Moving to Geelong soon - HELP

gigglesems · 04-03-2008, 09:58 PM

Hi Everyone,

I am a new poster to PIO although I have been sneaking a peak for a little while. I have reached a point where it is time to share my story and your wisdom (if that is ok with you all).

Me, my husband and baby son visited Australia last June with the idea of wanting to move there. Once getting off the plane...we didnt want to get back on and decided it was for us. We began to look at visa applications and after being VERY overwhelmed, the thought kind of went to the back of my mind. THEN, my husband who is a motor mechanic, saw an advert for a job that offered sponsorship and applied. Within a couple of days he was offered the job and we have been applying for a 457 visa (btw, he was only offered the job about 2 weeks ago). Our visa application was lodged 2 days ago and today my son ha his medical and we had our x-rays...things seem to be moving VERY quickly. It seems that while we wait to find out about our visa, the only thing we need to do is get our house on the market and sold. There are still a few little jobs we need to do in order to get it in prime selling condition so hoping to get it on the market ASAP.

Anyhoo, I have a few questions and I would love it if any of you guys would be able to help as I am so overwhelmed at the minute, research is proving difficult:

1) We will be moving to Geelong. Does anyone live there, know much about the area, know about the quality and costs of housing etc?

2) Does anyone know if you need a plice check fr a 457 visa? Anyone sucessfully applied for a 457 and if so, how long did it take to go through?

3) Can anyone recommend companies for shipping goods?

4) I see that you guys sometimes have meet-ups? Anyone in or near the Geelong area (particularly with young kids) who might be able to help me get on the socialising ladder when we get there?

5) Bit of a silly one, but when we get there, what would be the equivalent of places such as Asda, Argos, blah blah blah. (LMAO at my own question!!!!). Just I would hate to think I spent 6 months in Oz before finding the cheap places to shop!

I would really appreciate an help, advice and comforting words that can be thrown my way. I am sure there will be plenty more questions popping up in my head for the forseeable future.

THANKS IN ADVANCE GUYS

sharleen29 · 08-03-2008, 04:57 PM

deanthebrickie · 08-03-2008, 07:06 PM

Hiya

At last, someone else who is heading towards Geelong. We lodged our application in May last year (husband is a brickie and we're going on a 136 visa) and are now on the last leg of it. Our application has been finalised and we're waiting for the decision. Our agent tells us it will be positive so fingers crossed. If everything goes according to plan we should be heading over in about April. House is sold and we're in rented just waiting......

We went over in November last year and stayed for a month. Husband had been before but me and the kids hadn't and wasn't sure what to expect. Had intended to move to the Mornington Pensinula but once we got there we decided that the Bellarine Peninsula gave us much better value for money and actually just preferred it. We're heading to Drysdale/Clifton Springs which is about 10-15 mins drive from Geelong. We've got 2 girls aged 8 and 10 but my youngest absolutely lurves babies, I guess I can't remember what she was like when she was one!! Doesn't seem to be many english down Drysdale area, in fact only 5 families in the school we're going to which is a 4 form intake primary school.

Shops down that way tend to be like the rest of Australia, Target, Coles, K-Mart. Only shop we found in Oz which we have here is Pumpkin Patch. Didn't go shopping in Geelong so unsure of shops there.

Can't really help with any of your visa queries as we're going on a different visa. Hopefully someone else will read your thread.

When do you plan to get there, is it still months away? Let us know and hopefully once we get there can let you know more info.

Good luck

gary12 · 08-03-2008, 07:50 PM

Hi

We have jsut spent 2 weeks in Geelong and although it wasn't for us, for a variety of reasons I shall just give my opinion.

There is a long seafront (prom) with some nice restaurants and at one end it has both a fresh water and sea water swimming pool. There are public BBQ's and a nice grassed area along with a childrens playground.

We didn't really shop in Geelong other than for groceries and they have Coles,Aldi the usuals.

Houses like most places vary, but I would say on the whole they are affordable. We found them to be a bit dated but having said that Geelong is huge, much bigger than we thought and there are new houses being built.

It is one hour by train to Melbourne, the station is in the centre of town but parking at the station is easier 5 minutes up the road at North Geelong.
At the opposite end to the swimming pools is a big refinery/industrial area.

There are several PIO'zzers who are planning to move to the area. Do a search, I'm sure you will find a few.

We stayed in a central location in a 2 bed house which was great, the lady was super and I will happily pass on her details to you if you PM me. She has put up several English families who have moved to the area. We were just a 5 minute walk away from schools, kindy's and the shops.

I can't help with your visa query either, but I would imagine you would need police checks , ours took the full 40 days to arrive and I think that is about the norm.

best wishes

Michelle

Moonbeam · 09-03-2008, 10:11 AM

Hi,
With regards to your practical questions, I would suggest you go to an emigration show. My husband and I went to one a couple of weeks ago and found it really helpful. We gained some really good information and contacts to help us with things like applying for a visa, schools, removals and financial questions. Have a look at The Emigration Show | A Place in the Sun Live.

Good luck!

gary12 · 09-03-2008, 12:44 PM

not of any great use I guess but worth a look Geelong News - The Geelong Advertiser
Geelong local newspaper website.

Michelle

peppa · 09-03-2008, 01:03 PM

geelong is lovely if you are looking for an area try seaching on realestate.com for:

Highton
Belmont
Wandana heights

good luck

ps been here a month now and SO miss sainsbury's!!!

Jodajasa · 09-03-2008, 01:47 PM

Hi there

We got back from Oz yesterday. We are hoping to emigrate in september (going on 136 visa, just waiting to sell house) and have decided that Geelong is the place for us. (We hadn't even considered it prior to visit but really loved it when we got there, we originally had our eyes on Ballarat).

We are now in the process of deciding which suburb we are going to move to. We stayed in Belmont for a couple of days last week, which was lovely, as was the front and the centre of Geelong.

From what we have gathered from asking about some of the northen suburbs are the "less desirable" ones but the ones mentioned previously on this thread are lovely.

I noticed that the supermarkets are nothing like what we have, they seem to shop differently to us rather like we did 20 years ago e.g. butchers for meat, greengrocers for veg and supermarket for tinned stuff. I am going to miss Asda and Tesco!!!

I've got two little boys (1 and 3) so I too am apprehensive about the whole social circle thing especially as I am not planning on working at first.

Hope this helps.

Dawn

chris n loz · 10-03-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jodajasa

Hi there

We got back from Oz yesterday. We are hoping to emigrate in september (going on 136 visa, just waiting to sell house) and have decided that Geelong is the place for us. (We hadn't even considered it prior to visit but really loved it when we got there, we originally had our eyes on Ballarat).

We are now in the process of deciding which suburb we are going to move to. We stayed in Belmont for a couple of days last week, which was lovely, as was the front and the centre of Geelong.

From what we have gathered from asking about some of the northen suburbs are the "less desirable" ones but the ones mentioned previously on this thread are lovely.

I noticed that the supermarkets are nothing like what we have, they seem to shop differently to us rather like we did 20 years ago e.g. butchers for meat, greengrocers for veg and supermarket for tinned stuff. I am going to miss Asda and Tesco!!!

I've got two little boys (1 and 3) so I too am apprehensive about the whole social circle thing especially as I am not planning on working at first.

Hope this helps.

Dawn

Hi Jodajasa,

We got back from Oz 21st Feb 08. We stayed in Geelong and decided thats where we want to move to in July 08. (Flights booked) We looked at Belmont & Highton. We know nobody and are very apprehensive but anythings better than here I suppose.......haha
Our kids will be 17 & 10 when we go. The eldest isn't happy at all as she'll have just finished school here and have to go back to school there.
Hope all goes well for you guys
Good luck
Chris & Loz

gilliantay · 10-03-2008, 10:45 PM

Hi,
We are also Geelong(ers) hopefully.
I have family in this area and we are hoping to be there at some point this year............ (pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze Mr visa man).
Look forward to meeting you when we all arrive there.

Gill