Hi again Phyllis
No costs are hidden (unless you let the Bank rip you off on currency convesrion and transfer. High Sreet banking is legalised thieving in my view......!) You can avoid that via HIFX and suchlike.
Other costs include:
Estate agents & legals if yuo intend to sell your house in the UK and buy one in Oz.
Accountant's fees to work out what to do with other capital if you decide to keep it here or shift it to Oz.
Migration Agents fees: If you feel confident about tackiing the whole thing yourself then you do not need to budget for an Agent . As we did not use one, I have no idea what they charge. The work involved would take an experienced pro about 5 hours. It took me about 500 hours. That was mainly inexperience plus the fact that Mum's application was complicated in legal terms. (I'm a lawyer by trade.) I did not have a clue what I was dealing with - which was worrying, so I spent much longer on research than is really necessary, I now think.. Plus there was a potential Meds issue because Mum is 86 and physically disabled. Plus there was a potential legal issue on terms of a UK-based step-child, which necessitated negotiation with the Australian Govt about how to interpret the Balance of Family Test. Complications are rare, though, and complications with both of the two key-criteria are doubly so. Mum's application was not typical.
The Meds - Mum's coats about £60 for the x-rays and £140 for the Panel Doctor. Forms 26 & 160 are the two for he Meds. Please see here and click on the Health link:
http://www.uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/Vi...Migration.html
If youi need to get copies of specialist's reports from your GP there may be a cost.
Certifying copy documents: In England & Wales the convention is that solicitors can chage £5 per document. I don't know the drill in Scotland.
UK police checks are £10 each. If you need Australian ones too, the cost is about $36 per person.
Air couriers: About £25 for a Parent application. I used International Signed Fir at the post office for Mum's, which was about £5. However, the Royal Mail has since reached meltdown so I would now use a courier such as DHL or Fedex.
Air fares: you may wish to visit Oz during the wait, as Mum did.
Probably another £200 or so for incidentals like phone calls to Oz.
I've never totted it up but I think I have identified the main costs.
Cheers
Gill
