How to find your ex... or anybody else Sender: Seabird

Thanks, Jeremy

It's section 2(2) onwards of the 1989 Act, and the beginning parts of Section 3.

Go to for Act in full.

I need to seek advice from the solicitor again. When we met yesterday we didn't know the whereabouts of the ex partner, so she suggested waiting to submit my visa application. I will speak to her again on Monday to get a distinct timeframe from her now she knows exactly what we're dealing with. She suggested that she will give him 14 days to reply to a letter asking if he has any objections.

My daughter has had, and will not have in the future, any contact with him, and in fact I have a signed agreement with Social Services stating that he would never be given unsupervised access. Police will also support this. This is not a nice guy. He hasn't wanted access and has avoided paying any maintenance. The CSA are supporting this.

I'm just finishing a PhD that I enrolled for a few months after splitting up with him. I have only got a part-time job in the UK, and most post-doctoral positions here would be geographically unlikely to be where the next one is. This doesn't allow security for Sophie. I cannot afford a house here on a Post-doc salary, and renting in the UK is very unstable due to wide market fluctuations, whereas in Adelaide the market fluctuates less and I can afford a house on my $56,000 salary. The job, though initially 2-years, is setting up a brand new Department with a former colleague frpm the UK. As I am being given the Senior Post-doc post, it is predicted that the current project will take around 10 years. Additionally Sophie is a wonderful musician, and the Schools in the UK do not cater for that, whereas there is special provision at several Schools in Adelaide. Already in close contact with Brighton School and we are sending a DVD to get a commitment from the School on whether they are likely to take her when we get there.

Do you think I am best to submit the visa now and explain what is happening with the custody arrangements? The nomination was accepted on the 20th June. I need to set clear timframes with the solicitor, so it would be really helpful to have an idea how long this type of visa takes. I have to be there by November if I am to start work on time.

Thanks

Claire

-- Seabird