Emigrating with older children

[willyeckerslike]

Is ther anyone on her hopingto emigrate to Oz with older children? If so what are their reactions?

Our son is 14 at the moment, we are hoping to go in Summer 2009 after he has completed his GCSE's. Our daughter will have just finished year 8, she will be 13 then, and the little'un' will be 4 and just ready for starting reception class (if we stay in the UK). This seems like the ideal time frame to me, no disruptions in their education at vital times etc.

I'm not getting great feedback from the older 2, especially my son, he insists he is going nowhere, no matter how I try to talk him round, he's not going for it at all, is it a teenage 'my mates are all here' thing and is anyone else experiencing this?

They just don't seem to realise that 80% of the reason we are wanting to do this is to give them a chance a a half decent future, I honestly fear for what the future holds for them in this country. It's not even as if we have a dreadful lifestyle or live in a bad area. We are quite lucky in that we have secure jobs, live in a good area with a good primary school and average secondary schools. It just feels we are having to work harder and harder to stay in the same place if you know what I mean.

Andrea
xx

[cheryl]

Hi Andrea,

Have you visited before or thought about doing so? i say this because we have a 14yr old son and a 11yr old daughter, visited perth last year and they both loved it and cant wait to go back to live. I know what you mean about moving out to give them a better life, we live in a small village with good primary and good secondary schools near by, which is great but its the nearest towns to us that are not a desirable place and kids are getting older i cant keep them under my wing for much longer its frightening to think of their future! Good luck with the kids i am sure they will come round.

Cheryl

[Banoff]

Hi

We have a daughter 15, she does her GCSE May 2008 so if we get our visa we will go soon after that. She is not impressed with our desision to go to oz purely because of her friends, but the thing is when she goes to uni she will be more than likely leaving them all anyway. I have told her until she is 18 she has to stay with us then she can make her mind up.

Our 13 year old son is the opposite and cant wait.

Jan :wub:

[NIGEL]

hi

We have two sons eldest is 16yrs will be 17 yrs in August and is currently in college doing e-media studies (web design) and youngest is 14 in April yr9 at grammar school we are heading for brisbane hopefully in April this yr, and it is a worry if we get them into a decent school and college when we're there to finish off their education:confused: we'll just have to keep fingers crossed.

Karen and Family

[Gollywobbler]

Hi Andrea

I haven't got any children so I can't help you with Teenage Reluctance.

Are you aware that once you get your visa, the whole family will need to travel to Australia (even if only for a very short visit) to validate the visas? This normally has to be done within 12 months of the earlier of the police checks or the meds - the letter granting the visa states the date by which it must be validated by the act of the whole family entering Australia.

Therefore your son will have had a holiday in Oz by the time mid-2009 comes around even if he has never been to Oz yet. Hopefully the visit will make him think "Beaut."

Also, if anything happens to delay your plans beyond 2009, make very sure that you are aware of the rules for Resident Return Visas. Details are here:

http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/residents/155/index.htm

The 136 visa permits you to remain in Australia indefinitely, and it permits multiple entry to Oz. However, the travel element of it is only valid for five years from the date that the visa is granted (not the date it is validated.) So when the first five years is up, you will need Resident Return visas if you wish/need to leave Oz for any reason and then go back to Oz. Because of the RRV rules, the idea that one has five years in which to move to Oz permanently can be a bit misleading, I think.

Cheers

Gill

[hays]

Hi Andrea,
My daughter is 10 and has put her foot down with a firm hand and said 'nope'. I asked why and she said she didnt want to leave her friends. i said ok fine, we will have a holiday before we apply and see what she thinks. I have no doubt at all that she will love it and will count the days till we can move after she has seen for herself what a fantastic country Oz is. I've shown her the good and bad posts on here and also lots of other websites including the online oz newspapers, and webcams...shes coming around already! I think its the friends she's worried about leaving and i cant really combat that by saying you'll make new friends. That wont help a 10yr old! it will only make her dig her heals in harder!
My 13 yr old son is totally the opposite and has already started asking when were going!! they are like chalk and cheese!!
Have the kids been out to oz and looked around? If not, it may help, along with the surfcams (accessed through the 'courier mail' website) showing all the guys surfing, and walking along the amazing beaches, it may just make them think about it, as teenagers this may b what appeals to them.
Good luck with it. teenages are impossible to argue with!! my poor, poor parents, now i know what i put them through! :wink:
Hays