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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think it is weird to need passports when kids aren't emmigrating?

89 replies

looneymum · 20/05/2009 18:52

Hi Guys. My soon to be ex is emmigrating to Aus... he is at present filling in visa application forms... is it normal for the non-migrating children to need to have a medical and provide passports in order that he can fill in his visa application. All words of wisdom gratefully received. It is bad enough that he is leaving them... and leaving us in a poor financial state... never mind me having to go through all this trauma and bloody well assist with his visa crap! xx

OP posts:
thumbwitch · 21/05/2009 01:43

looneymum, email them don't ring them - someone will get back to you - their phone system costs £1 a minute (greedy fascist bastards) - I am currently going through the process myself and yes, the forms do state that any dependant children need to be checked as well. grrr.

1dilemma · 21/05/2009 01:45

I'm thinking possibly the same as the others ie keeping hold of the passports yourself etc etc.
However I'm guessing that since he is their Father and presumably can have parental responsibility and if they let him in he can therefore take them in then the Aussies want to know they (the dcs) are healthy, I've heard of a friend and someone on here being turned down for Oz because they had a disabled dc

1dilemma · 21/05/2009 01:46

(impressed with super efficient Aussie CSA!)

thumbwitch · 21/05/2009 01:47

actually, he doesn't need their passports, he just needs a certified copy of their passports. I.e you photocopy it and get a solicitor or some legal bod to sign to say it is a genuine copy of the genuine article.

So - don't let him have the passports, just certified copies, and make him pay for them.

sandcastles · 21/05/2009 02:07

I had to fill all details of my family in the UK when I emigrated with dh to Australia.

That did not mean passport details tho. Just names/DOBs/my relationship to them.

And they certainly did not need medicals...

It sounds very dodgy if he is taking the for medicals...only emigrating people need them!!

sandcastles · 21/05/2009 02:15

It maybe that they need to be examined incase of a visit, or if in time they do emigrate. They probably wouldn't accept him if he carried the possibility of a child emigrating/visiting who could end up requiring the Gov to meet high medical costs.

Also, if a child had an exisiting medical condidtion, they may think he is trying to get residency to enable that child to fly over & medical treatment.

The passports is hmm, we didn't need to send ours until we had our visas placed in them. I cannot remember if they asked for our passport details, but they certainly didn't ask for details of my relatives.

But again, I guess there is more of a possiblity of them trying to gain residency in the future, so it could be for ID perposes!

thumbwitch · 21/05/2009 09:52

sandcastles, children are different from other relatives, especially if they are still dependants - they need to be included even if they are not emigrating with you.

Taken from this form - which is the partner application visa form I had to fill in:
"All dependent children and other dependants must meet the health requirement, whether migrating or not."

2rebecca · 21/05/2009 10:03

It sounds as though the Aus government are just wanting to cover themselves in case a parent tries to get round the health requirements for immigrants by arriving themselves first and then trying to get through disabled children later rather than all going together. It sounds like Aus gov being cautious rather than your ex being sneaky.
I would make him pay though, it's all part of his emigration expenses. Agree if you are resident parent you keep their passports though, even if he pays for them. The passports should stay with the children.

KingCanuteIAm · 21/05/2009 10:10

WRT him taking them - and his partner taking her kids, the Aus immigration will not allow a child to be taken to Aus without their parents going with them - all of them, they consider it too high risk and do not want to get embroiled in court hearings etc trying to get kids back.

I could be wrong of course and his GF could have special permission already but I very much doubt that she will be allowed to take the dc into Aus, even if she does get a court order - unless she can persaude her ex to come too (and my understanding is that, even if the ex does go, if they are not moving as a complete family unit they still won't get in).

In short, it is very unlikely that he could emigrate to Aus with your dc even if he wanted to.

thumbwitch · 21/05/2009 10:20

no, he couldn't take them without a special signed legal document from any other carers for the DC saying that they are happy for the DC to go to Australia.

"Custody requirement
The department will seek to ensure that allowing a child to migrate is not in contravention of Australia?s international obligations in relation to the prevention of child abduction. If your application includes a child aged under 18 years and the child?s other parent is not migrating with you or there is any other person who has the legal right to determine where the child can live, you will need to provide a statutory declaration from each of them giving permission for the child to migrate.
Alternatively, you can provide a certified copy of a valid court order showing that you/your spouse has the legal right to remove the child from their home."

KingCanuteIAm · 21/05/2009 10:21

Ahh, I stand corrected TW, that is very interesting

madwomanintheattic · 21/05/2009 10:23

as has been said, the kids do need to meet the health requirements, even if they are not emigrating. if something (god forbid) happened to you, and their father were to have to take responsibility, the aus officials need to know that the children they would then be responsible for (as residents) meet the eligibility criteria (in terms of medical needs, like sandcastles said). so they get assessed on an 'in case' basis. the passports will be for identification only, nothing sinister.

it just means that aus are covered for any future eventuality (like if at 18 the kids decided to emigrate too etc)

all entirely normal. as kcia says, there are very strict legal requirements for international travel/ emigration where the accompanying parent does not have custody, so don't worry about that that.

and enjoy your chaperone visit that he will be paying for

Icantbelieveitsnotbitter · 21/05/2009 10:50

Lucky old Australians not having to pay for 'health tourists' treatments !

Oh well, who needs Oz, Britain seem to be providing free healthcare for anyone that needs it (unless your British).

Sorry, rant over !!

thumbwitch · 21/05/2009 10:57

I tell you what, if we had the sort of immigration paperwork that the Australians have, we honestly would not have the immigration "problems" that we do!

madwomanintheattic · 21/05/2009 14:39

...although speaking as someone that is trying to emigrate from the uk with a disabled child, i can confirm no-one will welcome us with open arms. we're still at the hoop jumping stage. (well, i am. dd2 can't, er, obviously... )

oldspotraver · 21/05/2009 14:59

MUGGLEWUMP...It was your case I was thinking of

THUMBWITCH...Is taht right re the £1/min, I wondered why my phone bill sempt to have shot up

muggglewump · 21/05/2009 16:05

I thought it might be Oldspot as I've posted a fair bit abour it recently.

The phone does cost that much. I called recently although I knew the charges, I wanted to talk to a person about DD's right to dual citizenship. I'm guessing that's cost at least £5 but I got all the info I needed.

Original poster
looneymum · 21/05/2009 19:14

Hi Everyone. Thanks a million to everyone who has posted with great information. I will ring the Aus Embassy to see if copies of passports will suffice but to be honest, I am sick of fighting with soon to be ex about stuff so will probs just give passports. Well, when I say fighting, it is only ever on e-mail...! His latest is to say am I ok telling the kids they are to come out of their lovely private school as if not then he is happy to tell them! He is a monster and I don't believe he cares what happens to them.. as obviously he will be in Aus and wont care if they are in a new school and unhappy... hey ho... onwards and upwards... hope that my settlement will be finalised in a month! Thanks again. xxx

OP posts:
thumbwitch · 21/05/2009 23:08

no no - EMAIL THEM! It costs a fortune to ring them, see the bit about £1/min

Original poster
looneymum · 22/05/2009 07:45

Hi Thumbwitch. Thx... thought I would ring Aus Embassy in London... couldn't see an e-mail address.. but am being really dense at the mo - it is really all becoming too much! Thx again everyone. xx

OP posts:
AnarchyAunt · 22/05/2009 07:48

Here it says the number for the Australian High Commission in London is 020 7379 4334 if thats any use?

Original poster
looneymum · 22/05/2009 08:14

Ah thx AA. You are a star... will call them after the nightmare call with the solicitor this morning. Happy days! x

OP posts:
AnarchyAunt · 22/05/2009 08:15

Good luck xx

FabulousBakerGirl · 22/05/2009 08:20

Don't give him the passports. Why would you do that? If you think you are fighting with him now what do you think you will be doing if he takes them off to Australia???

thumbwitch · 22/05/2009 15:58

try [email protected] this for an email enquiry if you didn't manage to get through today. It seems to be the address on the enquiry that I made.

And as FBG says, even if you are tired, DON'T give him the passports - he could, just for spite, "forget" to return them and it would cost you far more to replace them than to get certified copies done! The Aussie HC don't WANT the original passports, they only want certified copies.

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