this situation should contact their federal member of parliament - I've spoken to Linsay Tanner - and put pressure on them. If enough people do this something will be done. Another one is the Disability Pension - only paid overseas for 13 weeks - as Tanner said it seems to be a waste of time to return to Australia show your passport to a CL officer, then ring or go in the next day to tell them you are leaving again.

l was on a disability pension ,,, had been for 6 years ,,, then in August last year they suspended it , ( l have been living here on and off for 2 years ,, more on than off ),, l was going back every 13 weeks ,,, cost me half the pension to do that ,,, the decision stinks and as yet l have done nothing about it ,, l have no income from Aus or LOS ,,,, l think that for the taxes l paid for 40 years ,,, they could show a bit of sympathy ,,,, sorry not much to do with the original thread
cheers
egg

[Mason45]

Xangsamhua, on 2008-01-22 09:21:52, said:

Mason45, on 2008-01-22 07:22:35, said:

Artisi, on 2008-01-22 03:45:33, said:

Mason45

"If the Aust Department of Immigration in Bangkok weren't so anti Thai women then maybe we would go back to Australia to live thus solving the problem."

Can't agree with this comment, my wife is Thai and we didn't have any problems, other than collecting all the necessary paperwork required to apply for a visa - granted within about 4 weeks of applying and later (2years) converted to a permanent residency visa 2 weeks after submitting the paper work.

If you have a legal marrriage and can show it is not a marriage of convenience for the sake of a visa there is no reason why your wife wouldn't be granted a visa.

Artisi, how old were you and your wife when she applied for a spouse visa, as we get older do you think age can be a factor, whether a spouse visa is issued or not. I'm 63 yo now and my wife is 52 yo, we were legally married in Bangkok, on previous hoilday visa applications the Australian Embassy staff always demanded that we produce our wedding photos and when I told them that we never had a Buddhist Wedding or a party that follows consequently there's no photos they got rather stroppy, I thought a wedding certificate was accepted in every country of the World, why do I have to prove my relationship even though I'm legally married. Proof of relationship was really brought about by Buddhist weddings which are really defacto by foreign law where there's no documents or legal binding. I think it maybe better for us to sell up and buy a smaller property in Bangkok, apply for a spouse visa and if succesfull live in Australia for 7 months and Thailand 5 months every year, then I won't have any OAP problems.

You'd think so, wouldn't you, though with the amount of skepticism in DIMA (or whatever it's called now), one wonders. Is your wedding certificate an Australian one?

If I were to walk out on my current wife and refused to divorce her and returned to Australia and married another woman I would be charged with bigamy, my relationship with my first wife would be taken for granted, talk about double standards.

[Thai Chi]

egg, on 2008-01-22 09:57:26, said:

Patong Bob, on 2008-01-21 13:54:46, said:

This is an important topic. Any one here who is in this situation should contact their federal member of parliament - I've spoken to Linsay Tanner - and put pressure on them. If enough people do this something will be done. Another one is the Disability Pension - only paid overseas for 13 weeks - as Tanner said it seems to be a waste of time to return to Australia show your passport to a CL officer, then ring or go in the next day to tell them you are leaving again.

l was on a disability pension ,,, had been for 6 years ,,, then in August last year they suspended it , ( l have been living here on and off for 2 years ,, more on than off ),, l was going back every 13 weeks ,,, cost me half the pension to do that ,,, the decision stinks and as yet l have done nothing about it ,, l have no income from Aus or LOS ,,,, l think that for the taxes l paid for 40 years ,,, they could show a bit of sympathy ,,,, sorry not much to do with the original thread
cheers
egg

Yes, slightly off topic, but still very intresting, and it does invole centrelink.

I know of one chap that was doing similar to egg, but was cut off after 4 years. Whilst another chap I know has been here for 9 years on disibility, without returning to Oz once. He had been on disibilty in Oz for 5 years prior to comming here and just didnt tell them when he left.

Its all about DATA MATCHING..........

My knowledge about this is limited, but I beleive that centrelink use a private company for this work. The percentage of people checked varies from one source to another.

I may be eligable for the OAP in about 15 years time.........so maybe it would be a good idea to start canvessing local members now !!!!

[Mason45]

Thai Chi, on 2008-01-22 11:43:12, said:

egg, on 2008-01-22 09:57:26, said:

Patong Bob, on 2008-01-21 13:54:46, said:

This is an important topic. Any one here who is in this situation should contact their federal member of parliament - I've spoken to Linsay Tanner - and put pressure on them. If enough people do this something will be done. Another one is the Disability Pension - only paid overseas for 13 weeks - as Tanner said it seems to be a waste of time to return to Australia show your passport to a CL officer, then ring or go in the next day to tell them you are leaving again.

l was on a disability pension ,,, had been for 6 years ,,, then in August last year they suspended it , ( l have been living here on and off for 2 years ,, more on than off ),, l was going back every 13 weeks ,,, cost me half the pension to do that ,,, the decision stinks and as yet l have done nothing about it ,, l have no income from Aus or LOS ,,,, l think that for the taxes l paid for 40 years ,,, they could show a bit of sympathy ,,,, sorry not much to do with the original thread
cheers
egg

Yes, slightly off topic, but still very intresting, and it does invole centrelink.

I know of one chap that was doing similar to egg, but was cut off after 4 years. Whilst another chap I know has been here for 9 years on disibility, without returning to Oz once. He had been on disibilty in Oz for 5 years prior to comming here and just didnt tell them when he left.

Its all about DATA MATCHING..........

My knowledge about this is limited, but I beleive that centrelink use a private company for this work. The percentage of people checked varies from one source to another.

I may be eligable for the OAP in about 15 years time.........so maybe it would be a good idea to start canvessing local members now !!!!

I've just sent an email to Nicola Roxon the Federal Member for the electorate where my Australian home is, she is a Minister in the Labour Government and whilst this issue doesn't come under her portfolio I asked her if she could pass my email on to the appropiate department for consideration, if I get a reply I will pass on the information.

[Artisi]

Mason45, on 2008-01-22 08:22:35, said:

Artisi, on 2008-01-22 03:45:33, said:

Mason45

"If the Aust Department of Immigration in Bangkok weren't so anti Thai women then maybe we would go back to Australia to live thus solving the problem."

Can't agree with this comment, my wife is Thai and we didn't have any problems, other than collecting all the necessary paperwork required to apply for a visa - granted within about 4 weeks of applying and later (2years) converted to a permanent residency visa 2 weeks after submitting the paper work.

If you have a legal marrriage and can show it is not a marriage of convenience for the sake of a visa there is no reason why your wife wouldn't be granted a visa.

Artisi, how old were you and your wife when she applied for a spouse visa, as we get older do you think age can be a factor, whether a spouse visa is issued or not. I'm 63 yo now and my wife is 52 yo, we were legally married in Bangkok, on previous hoilday visa applications the Australian Embassy staff always demanded that we produce our wedding photos and when I told them that we never had a Buddhist Wedding or a party that follows consequently there's no photos they got rather stroppy, I thought a wedding certificate was accepted in every country of the World, why do I have to prove my relationship even though I'm legally married. Proof of relationship was really brought about by Buddhist weddings which are really defacto by foreign law where there's no documents or legal binding. I think it maybe better for us to sell up and buy a smaller property in Bangkok, apply for a spouse visa and if succesfull live in Australia for 7 months and Thailand 5 months every year, then I won't have any OAP problems.

Mason45
I really feel for your predicament and understand the frustration - same as when I applied for permanent residency in Thailand - if you want to get involved in something unfathonable give that a try sometime. I had what I thought was all the necessary documents, etc etc - but sorry no way - just couldn't generate enough (points) to be considered beyond the first stage.

As for my wife's visa for Aust. I was 63 and she was 33 at the time - we have been married approx 4 years and had known each other for 2 years prior to our wedding in Thailand. We had to produce letters going back to before we were married, photo's, a statement of our realationship etc etc., 2 things that may have helped are that we had travelled to Australia once - wife on student visa and had also travelled to the UK - plus she a unviversity lecturer with a masters degree.

However, I agree with you completly - if you are legally married there shouldn't be any reason why your wife isn't issued with a visa (the first visa is a temporary one valid for 2 years after which you need to re-apply for the full permanent visa- this just means reproducing virtually the same documentation.

I would keep at it - plus there should be a formal rejection presented to you to which I think you have the right of reply.

[Nignoy]

This topic has been brilliant and very informative,but I think that what it all boils down too is !!which muppet you talk to in Centrelink on the day, and what type of mood they are in!! as far as the staff in hobart are concerned, they are quite capable of cocking things up too just imagine being legally entitled to 3 aged pensions or parts thereof, plus an army pension, you can imagine the mountains of paper work and interviews required by centrelink, we have persevered and got used to the fact that as soon as we step on a plane isaanbound , we will be invited down to centrelink for a chat, just persevere folks, failing that, telling them to go forth and multiply or words to that effect helps too Nignoy

[Patong Bob]

Mason45

If you served in Vietnam you should be applying to DVA not CL - the rules are different there.

Hope everyone has contacted their federal member b y now When they intended to cut off the former widow's pension just over 1,000 objections to Mp's stopped the change.

[Xangsamhua]

Patong Bob, on 2008-01-27 13:29:59, said:

Mason45

If you served in Vietnam you should be applying to DVA not CL - the rules are different there.

Hope everyone has contacted their federal member b y now When they intended to cut off the former widow's pension just over 1,000 objections to Mp's stopped the change.

Thanks for the reminder. I've just written to Arch Bevis, Member for Brisbane, as a result.

[egg]

Hi ,,, does anyone know who is the minister for "centrelink" ,,,,, a bit brain dead ,,, cant even think what portfolio it comes under
cheers
egg

[Xangsamhua]

egg, on 2008-01-27 15:56:11, said:

Hi ,,, does anyone know who is the minister for "centrelink" ,,,,, a bit brain dead ,,, cant even think what portfolio it comes under
cheers
egg

Try Senator Joe Ludwig Minister for Human Services

[egg]

Xangsamhua, on 2008-01-28 12:06:13, said:

egg, on 2008-01-27 15:56:11, said:

Hi ,,, does anyone know who is the minister for "centrelink" ,,,,, a bit brain dead ,,, cant even think what portfolio it comes under
cheers
egg

Try Senator Joe Ludwig Minister for Human Services

thanks for that Xangsamhua ,,, will give it a shot and see what happens
cheers
egg

[Mason45]

egg, on 2008-01-28 13:23:14, said:

Xangsamhua, on 2008-01-28 12:06:13, said:

egg, on 2008-01-27 15:56:11, said:

Hi ,,, does anyone know who is the minister for "centrelink" ,,,,, a bit brain dead ,,, cant even think what portfolio it comes under
cheers
egg

Try Senator Joe Ludwig Minister for Human Services

thanks for that Xangsamhua ,,, will give it a shot and see what happens
cheers
egg

I sent two emails in the last ten days, one to Nicola Roxon and the other to Joe Ludwig so far no response which hardly surprises me.

[Mason45]

Really CL should have 2 groups, one group for guys like us, who have a foreign spouse and we live with her in our chosen country of residence. The years PRIOR to our application for the OA pension shouldn't come into it, it should be the Total years lived in Australia. We are really persecuted by the fact that they give us a hard time to get the age pension, then they cut the $6,000 concession on our tax and not to be outdone they scrub us from Medicare even though we're getting slugged 30 cents in the dollar from the taxation department for the first dollar of any of our investments. ie. $6,000 income living outside of Australia, tax payable $3,000, the same $6,000 income living in Australia there's no tax payable, oh well so much for the lucky country, we aren't whingeing all we're trying to do is claim something that's rightfully ours. Under the current laws an immigrant who's been living in Australia for 25 years prior to their OA application has more rights than an Australian who's lived in Australia for 60 years but moved overseas 5 years prior to his OA application, it defies all logic.

[Xangsamhua]

Mason45, on 2008-02-12 15:36:51, said:

egg, on 2008-01-28 13:23:14, said:

Xangsamhua, on 2008-01-28 12:06:13, said:

egg, on 2008-01-27 15:56:11, said:

Hi ,,, does anyone know who is the minister for "centrelink" ,,,,, a bit brain dead ,,, cant even think what portfolio it comes under
cheers
egg

Try Senator Joe Ludwig Minister for Human Services

thanks for that Xangsamhua ,,, will give it a shot and see what happens
cheers
egg

I sent two emails in the last ten days, one to Nicola Roxon and the other to Joe Ludwig so far no response which hardly surprises me.

No response from Arch Bevis (Brisbane). I'll try him again.

[david96]

Mason45, on 2008-02-12 16:36:51, said:

egg, on 2008-01-28 13:23:14, said:

Xangsamhua, on 2008-01-28 12:06:13, said:

egg, on 2008-01-27 15:56:11, said:

Hi ,,, does anyone know who is the minister for "centrelink" ,,,,, a bit brain dead ,,, cant even think what portfolio it comes under
cheers
egg

Try Senator Joe Ludwig Minister for Human Services

thanks for that Xangsamhua ,,, will give it a shot and see what happens
cheers
egg

I sent two emails in the last ten days, one to Nicola Roxon and the other to Joe Ludwig so far no response which hardly surprises me.

You may have to write a formal letter to your local Federal member and then he/she takes the matter up with the Minister.
They should have acknowledged your e-mail.

[Mason45]

Artisi, on 2008-01-22 03:45:33, said:

Mason45

"If the Aust Department of Immigration in Bangkok weren't so anti Thai women then maybe we would go back to Australia to live thus solving the problem."

Can't agree with this comment, my wife is Thai and we didn't have any problems, other than collecting all the necessary paperwork required to apply for a visa - granted within about 4 weeks of applying and later (2years) converted to a permanent residency visa 2 weeks after submitting the paper work.

If you have a legal marrriage and can show it is not a marriage of convenience for the sake of a visa there is no reason why your wife wouldn't be granted a visa.

Artisi, since we've been together, we've had a joint bank account and I've kept photos, airline tickets, greeting cards from my family and friends etc. As we've been together for many years now, emails, letters etc weren't kept, I mostly communicated by phone before we lived together. What other documents would suggest to prove that our relationship is real and as I have a fairly decent sum in my superannuation but little cash what minimum balance in a bank account would you suggest.

[Mason45]

[quote name='david96' post='1815610' date='2008-02-13 06:28:07'][quote name='Mason45' post='1814553' date='2008-02-12 16:36:51'][quote name='egg' post='1787206' date='2008-01-28 13:23:14'][quote name='Xangsamhua' post='1787039' date='2008-01-28 12:06:13'][quote name='egg' post='1785493' date='2008-01-27 15:56:11']Hi ,,, does anyone know who is the minister for "centrelink" ,,,,, a bit brain dead ,,, cant even think what portfolio it comes under
cheers
egg[/quote]

Try Senator Joe Ludwig Minister for Human Services
[/quote]


thanks for that Xangsamhua ,,, will give it a shot and see what happens
cheers
egg
[/quote]

I sent two emails in the last ten days, one to Nicola Roxon and the other to Joe Ludwig so far no response which hardly surprises me.
[/quote]
You may have to write a formal letter to your local Federal member and then he/she takes the matter up with the Minister.
They should have acknowledged your e-mail.
[/quote]


Its probably not the right time to seek assistance from a federal politician, with the lost generation apology going on at the moment our politicians are probably very busy swanning around Canberra, wishing to be seen in the right company, patting each other on the back and enjoying the free festivities that are in place right now and really tell me any political party thats ever listened to a minority.

[KhunAussie52]

Just as a point of interest,i reside here on TPI,my entitlement is paid for life,in an Australian bank account,no reductions for residing overseas.Only loss of medical benefits and other allowances.Some of the legislation that covers veterans residing OS, is 50 years old ......!!!!!

[Mason45]

I just received an email reply from Nicola Roxons office, it told me to contact Centrelink International Services on 03 6222 3765 and that it would be much better for me to contact the CIS myself and give the finer details of my case. After waiting 24 days for a reply I expected a bit more response from my local member than that but then again we are a minority and the next federal election is a long way off.

[Mason45]

Mason45, on 2008-02-15 08:46:15, said:

I just received an email reply from Nicola Roxons office, it told me to contact Centrelink International Services on 03 6222 3765 and that it would be much better for me to contact the CIS myself and give the finer details of my case. After waiting 24 days for a reply I expected a bit more response from my local member than that but then again we are a minority and the next federal election is a long way off.

The latest email I received is from Centrelink International Services, my email was passed on to them from Joe Ludwigs office. This email states that I should contact Nigel Males at CIS to discuss my case, the phone number is :#61 3 6222 2908, the line is open from 9am-5pm weekdays. You can call this number and reverse the charges or call first give your number and your call will be returned. Maybe we're getting somewhere after all, anyway nothing ventured nothing gained.

[Xangsamhua]

Mason45, on 2008-02-15 11:25:00, said:

Mason45, on 2008-02-15 08:46:15, said:

I just received an email reply from Nicola Roxons office, it told me to contact Centrelink International Services on 03 6222 3765 and that it would be much better for me to contact the CIS myself and give the finer details of my case. After waiting 24 days for a reply I expected a bit more response from my local member than that but then again we are a minority and the next federal election is a long way off.

The latest email I received is from Centrelink International Services, my email was passed on to them from Joe Ludwigs office. This email states that I should contact Nigel Males at CIS to discuss my case, the phone number is :#61 3 6222 2908, the line is open from 9am-5pm weekdays. You can call this number and reverse the charges or call first give your number and your call will be returned. Maybe we're getting somewhere after all, anyway nothing ventured nothing gained.

Would be interested to know how you got on with CIS. I've had no replies to two emails to Arch Bevis (MHR Brisbane) that I sent a long time ago.

[Nignoy]

Mason45, on 2008-01-16 16:09:36, said:

I'm 63 yo now and I have a Thai wife, we live in our home in outer Bangkok, the property is in her name. I have no property or assets in my name in Thailand but I do own my own home in Melbourne. I go back to Melbourne every year for one month just to take care of any outstanding business etc. I lived full time in Australia from 1945 till 2003 and worked full time from 1960 till 2003, the most I've been out of Australia over that period is three months. Would I be eligible under the current rules to receive the OAP at 65 yo. On my last visit to Melbourne I went to my local CL to test the water and to my amazement I was abruptly told told to forget about it now and go back to see the CL when I'm 65 yo, so much for the advice from an Australian Government department, how are we supposed to plan our lives for the future. My total assets in Australia are a moderate home and furnishings, a 8 yo car and my superannuation whilst very handy is well under the OAG income threshold. I could apply for a spouse visa for my wife but it's not our choice to live in Australia at the present time, I enjoy living in Bangkok and the cost of living here gives us a very good lifestyle, the same lifestyle I simply couldn't afford in Australia, they say that Australia is the lucky country that is true but it doesnt apply to Australians who are 50yo plus who were born in Australia.

Just a tip if you are retired you are entitled to withdraw your super as a lump sum immediately, a simple CL form to your insurance carrier is enough, we recieved full payment tax free with the full blessing of CL and you can get these forms by post Nignoy