nic1964

Hi I wouldn't get too concerned from a Visa perspective. Any medicals etc. are really interested in any long term costs that Medicare would need to cover. Something like that isn't an indication on long term expenses. I got my visa, even though I suffer from depression, and require routine medication, its not a high cost for them, so they weren't concerned. Hope this helps Nick

I agree with others, try setting it up for Germany, I"ve heard that may work. However a set top box is really cheap anyway, so not a great loss if it doesnt work. Nick

I work on the Kwinana strip, and work here is certainly slowing down alot. We've recently let a number of people go from the support staff, and the feeling is its more widespread. It really depends of your field. We did recently recruit an experienced engineer, and had 80+ CV's vs. a handfull a year ago. Alot have load of experience within oil / gas and were being let go, due to projects being shelved. I would check the local websites for jobs,and ask your boss what the opportunities and wages are, as I expect they have also levelled out. Sorry to not be more positive, but with WA costs being so high, were not really competitive Nick

Hope someone can hep me out with a couple of questions around RRV. Myself, wife and two children received out 175 visa in February 2010. My wife and myself moved here in August 2012, and enjoiying life here in Perth. My two kids decided to stay in the UK and finish their education. Both have visited multiple times, have bank accounts etc, etc,and both want to move here. Neither however will be redy to move before the 5 year period expires on their current visa. Both my wife and I have received RRV's because of the 2 year rule. My two questions are 1) Do the kids (21 and 23, its an old habit) have to apply for an RRV before the 5 year period is up? As they are abroad, and havent lived here for 2 years, then will (unless you know otherwise) only receive a 3 month or 12 month RRV? One may come out sooner, but the second doesnt finish university until June 2015? 2) If we don't apply for an RRV until they are ready to move, then what do we do when they want to come for holidays? Do we just apply for an eVisitors visa? Would this affect their success in being granted an RRV. 3) Finally would there be a reason why RRV's arent granted? I know they got their own visa's on the back of mine, but I'd hate for them to loose the opportunity. Thanks in advance, heres looking forward to some thoughts. Nick

Hi, just to confirm, you need nothing to buy a car, assuming your buying it cash and not on HP. An address if necessary to send the documentation to is key, as you only get one letter when the Rego is due, and if you miss that, then you could run out of Rego, which is a pain. You can however track and pay on-line so its not the end of the world. Gumtree is a great place to start, you can get good value for money. Nick

We shipped everthing out, but the company was paying. Our daughters are coming out next year, and we're only shipping out their personel stuff. The reason is that with such a migrant workforce here is WA, people literally give stuff away. Look at Gumtree and then select all free ads using the list on the Left hand side. You'll be amazed. We brought a cheap ute here, and its paid for itself many times over. We got garden furniture, setees, lawnmower, bookcases etc, all for free. If you want to spend a little bit more, then you can easily find everything you need. Hope that helps Nick

I don't know the area specifically, but I"m assuming you will rent initially, so use that as a good opportunity to look around the areas your thinking about. I've found that within the same area, there are very different feels to streets even side by side, so you do need to look around to find somehwere you like. Also don't go by what others say, its so important that you want to be sure / happy yourselves. Best of luck Nick

Like anywhewre there will allways be positions available for unskilled workers. The salary won't be great, but it depends if your the main wage earner or not. Also don't put yourself down, there are plenty of skills that I"m sure you do have. Maybe not paper qualifications, but lifeskills which add value. Try looking at Gumtree out here, it often has general jobs advertised, either hospitality or labouring. Best of luck - Nick

An alternative for shopping is spudshed warehouses. Theres a couple locally, Jandakoot and Baldivis. Fruit and Veg is really good value, plus their meat and fish is OK. Go for whats in season and its value for money. Gumtree for furniture definitly. Depending on your budget, then look in the free section, we've picked up no end of nice furniture including couches, outdoor tables and chairs, for nothing. Hope that helps. Nick

Hi, we live in Kwinana, but do travel to Mandurah alot, due to the really nice restuarents, and walks by the river / sea. Everywhere has its good and bad points, so its difficult to generalise and say is the town / city good or bad. Same with accomodaiotn. Being a fair distance from Perth, probably an hour by car, then rental prices / house prices are alot more realistic, so many people choose to live there. They city has undergone alot of expenditure with a large marina and apartments, but alot are only used as second properties so it tends not to look busy. It isnt a centre of manufacturing etc, so professions like mech engineer and OHS I would expect have limited demand locally. I work on the Kwinana strip, with BP, Tronox, CSBP etc, wherer you may find more options, and then its either FIFO or the city for design consultants. MY advice is to try and visit the place before you make a decision, as everyone is after different things. Nick

we only had a pest inspection done, when we purchased our property, and paid $150. That was with http://www.rockypest.com.au/ Hope that helps Nick

For that length of time, I would buy one. Look on Gumtree, with the migrant workforce here, perople are allways selling cars on. Only need to spend $1-2K, and you'll get the same back again when you sell it. As long as its got Rego, then it comes with minimum 3rd party insurance, so very little cost involved. Nick

One other viewpoint. We didnt use an agent, but went ahead ourselves. Depending on what visa you are going for, then do consider this option. It really wasnt difficult, mostly just providing documents, organising medicals etc. Anything to save money!! Nick

if you are staying 3 weeks, then I would suggest that Perth is really only a base. its not a big place, then go and exlpore more of WA. Depending on what you are after (quiet / busy) then that would help in making a decision. Fremantle I think is a great social place, and a good base. By train its only a short trip my train to Perth. Then explore outside the main Perth area, there's plenty of other threads covering what to do out here. Nick

We looked at both options, and finally decided on an existing house. Primary, because we got a small 3x1 on an 800m2 plot, with large trees in the garden, hardwood jarrah floors. It needed alot of work (not structural, but decorating etc), which we did before we moved in by extending our rental lease. Nice relaxing place, birds in the tree's etc. etc. On a new build, you'd be lucky to get a garden of any size. Also when looking at rentals, when we first arrived, we looked at 2 year old houses, and they really didnt stand up well to daily life. Oh, and although we live in Orelia, which people will now say is a poor neighbourhood, we paid way less than $300K, and have great neighbours. Look at both options, but ask yourself what you really want from the house and neighbourhood. Nick / Lynn