I can sort of sympathise with that view, but on the other hand it is just a passport. And can't you have dual nationality anyway?
Bloody Australians
- Thread starter Diddums
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I can sort of sympathise with that view, but on the other hand it is just a passport. And can't you have dual nationality anyway?
I can empathize with that, and me and the wife are the same, but I'm pretty certain my wife would try to convince me to go, so as to have not wasted that much money! I can understand why you are reluctant though.
Soldato
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Can you delay or postpone the flight for a fee?
Might be worth it, and not lose all 3 weeks and not lose all 7K
Might be worth it, and not lose all 3 weeks and not lose all 7K
They fly all the way to Australia and (potentially) get turned away when they arrive at immigration, or at least, his wife might?
Soldato
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They scan the passport, see no visa attached electronically, and send you to their visa desk.
If you have a suitable passport they electronically issue one, and jobs sorted, if you don't, you don't get to fly.
Happened me on one of my many trips to Australia, the visa used to be issued with the ticket, now it isn't, rocked up without one, got scanned, got sorted, boarded.
Would be more careful now.
This might be an option. I'm going to look in to this. Thanks.
Doesn't help the present situation Diddums but I'd be interested to know where you get to on the UK passport application - does your wife's time under the residency permit count towards citizenship? My wife is currently on a 2.5yr settlement visa, after which she'll need another 2.5yr, and only then can she apply for indefinite leave to remain and finally citizenship/passport. I can understand that it's necessary to ensure a strong connection with the UK/weed out the sham marriages before issuing passports, but where a British citizen marries a foreigner, has kids with them and has lived together (albeit abroad) for years, it's just farcical to have to jump through hoops.
Hope the Aus embassy does something to help you today, good luck.
Hope the Aus embassy does something to help you today, good luck.
My wife went through this in 2012 (Indian national). She had been on a residency visa (indefinite right to remain) from 2006. No issues at all with getting her citizenship. The only headache was the revision she needed to do for the 'test of Britishness'. A ridiculous exam which even I would have struggled with.
p.s : best of luck Diddums. We had a similar issue in 2008 when we went on a Caribbean cruise. Multiple countries and multiple visas for her and her Indian passport at the time(what were we thinking?!?!?!). We picked up our last visa from from the Bahamas embassy the morning before we flew out from Heathrow to Miami. Unbelievable stress.
I wish I had seen this yesterday as I have some info which may have helped. When we 1st came here on a recon mission I dropped a clanger with our visa applications online. I thought that my application was a joint one as I had to put the wife's name on it (I feel stupid about it all now). Anyway a week or so after my visa came through (got mine day after I applied) I realised what I had done so did an application for the wife. Week went by and nowt so she rang number in London to explain our situation and basically got told "it takes as long as it takes". They were no help at all. We left it a couple more days and in the end the wife rang Immigration in Hobart at 10pm UK time as that was around opening time for them and we were due to fly the following week. They told her to send an email to an address they gave her and explain the situation. Sent the email went to bed and when we got up her visa was sat in her mailbox.
I know our situation is different as we are both UK passport holders and your wife is South African but it might be worth a try for you? Hope you can get something sorted out
I know our situation is different as we are both UK passport holders and your wife is South African but it might be worth a try for you? Hope you can get something sorted out
Soldato
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As has already been said, for some visas you need to prove you're leaving, so must have a return flight booked.
Yea, just read. Sat times. Hope OP got it sorted, sounds like an epic trip!
Man this thread is stressing me out and it's not even me travelling!
About a year ago I had equally frustrating travel plans dashed because of an incompetent Nigerian embassy, although that was for work so I wasn't out of pocket myself. Thankfully it got resolved the day before I flew after spending 8 hours in the embassy and a few more running around London getting my passport stamped and approved.
I don't envy you OP! Hope it gets sorted!
About a year ago I had equally frustrating travel plans dashed because of an incompetent Nigerian embassy, although that was for work so I wasn't out of pocket myself. Thankfully it got resolved the day before I flew after spending 8 hours in the embassy and a few more running around London getting my passport stamped and approved.
I don't envy you OP! Hope it gets sorted!
Feel your pain, girlfriend is a Kenyan national (Pakistani origin) and the amount of headaches we have with visas drives me up the wall. The worst was getting an visa for my sisters wedding in India, because of Pakistani origin (they ask for heritage of parents and grandparents) there were additional security checks. Ended up getting the visa the night before we flew thanks to mums cousin who is a criminal lawyer pulling strings with friends at the immigration dept in Delhi.
Really hope it works out for you but the best bet is to delay the flight and keep pushing for an answer.
Really hope it works out for you but the best bet is to delay the flight and keep pushing for an answer.