WelcomeIf you are new to Poms In Oz and migrating to Australia or currently living in Australia feel free to say hi to all the other either in or moving to Oz.
We are in the early stages of planning our emigration to Melbourne. It seems that most people we talk to are indifferent or anti. We are not getting much encouragement or support?
Any pearls of wisdom to offer with regards to mentally preparing for the move?
Would also welcome positive stories from people who have made the move, as this will egg us on !.
Location: A lot closer to Melbourne than I was last week
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Hi Kate & Andy. We're going to Melbourne next year all being well. We sent off our application and are now waiting for them to acknowledge it. The main pearls of wisdom I would offer you both is be patient - something I'm having to learn! This process will have many highs and lows for you so come here and let it all hang out. There will always be someone around who knows exactly how you feel at any given moment. When you're having a crap moment just remember where you're heading for then you'll smile and the crap wil have gone! Good luck & welcome to PIO.
Be positive - Aussies are mostly migrants as so have done something to improve their lives rather than just moan about it.
Expect it to cost money - flights, visas, medicals, removal costs, setting up home again (new cars, insurance, kids uniforms, TVs) - BTW on the TV front you'll find UK TVs don't work as signal is different but we got around this by buying a digital set top box out here for $50 and tuning the TV into that. An extra remote I know but saves on a new TV.
State schools cost - on a 457 visa you'll pay the state to send your kids there and they are always asking for contributions (not voluntary I might add)
Transfer your pension within 6 months of arriving - if you get a permanent residency visa then you have 6 months to transfer your pension or else you'll be taxed on the fund value increase since the day you arrived. There are other restrictions (fund has to QROPS registered) so check out the 'Money & Finance' forum. Check out soon after you arrive if it worth moving your fund over - there are a few companies around who will evaluate and transfer for you.
TBH if it was easy to move here then more people would but going back to my first point it is generally the people with a positive attitude who make it and hence there is a more up beat culture here. Take the national sport teams - when England play soccer we expect them to do badly (and they usually do) even though are a highly skilled team whilst out here Australians genuinely thought they could win the soccer World Cup last time around even though the odds were stacked against them. Attitude.
My husband & I are also hoping to head to Malbourne. We're just waiting for the final notification, fingers crossed, as they have all our info now. Good luck and as motherof2 said be patient cos it's a big waiting game!! This site is great - it makes me feel really positive whenever I am having a few doubts about the massive step we're taking.
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Visa Granted 22/04/08!
Hoping to go March 2009
We're going to Melbourne. No pearls to offer at this stage but do ask questions when you need to. There's usually someone on here who knows the answer and if we don't we can tell you where to find it!!
Felicity
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Felicity + Michael - We're 'Pozzies' - Happy and Lovin' it!
Melbourne since September 07
Welcome Kate & Andy.
We have been in Melbourne 4 months and we love it!
The whole process of migrating is stressful!
You wait on every little shred of information and answere to every question and then you will wait some more. You will fill in more forms than ever before and will have the occasional row about it all. You will keep grape growers thro' out the world in business over these coming months as the odd glass of ....well anything really.........can help settle the nerves.
Towards the end you will burst into tears at anything at anytime.
You may even have the odd wobble and the odd night where you wake in a hot sweat and think "what on earth am I doing"......thats if you are lucky enough to be able to sleep.
You will have the urge to committ extreme acts of violence on the next person who says .." you still here"
All of this sounds a bit negative I know BUT just remember thro' all of this PIO will be here to help support and just, well, be there for you.
And at the end of it all, when you see that pink sticker in your passport, well to be honest the first thing I thought was " is that it? A year out of my life going thro' every emotion known and some that have never been known for a pink sticker" No really, the feeling is great....elation, sadness, fear, panick and for some nothing, the whole process drains some people so much they get there visa and have the attitude...well thats that, lets get out there now and start living.
And once you get here, well thats when the fun really starts
The very best of luck with it all.
Lesley
hello and welcome
so feel happy to have opened pio's doors.
