I would call the embassy, explain the situation, and ask if they can expedite your visa. They will likely be noncommittal but may quietly assist you (under promise and over deliver kind of thing). You won’t know for sure they will help you until (unless) the visa notification arrives In your email. Be prepared to cancel the application and forfeit the fee the day you leave if it comes to that.

Harry HarrisSent is the operative word here. Things sent are treated differently to things brought with you on your person. If goods come with you on the plane, you’re allowed to bring reasonable personal goods that are used and that you plan to take with you when you leave without declaring them. This is only for things that come with you as baggage.

You would be much better off bringing your computer as excess baggage, even if it’s big. I bought a suitcase to fit my gaming rig and it was still much better than freighting it. You get different allowances accompanying a person than you do as freight.(I did freight a lot of things, but the computer was an exception).

Couldn’t you do a loan against your equity in the home to get the funds in the bank? Or an increase on your existing mortgage?

@John *********

The Australian private health system is a regulated model with some unusual features. People are pushed in early, by age 30, with a system of incentives and penalties to create a sustainable pool, but premiums don’t rise with age and pre existing conditions are not excluded. It’s a whole of life model, and yes, it is cheaper than Thailand for older people.

Yes, it’s correct. Australian private cover is designed to stay affordable (relatively) for life by incentivizing you going in by 30. Most other systems the premiums rise steeply with age. You can make it more affordable by choosing a high deductive, that is, you bear say the first $5K (if you can afford it). You may also be able to get away with a more modest level of cover as long as it includes repatriation cover, ie they will send you home for something requiring long term care. Chat with a broker about different ways things could play out.

Jay MoyleYou’re welcome! Btw, one thing people never mention: A three month visa as granted is usually single entry. However, you can go to the immigration office and buy a re entry permit to sit on top of it. So, if it suits you logistically to come, open the bank account and rent your house, leave again while it seasons, and come back later with your cat knowing you have a place that will allow your cat to come, that is actually an option, even though it doesn’t seem like it on the face of it. That’s pretty much the sequencing I used.

Jay MoyleThe information about sequencing is not clear and unfortunately people talk in shorthand that further obscures it. Typically you come in on a three month retirement visa which does not require the bank account. Then you come immediately on approval and use that visa to open the bank account, put in your deposit and let the deposit season for two months. Then you can apply for a one year extension of stay which does require the deposit.

I brought my cats here while on a 90 day work visa (much like retirement visas, there is an initial 90 day that then gets a 1 year extension). So in principle I would think it is fine, but do confirm with a customs/logistics agent that does pets like Booma.

Property rental and shares.