The Bridge Family

Yes, I've got that bit, but it's still a huge improvement on what we were told. We had the info that it was four years from obtaining PR, which would be a right bugger! September 2015! Thanks alot, again..... Take care x:yes:

Wow! Is that for real? We did come on 457 in 2008 and got PR in September of 2011..... so this year it is! Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. That's made my day x Have a great weekend x Andrea x

Hi everyone..... I know I come and go on here, like a bad smell..... I'm sorry! Anyways...... Could someone tell me how long we have to wait between getting PR and going for Citizenship? We have heard all sorts of timescales quoted, and have been told that the rules have all changed.... blah, blah, blah. Anyone got a definite answer to this? Thanks heaps, guys... x :notworthy:

Same here, sami! We are still going through it, too.... Hubby got offered this promotion and, after alot of thought and talking, accepted. He had to move immediately, and we are stuck here! He has been gone almost two months now, and my boys are beside themselves. The whole thing will, hopefully, work out in the end... but this has been three years of total and utter Hell. You sure get tested, trying to 'Live the Dream' eh??

Thanks so much. Best of luck to you, too. Australia is an amazing place, but what you go through to get here ~ and remain here, is unbelievable at times! Fingers crossed for us all...... x x x

:wub:Well, the saga of us trying to obtain PR continues! We moved here in June 2008, with me on a Student Visa. We moved to a 457 with Coles, vis hubby in August of that year. Steve has done very well, and has now been promoted. He is Regional Manager in Melbourne, VIC., and we shall join him as soon as we can sell the house.... Mmmmmm! (Not quickly, then!!) We have been asking Coles to assist us with moving from the 457 to PR for the last five months, and nothing has been done. Since the move, and Steve changing to a new boss etc., it seems things are happening. They have offered to take care of the PR application, which apparently will save us $$$$$'s! Our original quote was for $4,500 for the Visa, paperwork, etc., etc., and then another $4,500 for the Agent's fees. With doing it through Coles, we only pay the Visa application fees etc., of $3,500 in total. Have any of you been successful at doing it this way? We were told by Fragomens that it would take around 8-10 months from start to finish. Doing it this way, Coles have been told by the Embassy that it will take 3 weeks maximum! That is a HUGE difference - in both time and money! We are hoping that this is all the start of our time in Australia coming good, as it has (so far) been the most horrendous three years of our lives, and a period of time, stress, heartache and financial insecurity that we would not wish on anyone. Would love to hear your stories.... just for encouragement! Thanks heaps, everyone! :notworthy:

Thanks loads.... Di have a trip from the Gold Coast to Melbourne last week. Lo and behold - we loathed it with a passion! OMG : Graffiti, filth, hustle and bustle! YUK!! Won't be living there! Hubby will have to drive in ad we will be buying acreage, and living the Aussie dream! Melbourne is deffo. not for us!! Andrea x

I knew there'd be a reason it was cheaper! Back to the drawing board! Thanks heaps for having the balls to have an opinion. Sheesh.......... I get so heartily sick of asking people, and they all sit on the bloody fence! Hats off to you, hun. Take care and have a good one x

Anyone know whether this area is worth looking at?? We are off to Melbourne on our reccie tomorrow, and still have no ideas on where to look! This is all getting very frustrating! Firstly, we picked Point Cook... now we are told that the schooling there is inferior to other areas. If you go to the school websites, you have to put in names. How??? We don't know the area! There seems to be alot of negativity about the suburbs in and around Melbourne, and we are loathed to pick the wrong one. If it were just us two, we'd not be too concerned. We have two small boys, and need the right area, with good education to boot. Any thoughts on areas would be gratefully received.... Please, please, please.... I am not married to David Beckham, so be realistic on areas with houses normal people can afford! We have a fabulous house on the Gold Coast, and know we won't get the same in/around Melbourne ~ but we would still like someone nice, with a garden for the woofer! Thanks everyone........... x :notworthy:

Not at all. If you have any other recommendations, feel free to let me know. We have not even visited Melbourne yet, so have no idea on suburbs etc. Only reason we chose Point Cook is that it came recommended by heaps of people, looks like a good place for kids, is within easy reach of the CBD, and is in the area that my husband will run. If the schools are not as good as elsewhere, then we will have to re-think. What is hard, is trying to choose where to look. We have no idea, at all....... Thanks heaps x

:notworthy:Hi Guys! Anyone got kids in school in Point Cook? I've been told Seabrook is the best Primary School ~ but it has a super small catchment area, so we are having a job finding houses to buy there. We have two boys, 6 and 11, so will need Primary for now, but soon will need Secondary education. We are on a visit to Melbourne on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, so early replies would be gratefully received. We have a few lovely houses booked in......... but seriously don't wanna pick a gorgeous house ~ only to find the school for that area is not what we had hoped for! Thanks so much! Enjoy your weekend x :notworthy:

Seems we are getting somewhere! Hooooraaaaay! Looks like Seabrook might be our best bet for a Primary School. Anyone got any kids at Seabrook? What's your opinion, if you have? Have emailed the school to find out the catchment area, as Point Cook has some lovely houses that we are keen on, but if we can only live in Seabrook, then we need to reconsider. (Yes, I know they are together.... but the school may be as specific as our local one!). Thanks guys x x

Now I'm interested....... How on earth are you tossing up between Melbourne and the Gold Coast?? They are sooooooo different! We are being forced to go to Melbourne, otherwise we wouldn't leave here 'til we pop our clogs. Maybe what you and I find out, might help....?! Lol x

That's a great help! Thanks so much for taking the time out... Have a good one! Andrea x

:cute:Hi there all... We have been happily living on the Gold Coast for 2.5 years, and have just received the news that my husband's new promotion means we will be living in VIC from the end of the month! We need to find a fabulous State Primary School... boys are 6 and 11. The area needs to be pleasant, with things to do, and access to my husband's region - which is : Melton South / Melton West / Caroline Springs / Cairnlea / Deer Park / Derrimut Village / Burnside / Ardeer / Sydenham We need him to be able to get to and from these places, but without living in them. Any recommendations would be gratefully received.... we currently feel like we have no clue where to begin looking, and are on a flight down there shortly! A full removals package means we don't have the hassle of selling our house ~ which is fabulous........! Take care and thanks everyone x :notworthy: